MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 13 



they are running is far from pure. So long as the grass can be 

 kept growing strongly and vigorously there is small fear of foul 

 ground, as the growth absorbs the manure; it is when the grass 

 becomes worn away that the chief danger arises. The manure 

 constantly falling upon the same small area, and there being 

 nothing to use it up, the land is bound in a short space of time 

 to become so permeated as to be thoroughly unfit for fowls. 

 The question is very often asked in connection with this subject 

 as to how many fowls a certain sized piece of land will accom- 

 modate the whole year through. Occasionally one may see in 

 some of the agricultural or poultry journals this question an- 

 swered, but as a matter of fact to give any stated number is 

 most misleading. It depends very largely upon the class of soil, 

 as some can carry twice as many birds as others; it depends 

 upon the breed of poultry, some being much more active than 

 others, and thus requiring more space ; it depends, too, upon the 

 time of year, because during the spring and summer, when there 

 is an abundance of vegetable growth in the soil, a considerably 

 larger number of birds can be maintained than during the 

 autumn or winter. The number must be varied according to 

 these circumstances, and no hard and fast rule is applicable." 

 "The results of tainted ground are generally quickly notice- 

 able, as the fowls have a sickly apearance, the feathers lose 

 their brilliant lustre, and the wings begin to droop. Roup, 

 gapes, and other ailments speedily show themselves, causing, if 

 not death itself, considerable loss and unpleasantness. One of 

 the greatest advantages to be derived from portable houses is 

 that they so greatly reduce the risk of tainted ground, as they 

 are being constantly moved from one place to another, thus 

 evenly distributing the manure. When it is remembered that 

 each adult fowl drops nearly a hundred weight of manure in 

 the course of a year, the importance of this question will be 

 immediately realized. It is quite possible, however, provided 

 that suitable precautions are taken, to keep a comparatively 

 small run pure for a long time. If the grass is short it should 

 be occasionally swept, in this manner removing a good deal of 

 the manure. Another important point is to always have around 

 the house a space of gravel, upon which the birds should be 

 fed, and if swept once or twice a week this will have a wonder- 

 ful effect in preserving the purity of the grass portion. Anyone 



