Chapter IX. 

 THE FARMER'vS FLOCK. 



Give the hen a good chance to soatch and she ivill laise that 

 mortgage for you . 



A hen will eat anything a hog 7vill eat and make a good deal 

 better use of it. — Tim's Wife. 



The larger part of all the eggs aud poultry sold ill 

 the markets of the great cities and smaller towns 

 comes 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 heed ; 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 arc fed, the houses are crowded 

 to suflbcation, and the ground in the entire circle of 



All may go 



