286 
GENERAL MANAGEMENT 
them for breakfast. By this method they had only a small 
portion of animal substance each meal. But when the 
snow was on the ground, or in hard frosty weather, she had 
the food taken to them in the hen-house ; so that they could 
please themselves as to when they would come out. By this 
sort of attention and treatment she was amply rewarded ; 
for the February, March, April, and May, and even some 
of the June chickens, would lay at and before Christmas. 
Thus was she supplied plentifully with fine new-laid eggs 
nearly all the year round ; and besides that, she had plenty 
of fine fat capons for the table. 
Should a fowl, at any time, become ill, it was instantly 
removed, to prevent mischief spreading among the others ; 
still that was a matter of very rare occurrence. But Aunt 
always maintained that pure air and cleanliness were quite 
as necessary as good food, for the preservation of health. 
Besides perfect ventilation, she considered it was also neces- 
sary to lime-wash the boxes, and change the nest. But, to 
make assurance doubly sure," she, every Monday morning, 
during the hot weather, had the floor of the hen-house 
strewed with unslacked lime, powdered fine, and then watered 
from a watering-pot ; and after letting it stand for a time till 
settled, it was swept clean out, and the place mopped dry. 
This process annihilated the fleas, and did much to purify 
the place from anything like disease. As to the water they 
had to drink, that was always kept in the shade, and sup- 
plied fresh every morning in clean earthen dishes. 
Now, I have told you Aunt Jane's methods of 
managing poultry ; and though she was most scrupulous in 
the observance of every rule, still she was equally so with 
the dairy, and her domestic duties. She suj^erintended 
everything herself, and was never confused, or in a hurry, 
because she had a time for everything, and everything was 
done in its time. This always kept her placid and happy. 
Nor had Uncle any cause of complaint, since his buttons^ 
shirts, and stockings were ever ready and in good order ! 
Breeding of Spanish Dorkings. 
Having seen both the wrong and the right methods of 
managing poultry, let us set to work to obtain the finest and 
most profitable breed we can keep ; namely, Spanish Dor- 
