NEED OF CLEANLINESS. 29 



quickest way of getting matters right again is to add a little 

 lime to the drinking water, or pound up some oyster-shells raw. 



One thing more, which must on no account be forgotten. 

 This is, some proportion of sharp grit or gravel, or other hard 

 substances. Such small stones constitute hen's teeth, and 

 without them the gizzard cannot perform its office of grinding 

 up the food. We have seen fowls ailing from apparently this 

 simple neglect alone. 



We may conclude this chapter with a few further remarks 

 respecting general management. 



With regard to the nests, they may be of any form, but are 

 best upon the ground. A long box may be employed, divided 

 by partitions into separate compartments ; or separate laying- 

 boxes may be used, which is preferable, as more easily cleaned. 

 Some like baskets, made flat on one side, and hung to a nail in 

 the wall ; these should be of wire, and then cannot harbour 

 vermin the great plague of fowls. The straw should be 

 broken and beaten till it is quite soft, and changed as often as 

 there is any foul or musty smell If the nests are offensive, 

 the hens will often drop their eggs, quite perfect, upon the 

 ground rather than resort to them. 



Cleanliness in the house and run has already been insisted 

 upon, and is only again alluded to on account of the value of 

 the manure. This, collected daily, should be put in any con- 

 venient receptacle where it can be kept dry, and either used 

 in the garden, if there is one, or sold. It pays best to use 

 it where possible. It should always be mixed with dry earth, 

 soot, or fine dry ashes, before using, being very strong, and is 

 especially valuable for all plants of the cabbage kind ; it is 

 also excellent for growing strawberries, or indeed almost any- 

 thing if sufficiently diluted. If there be no possibility of so 

 using it, it is worth at least four shillings per cwt to sell, 

 ami is greatly valued by such nurserymen and gardeners as 

 know its value ; but there is sometimes difficulty in finding 



