THE POULTRY- YARD. 311 



It is advisable to place the nests of setting liens (without 

 board bottoms) on the ground ; but if this can not well be 

 done, the nests should be made extra deep and well filled 

 in with earth, packed to a concave shape and lined w^th 

 short straw, occasionally dampened. 



Place the nests in rows and make the divisions between, 

 not of solid boards as is usually done, but of w^ire-netting, 

 open enough for the adjoining hens to make each other's 

 acquaintance during the long period of incubation, and 

 yet not so large as to allow them to interfere with each 

 other's eggs. 



By pursuing this plan, and setting two adjoining hens 

 at the same time, the broods will come off together, and 

 the hens can be placed in one coop, where they will agree 

 perfectly; and thus their owner saves time, trouble, and 

 space, by being able to attend to two broods together. 



