190 POULTRY BREEDING 
elevation of about 5,000 feet above the sea level in a dry 
climate (Utah). 
HOPPER.—The poultryman uses this word to desig- 
nate any vessel containing dry feed which acts automa- 
tically. (See Force Feed Hopper.) 
HOUSING.—A\ few years ago whole books were writ- 
ten concerning houses for poultry, some of these books 
showing dozens of plans, most of which were uselessly 
elaborate. We had many systems of ventilation which 
were explained in such detail that the beginner became 
confused and could not decide which was best. The re- 
sult was damp houses, frost-coated walls in winter, roup 
and other kindred diseases. A great change has been 
brought about since practical poultrymen, seeking cheap- 
ness with satisfaction, have taken up the problem. \here 
a few years ago it was common to build poultry houses 
with double and triple walls, supplied in many cases with 
means for furnishing heat in cold weather, we have now 
gone back to first principles, and the modern poultry 
house is a very simple affair. The conclusions derived 
from careful and long-continued experiments at several 
experiment stations and on many private plants, agree 
that air-tight, artificially-heated poultry houses are not 
necessary in any part of the country and are sources of 
continual dissatisfaction and loss. The modern poultry 
house is cheaply built, well-lighted and the best of them 
have openings in front running from a few square feet 
to the whole space of the front, protected with wire net- 
ting and enclosed with a canvas or muslin curtains in bad 
weather. Such construction provides abundant ventila- 
tion, prevents draughts, sccures dryness and maintains 
the health of the fowls. 
It is not always possible to locate a poultry house in an 
