32 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. I. 



their hands on ; and who, if not obstructed by 

 firmly fastened doors and windows, and, still 

 better, by the watchful barking of a cur-dog, 

 will, some night or other, assuredly plunder 

 your hen-roost. Many years ago our own, 

 though too firmly secured to be broken into, 

 was robbed by putting some very small child 

 into a door which was made only large enough 

 to admit of the turkeys. A small opening is 

 generally made in the lower part of the door 

 to allow of the fowls going out at the earliest 

 dawn of morning ; but it will be better to 

 keep this little door shut, both to prevent 

 the entrance of rats and such-like vermin, 

 and not allow the egress of the fowls until 

 some one is stirring, in order thus to guard 

 them under constant protection : a precaution, 

 it may be observed, which no prudent lady 

 who values her poultry should ever neglect ; 

 for there are frequently fellows prowling about 

 under the guise of beggars, who would not 

 hesitate, if unobserved, to wring the neck of a 

 stray pullet. 



The Poultry- Yard being thus arranged, 

 let us now look to its inhabitants. 



