342 PROFITS IN POULTRY. 
week or two before sending to the show. Accustom 
them to being kept in the exhibition coop, and get them 
as tame as possible. Look them over carefully to see 
that they are in condition to appear their best. Feed 
waste vegetables and fruit to the hens. 
October.—Cool weather will bring on disease, if care 
is not taken. The most common disease is roup, which 
is caused by dampness and draft in almost every case, 
unless caught from other fowls. Drafts which cause a 
current of air to blow over the fowls at night are espe- 
cially dangerous. At the first signs of disease, separate 
the sick fowls from the well, place in a warm room, and 
feed carefully. The iron tonic in the drinking water is 
excellent. Layinastock of cheap vegetables for winter use. 
November.—If not done before, the houses should be 
put in order for the winter. Even on cold days, the 
hens should be turned into the scratching shed for exer- 
cise. The great secret of eggs in November, is to make 
the hens work for their food. Plenty of litter should 
cover the entire floor of the scratching shed. Any kind 
of litter will do. The grain should be scattered over the 
litter. Hens that are not through molting at this time 
will be worthless, and might as well be sold, if kept 
merely for the value of the eggs. Use as much green 
food as possible, and feed boiled vegetables with the 
grain mash in the morning. November is a critical 
month, and if the pullets do not begin to shell out now, 
it will be a hard winter for their owner. 
December.—Examine your own methods carefully, 
and see what can be improved. The skill of a poultry 
grower is shown, in securing eggs during cold weather. 
If the fowls don’t lay, blame yourself and not the vari- 
ety. There is real satisfaction and plenty of profit in 
December eggs. Everybody wants them and will pay a 
good price. There is no egg producer like cut bone and 
a little fresh meat fed to April-hatched pullets. 
