HENS 43 



it is almost impossible to get rid of them without 

 resorting to violence. 



And so, at the end of the next week I was just 

 yearning for a taste of the farm, and for a chance 

 to put to the test some of the theories I had 

 been forming in regard to the proper develop- 

 ment of my stock and the bringing my farm up 

 to the standard set by government publications 

 of the Agricultural Department. I had studied 

 faithfully the various poultry books and maga- 

 zines, and felt that I could at once detect that 

 grim destroyer, roup, the moment I saw it ; and 

 for several days I had, when feeding and water- 

 ing my fowls, looked them over with considerable 

 trepidation, fearful of the dread scourge, and yet 

 determined if necessary to kill, burn, and reduce 

 to infinite nothingness any unfortunate fowls that 

 might be attacked, and even prepared to go to 

 the extreme length of burning the hencoop. 



I also learned with profound regret that there 

 was no known remedy for fatty degeneration of 

 the liver, or tumors in the gizzard, but that pip 

 could be cured by certain preparations to be pro- 

 cured only of the advertiser ; that gapes and 

 cholera could be promptly cured by explicitly 

 following certain directions sent by mail, "En- 

 close twenty-five cents in stamps," which I did, 

 and received "specific directions" to kill the af- 

 fected specimens at once ; that bumble-foot could 



