COUNTRY MANSIONS. 359 



for feeding the poultry under during rain, and for the peacocks, peahens, and 

 Guinea fowls to roost under in severe weather. This shed should also be so 

 far extended as to include in it a few square yards of surface, to be dug out 

 to the depth of a foot or more, and filled up with dry sand, for the fowls to 

 take what may be called a sand bath, which is the principal means they have 

 of ridding themselves of the body vermin with which they are infested. In 

 addition to this shed, the poultry-yard, if it be large, ma}' contain two or three 

 trees, as well to atford shade and shelter to the common fowls, as for a roosting- 

 place to the pea fowls and Guinea fowls during summer, and to harmonise 

 the poultry- yard with the woody scenery of the place. There ought also to 

 be, in a proper situation, a covered tank for receiving the washings of the 

 poulti-y-houses, and retaining the liquid till it ferments and thus becomes fit 

 for manure. The soil is, perhaps, of more consequence than even the situa- 

 tion ; for, unless that be naturally quite dry, or rendered thoroughly so by 

 art, however suitable the situation and treatment of the fowls may be in every 

 other respect, nothing can be more certain than that they will not thrive. 

 The poultry-yard should, of course, vary in size according to the number of 

 fowls which it is intended to keep ; but more still according to the extent of 

 ground which the fowls are allowed to run over, beyond the limits of the 

 enclosure. If the fowls are never to be allowed to go beyond the poultry- 

 yard, then we should say that the very smallest space in which the common 

 hen can be kept in perfect health, and so as to lay wholesome eggs, even 

 though the poultry consisted of not more than a dozen fowls, is the sixth part 

 of an acre. The reason why so much space is required for so few birds is, 

 that, to be maintained in health, they require a good deal of exercise, and 

 they also inquire to eat grass, and different other kinds of green food, and to 

 pick up insects and sand, and other objects. Now, though all these articles 

 might be supplied to them in the poultry-house, or in an enclosure in front of 

 it, of a few yards square, yet it is certain that the fowls, when so confined, would 

 not keep their health. The criterion of the size of the poultry-yard, there- 

 fore, where the poultry are never to go beyond it, is the growth of the herbage 

 on its surface ; for, unless this be produced in a certain degree of vigour, it 

 will neither support insects nor snails, and, consequently, the fowls will be 

 deprived of their animal food ; and every cultivator knows that grass and other 

 herbage will not grow with vigour where it is much trodden on by fowls. 

 Where different kinds of poultry are kept, for the supply of even a moderate- 

 sized family, the poultry-yard, where there was no other range allowed for 

 the fowls, would require to be two or three acres in extent; but, as this would 

 be expensive, and in many cases inconvenient, the poultry-yard ought always, 

 if possible, to be so contrived as to have a free communication with the open 

 fields, or even with the nearest public road. There is never any danger of 

 losing the fowls, unless by thieves ; for not only will they return home every 

 night, at roosting- time, but at any time during the day, on the appearance of 

 rain or thunder, or at any hour at which they are accustomed to be fed. 

 When the poultry-yard is at some distance from a field or the public road, 

 and a place intervenes into which the poultry cannot be admitted to run at 

 large, a pathway through it may be fenced off, with open lattice-work on each 

 side, and with a projecting roof to throw off the rain; or, if the distance does 

 not exceed a few yards, a dry tunnel may be made under ground, or an 

 enclosed way over a wall, or through any out-building. We have frequently 



