192 
A TREE FOR THE POULTRY YARD. 
HE many foreign conifers introduced of late years into 
England are generally classed among the ornamental 
trees of the nursery, though I doubt whether any one 
of them can in this respect compete with our native 
Scotch Fir, and (soil and situation being favourable) such old- 
established species as the Norway Spruce and Silver Firs. The 
first mentioned, when yvell grown and fully matured, is surely 
one of the most picturesque of trees. 
Away from their native soil and climate and placed under 
new and perhaps uncongenial conditions, many foreign kinds 
can hardly be expected to develop their full beauty and indi- 
vidual character. Several species certainly thrive well when 
young, growing fast and making for a time a brave show ; but 
the effect ultimately produced when maturity is approached can- 
not surely be compared with that to be obtained by a judicious 
selection and grouping of old hardy kinds, which have long 
been inured to our variable and trying climate. 
There are of course exceptions, some of the more recently 
introduced species being both handsome and fairly hardy, and 
one in particular, Picea pinsapo, well deserves a place in the 
usefnl list. 
The conformation and habit of growth of this tree fit it in a 
peculiar manner for a roosting place for fowls ; and the latter 
so thoroughly appreciate the comfortable quarters provided by 
it, that they are even apt, by crowding together in excessive 
numbers on the boughs, to injure the tree by their accumulated 
droppings. This, however, is easily prevented by planting a 
proportionate number of trees to the quantity of fowls kept ; and 
I cannot but think that a few of these handsome evergreens 
would be found very useful on farms where there is a large head 
of poultry. 1 doubt whether any other tree affords more warmth 
and shelter, and is at the same so easy of access to the fowls, 
the heavier breeds in particular. The numerous horizontal 
branches, which begin to leave the trunk close to the ground, 
make the ascent from within an easy matter ; and the foliage 
at the end of the boughs is so very thick and close, that the 
sleepers are almost completely shut in and hidden from sight in 
the open space within ; in fact, many of these trees, especially 
when young, might be roughly likened to a large wide hollow 
cone, with a pole running up the centre, from which horizontal 
perches radiate in various directions and at different heights. 
On parting the boughs and taking a peep at the interior 
some cold wintry night, the fowls ranged on their perches look 
very snug and cosy, and the keen outer air, tempered and • 
softened by its passage through the branches, must be far more 
wholesome for them to breathe than that of a closed-in fowl 
house. 
The common collared turtle or Barbary doves {Tnrtnr 
