162 FARMING FOR LADIES. [chap. tii. 



ground oats to the consistence of batter. They 

 should be kept in the dark, very quiet, and 

 warm in the winter ; and will, in this manner, 

 be ready within about three weeks." 



In Russell's "Improved System of Agri- 

 culture," the mode of feeding, practised for 

 many years with success by one of the first 

 higglers, is stated to be, "in the first place, to 

 keep the fowls intended for fattening without 

 food for twenty-four hours, after which ground 

 oats, scalded and mixed with water to a mo- 

 derate consistence, must be given them, when 

 sufficiently cooled, in troughs three times a 

 day. On the fourth day it will be necessary 

 to add to the oats a little fresh milk ; and, 

 within a fortnight from the taking up, the 

 fowls will be sufficiently fat." 



According to our own experience, however, 

 we should say, that if only one species of food 

 be used, we should prefer barley to oats ; and 

 that it would be difficult to fatten a fowl upon 

 the latter within the stated time. We know 

 also that higglers, poulterers, and breeders 

 for sale use chandler's greaves and kitchen- 

 stuff' mixed up with barley or oatmeal, as well 



