134 BREEDING AND EXHIBITION OF PRIZE POULTRY. 



the next great point is to be sure, by change of waters, that 

 every particle of soap is washed out of the plumage. If any is 

 left in, the feathers will clog or look ragged ; but if all is got 

 out, the bird being partially dried with a towel first, is after- 

 wards left in a lined basket in front of a good fire to dry 

 gradually. Some dry almost in the hand, turning the fowl round 

 and round occasionally on straw. It is a good plan to give the 

 last rinse with cold water, to prevent catching cold, and also 

 to prevent any debilitating effect from the hot water used in 

 washing. It must always be done if the bird appears faint, as 

 it sometimes will. Many people think that the addition of 

 an ounce of borax and a spoonful of honey to the last tub of 

 water makes the plumage " web " better in drying, and look 

 more lustrous. We were never able to satisfy ourselves that 

 it made much, if any, difference. 



Some people never seem able to wash fowls well ; but 

 it may be said in brief, that thorough washing and thorough 

 rinsing are the only secrets. For white fowls it is well 

 to use a very little " blue " in the last water, to heighten the 

 apparent purity of the white. If overdone this will defeat 

 itself, and look ridiculous ; a very little suffices. The object is 

 to make the white look bright and free from yellow ; not to 

 make it look blue. Really yellow plumage cannot, however, be 

 whitened in this way. Of course the sun has much influence 

 on this point, and living shade has much to do with exhibiting 

 white fowls. But breeding has even more, and there are 

 strains which appear far yellower, even when shaded, than others 

 allowed full liberty in the sun, 



If they have had an extensive run on country grass, how- 

 ever, the whitest fowls scarcely ever need washing, except as 

 regards their feet and legs, giving also attention to the comb 

 and wattles, if necessary. It is the poor dwellers in towns 

 who have to take such precautions, and have so much to 

 contend against. Yet, in spite of all this, we often see town 



