1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — A^. 4. 255 



structure, ])ut it is comfortable, and by our measure to-day 

 will suffice. On this basis I would advise the farmer to 

 commence to fathom the mysteries of successful poultry 

 breeding. 



When these fifty produce ten dozen eggs yearly, double 

 the flock, never forgetting that cares increase in like ratio. 

 Learn the A, B, C of poultry raising before you embark 

 upon the troubled waters, and there will be no cause to 

 regret the step. A man must grow into it slowly, if the full 

 measure of success is to be his. While I am ready to affirm 

 that there is no branch of farm industry yielding such a per 

 cent as the poultry yard may yield, I should bo false to 

 every honest consideration if I failed to present the obstacles 

 to be overcome. 



One of the greatest, and one that creeps in unawares, is 

 the pest of vermin. The best treatment is prevention, and 

 that calls for constant watchfulness. In proportion as clean- 

 liness is observed, lice will be kept away. Whitewash often ; 

 use kerosene on, around and underneath the roosts ; wash out 

 the laying boxes frequently ; provide an abundant dust 

 bath, and vermin can hardly get *a foothold. It doesn't 

 pay to support an army of these. It costs too much to feed 

 them. 



I do not stand here to mislead, but, if possible, to en- 

 courage and assist the farmers and smaller breeders in mak- 

 ing the farms of New England more productive and wealthy. 



One item in poultry breeding is too often entirely over- 

 looked ; and that is, the dressing. If floorings are provided 

 under the roosts, and cleaned at least twice a week, the 

 sweepings placed in some dry receptacle, and covered with 

 absorbents, the spring will find you well prepared to economize 

 in the purchase of dressing. Properly protected and prepared, 

 it is one of the most valuable fertilizers we can have, provided 

 it is made from a variety of sound grain. At one dollar a 

 barrel, — the price paid by farmers in my State, — it amounts 

 to nearly forty cents a head yearly, or fully half the cost of 

 keeping. If left under the roosts, its value soon departs, 

 while its bulk is materially reduced. 



I have made no attempt to touch the specialties of this 

 feature of farm work, because these have been most ably 



