44 POULTRY-YARD. 



of ten feet. I have seen the same purpose 

 more cheaply effected by means of upright 

 laths pointed at the end, or it may be made 

 more ornamental by a lattice-work made 

 of the same cheap material. Some fowls 

 will fly oven the highest fences, especially 

 thos'e which you may have obtained from 

 the lazy and improvident farmers described 

 in the preceding chapter. It will be well, 

 therefore, at the commencement, to begin 

 by clipping one of their wings ; and this 

 will, in general, be found sufficient ; but 

 with some light-bodied and active fowls, 

 particularly the game breed, it will be ne- 

 cessary to repeat this operation every year. 

 Fowls are said to be unwilling to fly over 

 pointed palings, as they must first alight on 

 them before getting over ; but, unless they 

 are high, they will occasionally escape over 

 these. I have seen 'a fence only five feet 

 high, with a thin wire stretched along it, a 

 few inches above it, and slightly in towards 

 the yard. The fowl aims at the top of the 

 fence, but when she gets there, finds it im- 

 possible to retain her position, in conse- 



