| 1 Jan., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 23: 
Poultry. 
WARTS ON CHICKENS. 
By ‘‘CORINDA.” 
THERE are very few breeders of poultry that have not lost many chickens every 
season during the hot weather from warts, and, as the disease is a very 
loathsome one to deal with, it behoyes those who have now healthy clutches of 
_ chickens to prevent as far as possible attacks of this special disease. 
Avoid giving heating food, such as oatmeal and maize, in large quantities, 
and twice a week disolve a small quantity of Epsom salts in their drinking 
| water—say in the proportion of one packet of salts to one gallon of water. Con- 
tinue to end of February. Give plenty of green food, and be sure their water 
is kept in a cool place, 
Another cause of warts is large numbers of chicks being allowed to roost 
_ together in close confinement. The mosquito is generally blamed, but more are 
_ lost by allowing large clutches to huddle up together in corners of dirty fowl- 
_ houses than anything else. As warts are infectious, separate those attacked, and 
rub carbolic oil or a mixture of bluestone and lard over the sores, and by 
_ bathing in warm water prevent the eyes closing, or they simply die of starvation. 
INDIAN RUNNER DUCKS. 
THEse birds appear to be doing well in South Australia. One breeder in 
that colony says that his Runner ducks are most prolific layers, and strongly 
urges farmers to give the variety a trial. They eat very little, but are 
wonderful foragers. Mr. 8. Pitman has a flock, of which nine ducks laid an 
average of 210 eggs each for the year; these ducks are a little gold-mine for 
eggs alone. They are small, averaging about 4 lb. each, which is the average. 
_ weight of a common duck, but they mature very rapidly and lay at an early age, 
_ and further are excellent for crossing, producing good table birds (with Pekins 
or Aylesburys) ; also improving the laying powers of the cross-breds. 
Mr. Thomas says that his ducks were keeping up the reputation of the 
breed as regular layers, and he thought that by judicious management no 
difficulty would be experienced in obtaining a supply of eggs throughout the 
year. 
POULTRY MANURE. 
Wuav is the value of poultry manure? is the question of a correspondent of 
Garden and Field. here is considerable misconception respecting the value 
of fowl-yard manure, due, no doubt, to its being considered similar to high-priced 
guanos. On this subject Professor C. M. Aikman, in his standard work on 
manures, pages 325-6, says :—‘ Pigeon dung is a manure which, historically,’ 
is of great importance. The dung of pigeons was used as a manure by the 
ancient Romans; and even in modern times, more especially in France, it was 
considered a most important fertiliser. Despite these facts, pigeon dung is by 
no means a rich manure, andits composition compares most unfavourably with 
that of the guanos we haye just been considering (7.¢., artificial ‘ guanos,’ 
such as ‘fish guano,’ ‘meat meal guano,’ and ‘bat guano.’) According to 
Storer, it only contains from 14 to 24 per cent. of nitrogen, and from 14 to 2 
