A UT UMN MAN A GEMENT. 255 



for example, in the morning a little oatmeal and 

 water mised into a crumbly state ; later, green 

 food and a few groats ; then more meal and a little 

 hempseed. In the afternoon, crusts of bread, 

 soaked and squeezed dry, and any scraps of meat 

 left from table ; and so on tiU the last meal, 

 which must always be of grain — light wheat and 

 groats are the best for chickens. Thirds, or 

 sharps (sometimes called paring-meal) is very 

 good for all poultry, and particularly for young 

 growing birds, as it is rich in bone and muscle- 

 forming properties, but being deficient in gluten, 

 it is not warmth-giving, and is therefore better 

 when combined with meal. Full-grown pullets 

 will now (end of September) be laying, and some 

 wUl even show symptoms of wishing to sit ; but, 

 with Birmingham and other important shows in 

 the distance, no fine specimen of poultry should 

 be allowed to devote herself to maternal duties. 

 These must be left to mongrels, and the picked 

 fowls shut out from their nests, which very soon 

 cools their ardour, and after a little they begin 

 laying again. Dipping in water is often recom- 

 mended to reduce hatching-fever, but it is not 



