Furniture 97 



and, when the climate is dry, such a plan might 

 work very well. Although unpleasant at first, 

 the droppings would soon be dry, and ground 

 to dust imder the feet of active hens. It must 

 be remembered that during the year droppings 

 gather in large quantities in all houses, and are 

 not harmful or offensive unless they get damp. 

 Those voided at night, added to these, would 

 probably make no great difference. 



Careful hen men, however, have declined this 

 suggestion, and it is not because of fogey notions 

 or hide-bound ideas. The poultry raiser to-day 

 is a spry fellow; he must be, or he wouldn't stay 

 in the business long. A flock of hens will soon 

 finish the acid test of their pastor, and prove the 

 answer. 



In favor of the roost across horses, without 

 dropping boards, is the labor saved in cleaning, 

 and the protection against lice. These roosts 

 touch the walls at no point, may be removed 

 entirely from the house for a thorough cleaning, 

 and will not be contaminated quickly when put 

 back into the house. 



The dropping boards however are important 

 for several reasons : 



