33 



bles, well cooked and mashed. This latter I vary as much as 

 possible, using water in which vegetables have been cooked to 

 moisten the mash, providing it is not so strongly flavored as to 

 be disagreeable to the hens, as sometimes happens if turnips 

 have been cooked in it. The proportion of vegetable matter 

 given to hens in winter is much smaller than that given in 

 summer, and also smaller than the other ingredients in the 

 mash. In summer cut grass or clover and vegetable tops are 

 substituted for the roots given in winter and are fed separately 

 whenever convenient. Dried beef scraps are substituted in 

 summer for the ground bone in winter and are fed in smaller 

 quantities, perhaps half the amount. I season with salt rather 

 less than I would for my family. I never use pepper, but oc- 

 casionally ginger. When using pepper and seasoning highly 

 with salt, I have always had more or less hens die of liver 

 trouble in spring. My mash is always thoroughly scalded and 

 frequently well cooked, as in winter I often mix it the night 

 before and let it remain in the oven over night. Animal meal 

 I consider a cheap food which will make hens lay ; but I can- 

 not use it, even in much smaller quantities than the rule, on 

 account of its laxative qualities. 



"My hens always have warm water in clean drinking ves- 

 sels in winter and cool water in summer. 



"The second and last feed comes after dinner, when I hoe 

 or rake into the litter on the hen house floor two parts whole 

 oats to one part wheat. The litter is six or eight inches deep, 

 and the feed is given generously enough to make them feel 

 rewarded for scratching up to the next afternoon. 



"Oyster shells I prefer to throw in fresh every day, espec- 

 ially in the latter part of the winter, when they get too busy 

 laying to eat the proper amount of lime. 



"A neighbor adopted my way of feeding, but with pullets 

 bought of me failed to get like results. I attribute the fail- 

 ure to the fact that he was afraid of wasting feed, and if he 

 could possibly find a grain would not feed more. In the morn- 

 ing I feed all the hens will eat with a relish. Miss L. M. S._ 

 Auburn, Me. 



