ALTERNATIVE RUNS 231 
worse than no leaves at all, and mixed with the droppings quickly 
form into manure. 
The dry leaves of hard woods such as hornbeam, oak, chestnut, 
maple and beech are probably best. If dry they need no prepara- 
tion and can be transferred straight into the house, but as they will 
not last so long as many other kinds of litter, a large reserve stock 
is necessary. It is only when they are available without payment 
that one should use leaves, for they possess several disadvantages 
compared with other forms of litter. They are barely heavy 
enough to afford the resistance necessary in good scratching 
material, and if possible it will be better to spread them over a 
layer of sawdust or peat moss. 
When the chaff or winnowings from threshing machines can 
be obtained cheaply it makes a very good poultry litter. It is 
warm and dry—two great essentials in all scratching material. 
Like leaves, they offer very little resistance to the hens, and hardly 
provide enough exercise, but on the top of peat moss they are 
excellent. 
Straw is a most expensive litter, and while it looks nice and serves 
its purpose well, it may be pointed out that it offers splendid hiding 
quarters in its hollow stems to all sorts of insects and pests that 
prey on poultry. The same remarks apply more or less to hay. 
If straw is used it is better to change it fairly often, and a sprinkling 
of some insecticide once a week will tend to destroy any vicious 
life lurking in its depths. 
Bracken when used as litter should be cut in its green state, 
dried and then stacked ready for use. Some poultry-keepers try 
to use it as cut, but it is much better to chaff it into lengths of two 
or three inches. It is easily broken down by the birds, and the 
particles help to absorb the manure, while, being a potash fertiliser, 
its properties are valuable in the garden. 
Cedar-wood shavings have several valuable qualities as litter, 
the best being that they are prejudicial to the life of insects. 
Cedar wood has an agreeable odour, and makes the house smell 
better for the fowl and its owner, while it forms a very fair material 
for scratching purposes. 
