A POULTRY COMPENDIUM. 9 



■with southern and eastern windows. You cannot overes- 

 timate the value of sunlight for your fowls. Diseases, 

 like wicked men, "love the darkness rather than light, 

 because their deeds are evil." Sunlight, with its bright 

 lances, will put to flight that dire army, led by roup, 

 whose aides de camp are colds, catarrhs, rheumatic affec- 

 tions, diarrhea, and cholera. 



Provide shade. If you doubt the need of this, stand 

 for a half hour, without hat or other protection, under 

 the blazing rays of a July or August sun, and after this 

 experience, if you do not die from a sun-stroke, think 

 how your fowls would enjoy protection from the vertical 

 rays of "the too-near-approaching sun." Trees are best, 

 but boxes and boards may be propped up, and will af- 

 ford a satisfactory substitute. 



Don't forget fresh air, or, in other words, provide suita- 

 ble ventilation. A direct draft should be avoided at all 

 times, but fresh- air and means for the escape of foul 

 gases must be provided. The want of fresh air leads 

 to a weakened state of the constitution, the blood fails 

 to be properly aerated and becomes thick, dark and slug- 

 gish; hens cease to lay, contagious and epidemic diseases 

 break out among them, and the loss of a part, or the 

 whole, of the flock ensues. And all this because fresh 

 air was not provided! 



Cleanliness is necessary, both for the comfort of the fowls 

 and of their owner. Buildings should be so arranged as 

 to be easily cleaned. Dry earth should be provided, for 

 the floors, it being one of the best deodorizers knowu 

 Filth produces vermin, vermin produces disease, and dis- 

 ease produces death. 



