70 Hubbard's poultry secrets. 



should be fed on wheat, corn and oats. The wheat and oats 

 Should be sprouted, which is done in the following way : Take 

 two parts oats and one part wheat, mix thoroughly by hand 

 and put in a wash boiler (which I think makes the best thing 

 to soak them in), then pour enough water in the boiler to 

 cover them well. Let them soak for 36 hours, then add to 

 each pail of water you soak them in, 30 or 40 drops of tincture 

 of iron (this pertains to a pail that holds 12 quarts of water), 

 the oats and wheat should then be put in shallow boxes, which 

 should be 18 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 4 inches high. 

 Fut about 23/2 inches of the soaked grains in each box, and 

 place one box on top of the other. There should be a small 

 crack in the bottom of each box to let the water drain ofif. The 

 second day they are in the box they should be stirred up by 

 hand. The morning of the third day they should be wet down 

 with cold water, and stirred up by hand again. Each time 

 after they are stirred up, the boxes should be placed one on top 

 of the other. Don't place anything between the boxes to give 

 a circulation of air as is advised by some, as this causes the top 

 of the grains to dry out much faster than the middle, and they 

 won't all start to sprout at the same time. By placing one on 

 top of the other, it stops the currents of air from drying out 

 the top and the grains hold the moi.sture better. The fourth 

 morning you will find they have all started to sprout, provided 

 they have been kept in a room where the temperature is from 

 70 to 75°. Then put all the grain into a hig box which is 2j4 

 feet square, and 10 inches high. Stir them up well, wet them 

 well with cold water, and put a cover over the box. Have a few 

 cracks in the cover, but the cover must not be raised oiT the box. 

 The grains should be kept in the dark, but they should also be 

 moist. After they have been in this box for two days, they 

 are ready to be fed to the birds. The time when sprouted 

 grains are best for fowls is when they have made a good length 



