A COMMERCIAL POINT OF VIEW. 6 1 



to be resorted to during the time when hens are not 

 broody, as I fully explained under the head of Natural 

 Hatching, page 28. 



From the above sketch it will be seen that a glass- 

 covered passage, six feet wide, which can serve as a 

 vinery, communicates with the poultry homes on each 

 side. These homes consist of two runs, each twelve feet 

 long by three feet wide ; one is a closed run with gravel 

 floor, the other an open run with horse manure. Above 

 these two runs are two similar runs for chickens. These 

 runs are enclosed with wire-work next to the passage and 

 next to the field ; the partition between the runs is close- 

 boarded, so as to keep the inner run warm during winter. 

 Efficient ventilation is provided along the whole length 

 of the glass-covered passage immediately above the runs. 



The glass-covered passage will form an excellent vinery, 

 and this without any extra expense for building or warm- 

 ing ; and the vines will necessarily absorb a large quan- 

 tity of carbonic gas, and assist in keeping the air pure, 

 and the soil will generate a genial, moist temperature, so 

 essential to animal life. 



The above system of keeping poultry has, moreover, 

 many other advantages, such as 



Slow-feeding and weak fowls will be able to get suffi- 

 cient food, which they cannot when a great number are 

 fed together. The food can be supplied in the required 

 quantity and quality to each breed or class, as it must be 

 evident that the breeding and laying stock require a dif- 

 ferent diet to chickens or poultry intended for the market. 



Each cock having only a certain number of hens allotted, 

 they will be served better. 



