worms and insects turned up by the cultivator. An orchard is also an ideal location, 

 especially if clover or alfalfa is available. 



Where vermin abound it is advisable to shut chickens up at nights, and set 

 traps to catch the marauders. For skunks, minks, and weasels, a portion of chicken 

 carcass, sprinkled with strychnine crystals, is recommended. This should be placed 

 near coop at night, and remains carefully removed before letting out the chicks. 

 Dogs and cats should be kept shut up when this remedy is used. 



For hawks, owls, and crows, an ordinary mink-trap, securely fastened to the top 

 of a pole some 20 feet high, is recommended. The trap need not be baited. A rusty 

 trap is more effective than a bright new one. 



White strings festooned across the front of houses on sticks is successful in 

 warding off hawks. It has been stated that the presence of guinea fowl will scare 

 hawks from the poultry-yards. In the writer's experience this has proved a complete 

 failure. Hawks were seen to repeatedly seize chicks within a few feet of a flock of 

 guinea fowl. 



Fireless brooders have not given universal satisfaction. One poultry-breeder in 

 California used the fireless brooders with excellent success for two years, though the 

 chicks were hatched later in the season than usual. It was tried again last year, 

 early in the season, and was a total failure. The great difficulty is to keep the 

 brooder perfectly dry. It is doubtful if the " fireless " system would prove satis- 

 factory in this Province, with its moist climate ; certainly not with the early hatches. 



These chicks are all of one age, and affords an illustration of what sometimes happens 

 when pullets' eggs are used for hatching; eggs from forced stock; inbred fowls; lice-infested 

 chicks ; improperly fed or improperly boused breeding stock. 



Another system of brooding chicks involves the use of gasolene. The chief 

 feature of this system is that the cost of brooding is materially lessened. Also there 

 is less labour, since 150 or 200 chicks may be brooded together. The gasolene is 

 placed in a tank considerably above the burner, and is connected with the burner 

 by the use of %-inch pipes. The burner is placed under the brooder-house, directly 

 under the middle of the circular drum. The drum is fastened to the hover, which 

 may be round or otherwise, and which is hinged to the side of the house. Gas which 

 is generated from the gasolene is ignited at the burner, and this heats the drum, 



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