NEW METHOD OF REARING POULTRY. 349 



After a certain age, they are allowed their liberty, lirmg 

 chiefly on steamed potatoes, and being situated tolerably 

 secure from the depredations of men and foxes, are per- 

 mitted to roost in trees near the house. 



According to your request, I herewith send you a rough Apparatus 

 sketch of the apparatus I use, which probably will con- 

 vey an idea of the business, and not be too complicated for 

 persons employed in poultry yards, fully to understand; 

 but to prevent trouble and prejudice in the first onset, I 

 think it necessary to remark, that if the chickens do not 

 readily run under the artificial mother for want of some 

 educated ones to teach them, it will be proper to have the 

 curtain in front made of rabbit or hare skin, with the fur 

 side outwards, for the warmth and comfort to attract them, 

 afterwards they run under the flannel ones, which are pre- 

 ferable for common use, on account of cleanliness, and 

 not being liable to get into the mouths of the chickens, 



I have had great amusement in rearing poultry in the 

 above way, and if my time was not occupied with my chil- 

 dren and other family concerns, I should most assuredly 

 farm very largely in poultry. 



Reference to the Engravings of Mrs. D''Oyley^s Method of 

 breeding Poultry ^ Plate X, Fig. 5, 6, 7. 



Fig. 5. The apparatus called the artificial mother, with described. 

 a curtain of green baize in front and at each end, and holes 

 through the top to allow the circulation of air. 



Fig. 6. Another view of the artificial mother, but with- 

 out the curtain, in order to show its sloping direction, and 

 interior lining of woolly sheep-skin. 



Fig. 7. A wicker basket four feet long, two feet broad, 

 and fourteen inches high, with a lid to open, and a wooden 

 sliding bottom similar to a bird cage : the artificial mother 

 is shown, as placed within it. 



O. A trough in front to hold food fOr the chickens. 



Remark. 

 As the cheapness with which fowls can be reared in this 

 way is an object of primary consideration, it is to be re- 

 gretted, that Mrs, D'Oyley has not added an account of 



the 



