10 PBEFAOE. 



thrive often better than elsewhere. The grit from the 

 roads, and the insect life in the hedges, conduce to their 

 general health. 



One of the most discouraging features of chicken 

 rearing by those who have not mastered the first 

 principles of the industry is that distempers sometimes 

 break out, from a lack of absolute cleanliness about 

 the pens, or from the absence of a regular supply of 

 grit or ground oyster-shells, and the very indis- 

 pensable dust bath. Hence the infection of poultry 

 on adjacent premises. Frequent lime-washing is a 

 great preventive of disease. Weakness resulting 

 from want of variety in feeding may be cured by a 

 meat diet. I have been told that bullock's heart is a 

 sovereign panacea for several of the ills that occa- 

 sionally affect the chicken yard. Above all, the 

 beginner must be cautioned against strewing the 

 ground with vegetable leaves or remnants, which 

 should be kept from under the fowls' feet by being cut 

 up and placed in troughs. Experience has invariably 

 shown that the dragging about of any kind of food in 

 filth is one of the chief causes of disease. Some 

 consider that a good plan is to place meat and vege- 

 tables on clean sacks laid on the ground, and covered 

 with panels of wire netting 1|- inches in the mesh, 

 through which the birds can pick up what they need. 

 Eussian white oats are strongly recommended as not 

 only best for . poultry, but as being cheaper than our 

 own produce. 



With regard to the fattening process, which is 

 carried on in a special building, well shaded from the 

 light, I have always recommended the use of barred 



