CHAPTER IX. 

 THE FARMER'S FLOCK. 



Give the hen a good chance to scratch and she will raise that 

 mortgage for you. 



A hen will eat anything a hog will eat and make a good deal 

 better use of it. Tim's Wife. 



The larger part of all the eggs and poultry sold in 

 the markets of the great cities and smaller towns 

 conies from the farmer's flock. The amount from 

 each is small, but the aggregate immense. When 

 proper attention is given to this flock the profit is as 

 large, if not larger, than from any other part of the 

 farm operations. 



The mistake of keeping too small a number of 

 fowls is sometimes, though rarely, made. Fowls, with 

 their omnivorous and voracious appetites, are excellent 

 scavengers, and if allowed the privileges of the prem- 

 ises will utilize much that would otherwise go to waste. 

 This wastage on large farms is sufficient to supply a 

 flock of one hundred laying hens three-fourths of all 

 the food they need ; if but ten or twenty be kept 

 there will be more or less loss. 



The much more frequent mistake is made of over- 

 stocking. The wastage is consumed, the crops in the 

 vicinity of the buildings are destroyed, large quanti- 

 ties of grain in addition are fed, the houses are crowded 

 to suffocation, and the ground in the entire circle of 

 the farm buildings becomes befouled. All may go 



