278 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



they arc young I give them a clisli of food every day, which I 

 think makes them improve very fast. 



In this manner of raising them, I have lost but a very few. 

 I think that the best coops are made after this manner : make 

 a box about four feet long, two feet and a half high, and two 

 feet wide, with boards on the back side, and on both ends, with 

 slats in front, with one-half of the bottom boarded, and the 

 other half open, so that the hen can come to the ground. The 

 chicks do better when the mother has a chance to scratch, and 

 a dry place to brood them at night, always taking care to have 

 a cup of clean water within the reach of the hen. In this man- 

 ner I have raised my poultry this season, and I have never seen 

 chickens do better. 



Profits on ten hens from 1st of April to Ist of Oct., 1857. 

 April 1. Bought ten hens, . 



Bought eight bushels of meal, 



^11 00 

 Have sold 12 doz. eggs, at 25c., 

 50 chickens, at 20c., 

 Have on hand 50 chickens, at 25c. 

 10 old hens, 50c., 



$30 50 



Profits, $19 50 



Northampton. 



BEE CULTURE. 



Far less attention has been paid to this important branch of 

 farming than its profits and the pleasures attending it deserve. 

 It is worthy of a greater encouragement by the county agricul- 

 tural societies. Several entries of hives and swarms of bees 

 and specimens of honey were made at the State Fair, and among 

 others those of Henry Eddy, of North Bridgewater. The fol- 

 lowing statement of Dr. Eddy contains some interesting facts 

 on the subject : — 



