THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
ridges have decreased on some of the light lands of the Eastern Counties 
may be because the farmers no longer “clay” them as they used to do 
when corn really paid. Now this land is too light, and consequently lacks 
insect life. It is a well-known fact that the better and higher the farming, 
the stronger the stock of partridges the land will carry, provided it is 
arable. 
Of late years it has become a growing custom to place a chicken hut, 
with from twenty to sixty cocks and hens, on the various stubbles directly 
harvest is over. The poultry very soon clear the fields of any grain there 
may be left, and they also, of course, consume the greater part of the insect 
population, thus shortening the food supply of the partridges. In addition 
to this poultry do considerable damage to the fences, scratching out great 
gaps, and if anyone will take the trouble to examine the inside of these 
chicken huts, he will find that they are, as a rule, in a most filthy condi- 
tion, the nesting boxes full of mouldy hay, swarming with fleas and 
vermin, the floors covered with rotting poultry dung ; this is bound to 
foul the ground, and very likely will spread disease amongst the poultry, 
which will speedily be communicated to partridges and pheasants in the 
surrounding fields. Now, it is a question whether these poultry houses 
pay their owners in the long run, except in a small way; it is therefore well 
worth the while of any owner or lessee to approach the tenants on the 
subject of what profit they expect to make. In many cases a five pound 
note, or less, will cause a farm to be cleared of all these poultry houses to 
the advantage of the tenant, the partridges, the owner, and his friends 
who come to shoot with him ; whilst the extra number of partridges shot, 
plus the sport they will afford, should amply repay the expenditure thus 
incurred. Many landlords stipulate in their leases that fowl -houses are 
not allowed on the land ; there can then be no trouble, though perhaps they 
may get a few pounds less rent. 
Early nesting pairs are often tempted to choose that fatal spot a lucerne, 
sainfoin, or young -grass field, which will very likely mean the destruction 
of their eggs or young later on. These disasters may be partly prevented 
if a pointer or setter be run frequently over the young -grass fields in the 
month of April and early May ; the old birds very soon fight shy of nesting 
in such disturbed ground, and will seek safer quarters in the neighbouring 
hedgerows or rough brakes. 
On an estate that is well supplied with belts, rough ground, or still 
better, a high bank running for miles, like the Roman dyke in the Six 
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