The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-04-14
AGRIOULTURE.


PoULTRY HoUsEs.-The style and
finish Of the buildings intended for
poultry depend much on the purse and
taste Of the owner. Comfort of the Oc-
curants should not be sacrificed. for
without being comfortable the hens
cannot long remain in profit. Avoid
low or damp localities, as this gives
1onp.Or brings on a low state OF health
which invites disease. Or results in leg
weakness and emaciated birds, the
progeny of which will he victims of
the gnpes, PIP and similar diseases.
The location should he on dry upland.
grAvelly soil. and he well drained.
Fowls con endure much cold without
section injury. providing IT. he dry.
The floor should not he Of brick or &C.
mented, brt If solid flooring he re-
quired, IT. may be paved with cObblc.
stones, deeply imbedded in gravel, and
loose gravel or sand scattered over the
surface, which can be removed once or
twice year and replaced with fresh.
Over thi- air slaked lime may he scat
tered literally, or wood ashes. If coal
ashes be supplied, place them in box
In one corner of the room. The box
should be deep, that The fowls may not
scratch them out over the floor. Fowls,
when confined, are fond ofscratchlng
and picking among coal ashes. In
them they find something that assists
In the digestion of their food, while
also finding employment. The build
Ing should not be high Or lofty, unless
two story. Eight feet at the peak is
sufficient for all ordinary purposes,
and should gradually slope down at the
back or north end to about four feet.
Here should be the roosts. The SOUTH
ern portion shOuld be perhaps about
five f ct erect, and the glass windows
inclined from this to meet the rafters
at the peak. This plan gives the sun.
rays directly on the ground floor, and
on sunny days creates Il great degree
Of warmth, If the building be made
air tight, or as nearly rs can be with
matched or battcned boards, or what
Is still better, lathed and pIas tered.
This warmth will be retained well
throughout The night. The advantage
of ]owrOosts, close to the roof, is obvi
Gus. 1t Is good for heavy breeds as
we'll rs light.
Directly beneath the roosting-poles
should be II level scnflolGiug of smooth
ttards, to catch the droppings, and so
close to it that the fowls may step from
the rOOst thereon, and with Il short
flight alight on the ground. This
scai1old should have firm supports un-
derneath, or extend from clcats on
the sides Of the building, arranged for
this purpasc. 1t should be well COW
cred with air Stacked lime, which
holds and absOI BIS the moisture and
tdor Of the Groupings. In this man.
ner they may be readily and easily
removed each week, by scraping or
Into an empty barrel, and conveyed
elther 10 the compost heap or apr lied
10 the soil. This ruosting arrangement
is admirable for the large combcd va
rlctles. The ncarncss TO the root con-
tints The heat that escapes from the
body, and prevents freezing in the Sc
Vclest weather. At the same time, IL
Is well adapted for the heavy birds.
Disfigured feet and shanks are alwavs
unsightly, and should be guarded
against us much rs possible. The uou-
dams, too, are heavy breed. Heavy
and light breeds should not be conyre-
gated together in large numbers, II
possible to avoid it. Tho nest boxes
should he arranged under the scailold,
ana be somcW hat shaded, as fowls like
their places OF laying quiet and re-
urea. Their rooStS, too, are better pro-
tectrd from The full glare of the light;
Dut this is not Important, as they soon
become accustomed to and rather en-
JOY it, but at first it IisLurbs them a
little.