Cost of Movable Houses. 59 



foxes. The two former can be overcome without difficulty, 

 and the latter only needs greater care and watchfulness to 

 be exercised, with the fastening up of the birds at nigbt. 



With such a plan as we have suggested, we are certain 

 that there are few farmers who could not find room for one 

 of these houses to every five or ten acres oi his occupation, 

 and the cost would very soon be repaid. The benefit would 

 be great, and touch the part where every one is susceptible, 

 namely, the pocket. We are not speaking from mere 

 theory, as we know several instances where the fowls are a 

 profit, both indirectly through the benefit to the land, and 

 directly in actual cash. Houses can be built to hold 

 about twenty-five fowls for $12 each, or to hold about fifty 

 fowls for $20 to $25 each, without wheels ; or with wheels, 

 which must be broad and large to prevent their sinking in 

 the ground, for a few dollars more ; or, sometimes, various 

 things can be adapted at even a less cost than this. We 

 have seen old carriages, railway cars and many other things 

 adapted to the purpose, and in one instance read of a 

 number of old showman's vans being so used, and very 

 successfully too. 



It will have been seen, from what we have already said, that 

 we believe in poultry farming more as an adjunct to an 

 ordinary farm, than as a separate business, with land devoted 

 to it, and to nothing else. But in some cases, there may be 

 ground at command, just sufficient to keep going a fair 

 number of fowls, and then it is imperative to make the 

 best possible use of it. If rent has to be paid, anything 

 which can be done to help the paying of it, will be a great 

 assistance to making, the concern profitable, and at the 

 same time do away with the temptation to overcrowd the 

 ground — a certain cause of disease and consequent loss. 

 This, we believe, can best be done by the planting of fruit 

 trees, which may not be a new suggestion, but it is one which 



