93 



maximum of profit may be obtained with the minimum of 

 effort. Every statement in the book has been tested by actual 

 experience, and may be relied upon implicitly. I expect to 

 learn as long as I live and to modify details from time to time, 

 but never expect to depart radically from the principles laid 

 down in these pages. 



To Dust a Hen With your left hand grasp the hen by the 

 legs, and lay her breast down upon a newspaper. The powder 

 should be in a tin box with a handle and a perforated cover. 

 Sprinkle the powder into the feathers around the vent, rubbing- 

 it in well. Work the powder into the feathers about the neck. 

 Work the powder into the feathers on the sides and under the 

 wings. Let the hen stand a moment, keeping your hands 

 lightly around her so that she cannot get away. Return her 

 to the roost and take another. After going through the pen 

 shake the powder that has fallen on the newspaper into the 

 can or package. One application kills the lice that are on the 

 hen at the time, but in a week there will be another brood. The 

 best poultrymen recommend dusting a hen at least three 

 times, at intervals a week apart, and never admitting a strange 

 hen into the pen without first dusting her thoroughly. One 

 lousy hen will contaminate all the rest, and so it is necessary 

 to be on one's guard all the time. 



Causes of Disease The more troublesome diseases of 

 fowls, with their causes, may be summed up as follows : Roup 

 introduced by germs. Cholera filth and overcrowding. 

 Diarrhoea damp houses, filthy houses and runs, overcrowd- 

 ing. Canker dampness and filth. Diphtheria roosting in 

 draughts, also damp houses. Ulcerated throat same. Con- 

 sumption neglected cold. Apoplexy, vertigo and epilepsy 

 overfeeding. Sore eyes damp houses. Costiveness and con- 

 stipation improper food. Soft and swelled crop overfeed- 

 ing. Indigestion and dyspepsia same. Pip damp quarters. 

 Bronchitis same. Black rot result of indigestion. Soft- 

 shelled eggs overfeeding. Gout, rheumatism and cramp 

 damp houses. Leg weakness inbreeding and overfeeding. 

 Bumble foot high perches. Scaly legs filth and damp quar- 

 ters. 



Whitewash There is no better whitewash for outside 

 work than that used by the United States government for 

 public buildings, which is made as follows : Take half a bushel 1 



