6O METHODS OF POULTRY MANAGEMENT. 



very little else than the use of this food. The first experiments 

 with this material at the Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion were not satisfactory. It was found difficult to get the 

 oats to make a sufficiently quick growth. Experience here has 

 indicated that in order to make a satisfactory green food the 

 oats must be grown very quickly. In order to get quick growth 

 it is necessary to have three things : first, warmth ; second, 

 plenty of moisture; and third, sunlight. After a number of 

 experiments to get the right combination of these three factors 

 the plan to be described was finally worked out and has proved 

 very satisfactory. 



There is in connection with the poultry plant a hot water 

 heating system which has a 3-inch out-go pipe. This out-go pipe 

 as it leaves the heater passes along the rear wall of a small 

 room which was formerly used as a grain storage room. To 

 provide a place in which to sprout oats the back part of this 

 room was partitioned oft" as a closet inclosing the 3-inch hot 

 water pipe. The partition wall which forms the front of this 

 closet consists of glass doors, made from regular storm window 

 sash, hinged so as to swing open as an ordinary door does. 

 These glass doors face towards the south side of the building 

 which has a window directly in front of the doors. Through- 

 out the day the closet gets plenty of light. The dimensions of 

 this sprouting closet are as follows: 



Length 9 ft. 3 inches 



Depth 2 ft. 6 inches 



Height 6 ft. 



The place of shelves in this closet is taken by large, square 

 green-house flats made of 7-8-inch stuff. These flats have the 

 following dimensions : 



Length 2 ft. 5 inches (inside) 



Breadth 2 ft. 5 inches (inside) 



Depth 2 inches (inside) 



The length of the closet is such as just to accommodate three 

 tiers of these flats, which slide on supports so that they can be 

 moved in or out or turned around to suit the convenience of the 

 operator, and the needs of the sprouting grain. These flats set 



