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KTDD'S OWN JOURNAL. 



Whilst on the subject of Poultry, we can- 

 not refrain from bringing under the notice 

 of our readers some very useful and necessary 

 observations furnished by a correspondent 

 of the " Poultry Chronicle." The faults herein 

 pointed out, are almost universally com- 

 mitted: — 



When men lived in a state of nature, ail- 

 ments among them were less numerous ; and 

 so it is with poultry. In a natural state they 

 have few diseases ; with us they have many, 

 because we have forced them into an unnatural 

 state of life. Pheasants, wild-fowl, and poultry 

 (where they are wild, as in India), are always 

 healthy ; and the scars and seams, well known 

 to all those in the habit of plucking them, 

 testify to the condition that enables them to 

 recover from the most serious wounds. Our 

 feeding then, should most resemble that of 

 the wild bird, if we would seek the same 

 result both in condition and feather. We 

 should also seek to give the same food as the 

 bird would find if left to its own resources. 



The faults of modern feeding are, giving 

 meat — feeding out of vessels of any description 

 — throwing down large heaps of food — irregu- 

 larity — and too often the substitution of any- 

 thing that is "cheap "for that which is whole- 

 some. Meat is an unnatural food for poultry. 

 It was extensively given during the Cochin 

 mania, in order to make weight ; and many 

 are the buyers who have paid from ten to 

 twenty pounds each for very heavy hens, so 

 unnaturally fatted by this process that they 

 could never lay a perfect egg, and numbers 

 died in the attempt. A fowl is not provided 

 with digestive organs for meat. 



In a state of nature, fowls run over a great 

 extent of ground before they get a crop-full. 

 They pick food grain by grain, and with it 

 small pieces of dirt, blades of grass, and other 

 things that all help digestion. What, then, 

 can be said of the various feeders in use ? 

 Placed before the fowls tilled with barley, 

 the birds do in five minutes that which should 

 be the work of two hours ; they eat a greedy 

 fill, and suffering from unnatural repletion, 

 they have recourse to drink. The corn 

 swells in the crop, and the sufferers, instead 

 of walking cheerfully about, hide in corners, 

 and squat about to the detriment of their 

 health. This applies to the equally bad 

 practice of throwing down the food in heaps. 



In a natural state, at break of clay all birds 

 are in search of food, and they find it. What 

 an evil it is then for them to be fed one day 

 at seven, next day at nine, and sometimes not 

 till mid-day. A. still greater evil is, to 

 endeavor to make up for previous neglect by 

 an extra quantity. 



Among the improper food given to fowls 

 we include two rather popular articles, viz., 

 Indian corn and rice. The former makes 

 fowls extremely fat, but it makes no flesh. 



We consider the latter worthless ; no good 

 is ever done either in condition or feather 

 when the birds are fed with it. To keep a 

 yard in really good plight, the fowls must be 

 out at daybreak, and should be fed directly 

 with oatmeal slaked and thrown down to 

 them. Let it be so mixed, that when cast 

 down it will crumble. As soon as they cease 

 to run after it, leave off feeding. At mid-day 

 give some whole corn, wheat is best ; but 

 throw it as far, and scatter it as much as you 

 can — throw it among the grass ; you will see 

 the fowls spreading about in a natural way, 

 and seeking the stray grains. In the after- 

 noon, feed again as in the morning. Our 

 system then is, regular feeding three times a 

 day, and no food, save what they can find, at 

 any other time. It will cost no more than 

 the systems we have blamed, and the con- 

 dition of the fowls will amply compensate for 

 the little extra trouble. 



You may take it for an infallible rule, that 

 all white-feathered poultry are tender, save 

 Aylesbury ducks. 



If people would only exercise a little judg- 

 ment and would reason upon the fitness of 

 things, our numerous books upon poultry 

 would find no purchasers. But then, if all 

 were as wise as we are (!) how could the 

 world live ? 



CLOUDS AND SUNSHINE. 



When cold and drear the short'ning day, 



And threat'ning vapors fly, 

 'Tis sweet to see a sunny ray 



Athwart the wintry sky ! 

 When wand'ring in some forest lone, 



While night the earth enshrouds, 

 'Tis sweet to see the blessed moon 



Come forth from murky clouds ! 



And 'midst our ling'ring frosts and snows, 



To simple loving eyes 

 How sweet the hardy flowret shows 



That first dares tempt the skies ! 

 When lightnings cease, and clouds retreat, 



And scarce is heard the rain, 

 The glorious bow of Heaven is 6weet 



That tells 'tis peace again ! 



And sweet, when on a foreign soil, 



Far, far from all most dear, 

 In sorrow, or in wasting toil, 



Our native speech to hear! 

 When tempest-toss'd upon the main, 



Their compass lost, and way, 

 How sweet to seamen's eyes again 



The pole-star's guiding ray ! 



But sun, nor moon, nor polar star 



In dark, tempestuous skies, 

 Nor native speech, nor flowret fair, 



Nor rainbow's glorious dyes, 

 Are sweet — as when heart meets with heart, 



And fled are doubt and pain ; 

 When those Distrust had dooni'd to part 



Love bids to meet again ! 



