WITH 4200 HENS 135 



We do not approve of the water mixtures for spray- 

 ing; we prefer the oily base which saturates the wood. 



A cheap grade of kerosene may be used in place of 

 distillate. 



Disposition of Manure 



All of the manure, both drop-board material and litter, 

 is sold under a yearly contract. The purchaser does the 

 hauling. 



There is keen competition for it in this section for use 

 in fertilizing citrus groves. It seems generally agreed 

 that it is the most valuable of all fertilizers. It is worth 

 at this time about $8.00 per two-yard load, at the farm. 

 When we started in the business we gave it away. Our 

 total sales up to this time have brought us more than 

 $1,200. 



A cubic yard of drop-board material averages about 

 750 pounds in weight during the dry summer months. 



Freshening the Yards 



The yards in use are either ploughed or cultivated once 

 each month. If the ground is dry the sprayers are put 

 on and it is thoroughly wet down the day before the 

 ploughing is done. 



When old hens are sold off and yards are vacant they 

 are ploughed and sowed to barley. This is used to sup- 

 plement the supply of green stuff through the late fall 

 and winter. Barley planted in September is high enough 

 to be cut with a scythe in about six weeks and we have 

 had as many as four and five cuttings from it. It is 

 finally allowed to head out and mature when it is cut 

 and used for litter. Maturing the grain seems to purify 



