640 THE COMPLETE GRAZIER. BOOK vn. 



they grow very rapidly indeed. It is a common practice to allow Ayles- 

 bury ducklings no water and very little exercise. Turkeys are fed on 

 barle} 7 and maize meal, mixed with milk, and also sliced mangel, turnips, 

 and swedes. In all cases cleanliness is essential, and the food must be 

 both sweet and good. 



Marketing is an important consideration, but scarcely comes within 

 our present scope. To secure the highest prices the best produce 

 must be marketed, and many complaints are simply due to 

 poor quality. At the same time great difficulties are put in the way of 

 producers, but the organisation of the trade has been taken in hand. 

 This is by means of Depots formed on co-operative lines, as advocated 

 by the National Poultry Organisation Society, and these have led to a 

 great improvement in the quality of British produce. 



CHAPTER VII. 



DISEASES OF POULTRY. 



WHILST there can be no question that of late years the number of 

 affections from which poultry suffer has largely increased, this 

 number is not so great as would at first sight appear, for diseases have 

 been differentiated, and they are better known than was formerly the 

 case. The object of the poultry-keeper should be to keep his fowls as 

 free from disease as possible, and to this end he should treat them in a 

 common-sense manner. A most prolific source of disease arises when 

 new birds are purchased, or when specimens have been away at shows. 

 Very often new conditions serve to develop any latent complaint that 

 may exist, and hence if birds are placed amongst the stock without any 

 precaution there is grave danger lest they introduce disease, perhaps of 

 the most serious nature. For this reason it is desirable to place newly- 

 purchased birds, and also those returning from shows, by themselves 

 for a few days, in order to give time for the development of any 

 trouble, if such there be. In dealing with this question of diseases it 

 will be convenient to classify the latter in accordance with their nature. 



RESPIRATORY ORGANS. 



Catarrh, or Common Cold. This is very common both in the 

 spring and autumn, and the symptoms are similar to those in the 

 human subject. Keep warm, feed on soft food, which may be sprinkled 

 with Aromatic Compound; wash the nostrils, eyes, and mouth, twice 

 a-day with weak vine.aar and water; give homoeopathic tincture of 



