Live Stock.—Poultry-Fowls—Proper Management of. 1207

already defcribed. In order that there may be the leaft poffible interruption to the poultry, it is neceflary that feparate places be provided for the purpofes of their rooft- ing, fitting, and being fattened in, as well as for containing their food; and, where the quantity kept is very confiderable, for plucking and preferving their feathers in; as by this means the fyfiem may be conducted tothe greateft advantage. And where an attendant is kept for the purpofe of feeding and taking care of this fort of ftock, it may be of confequence to have the place which is defigned for lodging in fo fituated, as that the fmoke which it affords may pafs through the roofting- and fitting-rooms, as it has been long known that the fmoke, as well as warmth thus communicated, is particularly grateful to the poultry, and highly promotes their breeding and thriving. This is fufficiently fhown by the vaft quantities that are raifed in the warm fmoky cottages in Scotland and Ireland.

In addition there fhould alfo be the conveniences of a yard, in which they may pickup fandy or gravelly particles, with a fmall grafs paddock for ranging in, in which there mutt be a fupply of pure water! The whole of the internal parts fhould be kept perfectly clean and free from vermin, by being frequently wafhed out and lime-whited.:

In fetting both the hen and the turkey, in order to prevent their inconveniencing each other, feparate nefits fhould be provided in fituations where they can be confined and kept from the reft; as without this precaution the fame neft will have two or three upon it; by which much injury may be fuftained.

Hens may be kept in the proportion of about fix or feven to acock. Young ones are the beft where eggs are the principal object; but’ where chickens are chiefly in demand the older kinds fhould be preferred, as they fit with more affiduity and clofe- nefs. Young hens moftly begin to lay in January, or early in the following month; but this may be greatly promoted by the ufe of food of the more ftimulant kind given with the grain, as buck-wheat, barley, hemp-feed, fenugreek,&c. in. which

intention any kind of refufe animal matter chopped very fmall has been found highly beneficial, alfo any of the fmall forts of fifh, fuch as fprats,&c. prepared in the fame manner. But whatever fort of food may be employed. for the laying hens, it is eflential to their producing a great number of eggs that they be not too much fed, though they fhould not be keep too poorly, as from each extreme difadvantage

may proceed. The periods of fetting hens muft neceflarily vary according as chickens are

wanted, but in general the latter end of February or the beginning of the following: