CHAP. I.] FARMING FOR LADIES. 29 



height from the ground may be either in- 

 creased or diminished according to the number 

 of fowls, which are of course continually vary- 

 ing, both when reared and killed. The perches, 

 too, should neither be quite round nor square, 

 but rather like the branch of a tree ; indeed 

 saplings, with the bark on, to suit the large 

 and small birds, are the best. A pole should 

 also be put in a slanting direction from the 

 floor to the perches, with slips of deal nailed 

 on it, in the manner of a ladder, at distances 

 of three inches, to act as steps. In order^ 

 moreover, to facilitate the ascent of the 

 chickens when they have left their coops and 

 begin to roost, a small perch or two should 

 likewise be fixed at only a few inches from 

 the floor ; but, as they like to roost high, they 

 will soon join the full-grown fowls. 



The floor should be sufficiently raised above 

 the ground to keep it as dry as possible, and 

 it should be paved with slate or indurated 

 asphalt ; either of which is better than brick. 

 It may, indeed, be remarked that all boarded 

 floors are improper for poultry-houses ; for, 

 although they may be thought warmer, they 

 yet imbibe a large quantity of water on each 

 time of their being washed, which renders 



