Vegetable Food. 35 



food of some kind. The birds have passed a whole night 

 since they were last fed ; and it is important, especially in 

 cold weather, that a fresh supply should as soon as possible 

 be got into the system, and not merely into the crop. But 

 if grain be given, it has to be ground in the poor bird's 

 gizzard before it can be digested, and on a cold winter's 

 morning the delay is anything but beneficial. But, for 

 the very same reason, at the evening meal grain forms the 

 best food which can be supplied ; it is digested slowly, and 

 during the long cold nights affords support and warmth 

 to the fowls." 



They should be fed at regular hours, and will then soon 

 become accustomed to them, and not loiter about the 

 house or kitchen door all day long, expecting food, which 

 they will do if fed irregularly or too often, and neglect to 

 forage about for themselves, and thus cost more for food. 



Grass is of the greatest value for all kinds of poultry, and 

 where they have no paddock, or grass-plot, fresh vegetables 

 must be given them daily, as green food is essential to the 

 health of all poultry, even of the very youngest chickens. 

 Cabbage and lettuce leaves, spinach, endive, turnip-tops, 

 turnips cut into small pieces and scattered like grain, or 

 cut in two, radish-leaves, or any refuse, but not stale 

 vegetables will do ; but the best thing is a large sod of 

 fresh-cut turf. * They are partial to all the mild succulent 

 weeds, such as chickweed and Chenopodium, or fat-hen, and 

 eat the leaves of most trees and shrubs, even those of ever- 

 greens ; but they reject the leaves of strawberries, celery, 

 parsnips, carrots, potatoes, onions, and leeks. The supply 

 of green food may be unlimited, but poultry should never 

 be entirely fed on raw greens. Cabbage and spinach are 

 still more relaxing when boiled than raw. They are very 

 fond of the fruit of the mulberry and cherry trees, and will 

 enjoy any that falls, and prevent it from being wasted. 



Insect food is important to fowls, and essential for 

 chickens and laying hens. "There is no sort of insect, 

 perhaps," says Mr. Dickson, " which fowls will not eat. 

 They are exceedingly fond of flies, beetles, grasshoppers, 

 and crickets, but more particularly of every sort of grub, 



