POSTS 161 
3. When it is impossible to provide rear yards with the inten- 
sive long house, the following method of providing green forage at 
the New Jersey Station is productive. The term applied to this 
system is the “double unit” feeding yard. All pens, regardless 
of size, have exercise yards which are plowed only once or twice 
during a season, and they are usually bare. Communicating with 
each pair of these exercise yards is a larger feeding and grazing 
yard in which green crops are grown, the birds being allowed 
access to these yards on alternate days. It is not as good a system 
as regular double yards, yet it enables the 
keeper to supply green feed to the birds in 
the most economical form. 
Posts.—Wooden posts made from the 
barked trunks of small trees are most used. 
The size of posts will depend upon kind of 
material, weight of wire, and height of fence. 
i OSE 
dee fT | HOTSE 
I! | HOUSE 
& 
Fic. 107.—Three methods of arranging double yards with reference to the houses. I, 
Front and back yard; II, u, exercise yards; b, feeding yard; III, double yards at the front 
and side of each compartment of the house. 
Red cedar is very durable, and the cost, in regions where it grows 
naturally, should not be prohibitive. A good red-cedar post should 
be at least ten feet long and not smaller than three inches at the 
small end. Chestnut, locust, and other hard woods which have 
natural rot-resisting qualities are good. 
It has been found profitable to dip the lower part of the post 
in tar, letting the tarred portion extend about six inches above 
the ground line. The charring of that portion, by burning over a 
slow fire, also has a preservative effect. The bark should not be 
allowed to remain on the post below or above the ground line, as 
water accumulates and hastens rotting. Where natural round 
posts are not available, sawed timber may be used, 4 x 4 inches 
11 
