POULTRY-HOUSES. 249 



cheaper, may be formed by using- a composition composed of 

 lime and smithy ashes, tog-ether with the riddlings of common 

 kitchen ashes ; these, having been all finely broken, must be 

 mixed together with water, and put on the floor with a mason's 

 trowel, and nicely smoothed on the surface. If this is put on 

 a floor which is in a tobrably dry situation, and allowed to 

 harden before being used, it will become nearly as solid and 

 compact as stone, and is almost as durable. The inside of the 

 laying boxes requires frequent washing with hot lime-water, 

 to free them from vermin, which greatly torment the sitting 

 hens. For the same purpose, poultry should always have a 

 heap of dry sand, or fine ashes, laid under some covered place, 

 or thick tree, near their yard, for them to dust themselves in ; 

 this being their resource for getting rid of the vermin with 

 which they are annoyed. In every establishment for poultry- 

 rearing, there ought to be some separate crib or cribs into 

 which to remove fowl when laboring under disease ; for not 

 only are many of the diseases to which poultry are liable 

 highly contagious, but the sick birds are also regarded with 

 dislike by such as are in health ; and the latter will generally 

 attack and maltreat them, thus, at the very least, aggravating 

 the sufferings of the afflicted fowls, even if they do not actually 

 deprive them of life. The moment, therefore, that a bird is 

 perceived to droop or appear pining, it should be removed to 

 one of these infirmaries. 



Separate pens are also necessary, to avoid quarrelling among 

 some of the highly-blooded breeds, more particularly the game 

 fowl. They are also necessary when different varieties are 

 kept, in order to avoid improper or undesired commixture from 

 accidental crossing. These lodgings may be most readily con- 

 structed in rows, parallel to each other ; the partitions may be 

 formed of lattice-work they will be rather ornamental than 

 otherwise, and the cost of their erection will be but trifling. 



