Hubbard's poultry secrets. 89 



and let it cool. Work a small quantity of this mixture into 

 the palm of your hand, wiping off any surplus. Spread out 

 the bird's wing, rubbing the wing bone with this mixture. Al- 

 ways rub the right way of the feathers, never against them. 

 If your hen or pullet is barred a little on the back and sad- 

 dle, it is best to rub the whole length of the back and saddle 

 instead of trying to do separately the feathers that are barred. 

 With a little practice, one can easily see how the fakir can 

 fool the best judge in the business. I have had fakirs tell 

 me they have won with birds that have been barred from the 

 head to the tail by using this method. 



FAKING WHITE WING FEATHERS ON A BLACK BIRD. 



I obtained the following information by overhearing a con- 

 versation between two men which, if you desire to use, will 

 produce good results : 



From the drug store get the following prescription : Silver 

 nitrate, one-half ounce ; concentrated ammonia, two ounces ; 

 gum arable, one-half ounce ; water, one-half pint. In another 

 bottle the following prescription should be put up: Gallic acid, 

 one-quarter ounce ; alcohol, one-half pint ; water, one pint. The 

 two prescriptions are used in the following way: First, 

 the feathers to be faked should be dampened with soft warm 

 water, making sure when moistening the feathers to rub the 

 right way of the feather. When you have taken most all of 

 the moisture out of the feathers, take prescription No. 2 and 

 wet the feathers well. Let it stand a few minutes to soak in 

 and then apply prescription No. i, wetting the feath- 

 ers well. Let the feathers dry, after which take a 

 sponge that is just a little damp with water, and rub just 

 enough to take off the roughness. Usually the first applica- 

 tion is sufikient. 



