THE POULTRY YARD. 



213 



Ho%v to Produce Layer:. — Mr. L. Wright says: In every lot of hens 

 some will be better layers than others. Let ns suppose we start with sis 

 Houdans — a cock and fire hens. Probably out of this five two may lay thirty 

 eggs per annum more than either of the others; their eggs should be noticed 

 and only these set. By lollowing this for a few years a very great increase 

 in egg production may be attained.- My attention was drawn to this subject 

 by a friend having a Brahma pullet which laid nearly three hundred eggs in 

 one twelve-month, though valueless as a fancy bird, and the quality de- 

 scended to several of her progeny; and I have since found other instancea 

 which prove conclusively that a vast improvement might easily be effected 

 in nearly all our breeds were that careful selection of brood stocks made for 

 this purpose which tlie fancier bestows on other objects. It is to be regretted 

 more is not done in this way, and having more room than I had, I hope my- 

 self to make some experiments in this direction shortly. I »"ill say now that 

 I am perfectly certain the number of two hundred eggs per annum might be 

 attained in a few years with perfect ease were the object systematically 

 sought; and I trust these few remarks may arouse a general attention to it 

 among those who keep poultry for eggs only, and who can easily do all that 

 is necessary without any 



knowledge whatever of X ~ 6 . 



fiincy points, or any attempt /J ___ 1 



to breed exhibition birds. j^''^ ^ 



A Grain Chest for 

 Foi^ls. — We illustrate an 

 excellent grain chest for 

 fowls. The trough (I), two 

 inches high. The front of 

 the chest extends down- 

 ward no further than the 

 top of the trough, thus 

 lea\-ing a free passage for 

 grain from the chest into 

 the trough. The dotted line (2) shows the position of a board in the chest, 

 placed there to conduct the grain into the trough as fast as it is eaten out bj 

 the fowls. The platform (3) is for the fowls to stand upon while eating. It 

 should not be wide enough to induce them to form a habit of sitting npon it. 

 A board (-4) is fastened to the front of the chest and extends over the trough 

 to prevent filth from falling into it The cover of the chest (5) should ex- 

 tend a httle over the front, that it may 1>e handily raised, and should rest 

 inclined to prevent fowls from roosting on it. An extension of the back of 

 the chest (6), with two holes in it, is provided so that it may be hung on cor- 

 responding wooden pins. If it is huug up in that way it will be necessary to 

 put some kind of a key through each of the pins, to prevent its being jarred 

 off from them. It should be hung so that the platform will be at least two 

 feet from the floor. It may be made any length. A square chest, for a poet 

 in the yard, can be made on the same principle. 



How^ to Patten Turlteys. — Nothing pays better to be sent to market in 

 prime condition than the turkey crop. Many farmers do not understand 

 this. Their turkeys grow on a limited range, getting Uttle or no food at home 

 through the summer, and if fed at all with regularity it is only for two or 

 three weeks before killing. I see these lean, bony carcasses in the loottl 



OBAIX CHEST FOR FOWLS. 



