GEyERAL TREATMENT. 45 



While tile fowls are enjoying their grass run, 

 their yards may be dug over ; twice a-week is 

 not too often for this operation. Occasionally a 

 little of the soU pared off, and fresh sand strewed 

 in its place. At all times perfect cleanliness, 

 in yards and houses, should greet the ^ eye 

 of the lady visitor — it is the grand requisite. 

 At the risk of appearing didactic, I must insist 

 upon this sine qud non in a poultry establish- 

 ment, (great or small), be it that of the " laird," 

 or that of his " tenant." I do not say with 

 some writers, "If the floor of the fowl house can 

 be cleansed every morning, so much the better;" 

 but I say, " It must be done," and scrupulously 

 so, too. If the floor is as hard as it ought to be, 

 a birch broom is the best implement that can be 

 used for this purpose. 



The supply of water must be copious and of 

 the purest description, and the dust-bath always 

 provided with ashes for the use of the fowls. 

 They love to roll themselves in this, scattering 

 the contents over their feathers, to the effectual 

 discomfort and dislodgement of all parasites. A 

 heap of lime rubbish, or old mortar, should be 



