93 



with other pursuits. I have had this class in mind in writing this 

 book, and have endeavored to show how the 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 mod- 

 ify 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 back 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 recom- 

 mend dusting a hen at least three times, at intervals a week apart, 

 and never admitting a strange hen into the pen without first dust- 

 ing 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 intro- 

 duced by germs. Cholera filth and overcrowding. Diarrhoea 

 damp houses, filthy houses and runs, overcrowding. Canker 

 dampness and filth. Diphtheria roosting in draughts, also damp 

 houses. Ulcerated throat same. Consumption neglected 

 cold. Apoplexy, vertigo and epilepsy overfeeding. Sore 

 eyes damp houses. Costiveness and constipation improper 

 food. Soft and swelled crop overfeeding. 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 filthy and damp quarters. 



WHITEWASH. There is no better whitewash for outside work 

 than that used by the United States government for public build- 

 ings, which is made as follows : Take half a bushel of unslacked 



