and gentleness, traits too often lacking in 
the sterner sex. There is no event in con¬ 
nection with poultry raising, during the 
whole year, which has not its interest for 
those who care for the innocent creatures 
of the farm-yard. Whether it be feeding 
grateful bipeds, gathering eggs, hatching 
the chickens, or reducing the flocks in the 
fall to suit winter quarters, all have their 
charm, and excite the interest and sym¬ 
pathy of their faithful attendants. There 
is much complaint among physiologists, 
that American ladies lose health and beauty 
earlier than they ought, for want of suffi¬ 
cient out-of-door air and exercise; and the 
occupation has, among its other benefits, 
that of sending them daily abroad into the 
pure, outer air, and inciting a love for ru¬ 
ral, natural beauty, not found among those 
whom no such beauty tempts from the 
fireside. 
Poultry Gossip. 
The characteristics of the Polish fowls, 
are protuberance of skull, the crest, and 
the elevation of the nostrils. 
For morning feed for most varieties of 
fowls, one-half corn meal, one-half fine 
feed, or shorts, a very little beef scraps and 
a little sulphur once a week. In cold 
weather add some ginger once or twice a 
week. 
Never ship to a customer eggs that you 
would not use yourself. Honesty is always 
the best policy, every time, young man, in 
the chicken business. Sharp tricks may 
pay at first, but your reputation is much 
more valuable. 
Incubators—just the same as sitting hens 
—need watching. Don’t be afraid of giving 
a little care to the machine that does the 
work for fifty hens. 
Nicely fattened poulfay always sells 
quick. When offered for sale they should 
not have their crops filled with feed. The 
bird should fast at least twelve hours before 
being killed. They may have water in 
the morning before killing time, but no 
feed. 
For debility among hens or chicks mix 
one ounce Peruvian bark, one ounce gin¬ 
seng, one ounce red pepper and one ounce 
fenugreek. To this may be added halfjan 
ounce of carbonate of iron, and a teaspoon¬ 
ful of salt. The dose is a teaspoonful for 
every five hens twice a day. 
If buyers insist upon cheap prices,"they 
will generally get cheap birds. If the pur¬ 
chaser will think this matter over a little, 
he can readily satisfy himself that no 
breeder, who culls his flock thoroughly, or 
who selects for breeders, or exhibition, the 
choicest few he has, out of hundreds he 
starts in the spring, can afford to part with 
such first-class specimens at ‘cheap figures.* 
The number of hens apportioned to a 
cock must vary with surroundings and the 
breed. If the fowls have ample range, so 
that the requirements of nature in respect 
to exercise are complied with, their vigor 
will be such, that from eight to twelve 
hens will be about right; while if restrict¬ 
ed to a small yard with no special provis¬ 
ion for exercise, six would be enough. 
These points must be watched by the fan¬ 
cier, himself, and it will be readily seen, 
what is the best plan to adopt. 
Pearls of Thought. 
The purse strings are the most common' 
ties of friendship. 
Never take a crooked path when you can 
take a straight one. 
He that lies down with the dogs must 
rise with the fleas. 
He that will have no trouble in this 
world must not be bom in it. 
A man cannot have an idea of perfection 
in another which he was never sensible of 
in himself. 
He who strives after a long and pleasant 
term of life must seek to attain continual 
equanimity. 
Innocence is like a flower, which withers 
when touched, and blooms not again 
though watered with tears. 
Life’s real heroes and heroines are those 
who bear their own burdens bravely and 
give a helping hand to those around them. 
“Wealth,” says Dr. Holmes, “is a steep 
hill which the father climbs slowly, and 
which the son often tumbles down pre¬ 
cipitately.” 
