THE EARTH'S BOUNTY 



a thick sod, being placed in one corner. The 

 floor of the large box is covered with ashes, 

 and pans for water and feed are fastened to 

 one side, so that Biddy can take a meal if she 

 feels so inclined. The reason for the large 

 box is threefold. First, it prevents rats get- 

 ting to the eggs; second, Biddy from straying 

 to any other nest, or any other hen trying to 

 take her nest; and, lastly, it is a safe play- 

 ground for the babies, if they should escape 

 from the nest during the first forty-six hours; 

 for such tiny mites can easily get lost. 



Before setting the hen she is held by the feet, 

 head downwards, and, through the agency of 

 a flour dredger, filled with insect specific, thor- 

 oughly powdered; and twice again, during the 

 term of sitting, she is taken from the nest, 

 after dark, and dredged. If such precautions 

 are not taken, the bird will be so annoyed that 

 she will constantly leave the nest to relieve the 

 irritation, by dusting in the ashes or sand, with 

 which the floor of the coop is covered. These 

 pests of fowls and bird families are so fero- 



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