The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-03-14
POULTRY.
A Description Of . Poultry Farm In En-
gland.

A Description Of Q Poultry Farm In En-
gland.
An English correspondent gives the
following description of the way many
flocks are kept on an English farm with
comparatively little trouble or expense.
This farm is situated at Stratton,
about four miles from the old city of
Dorchester, the capital of Dorset. The
owner, Mr.. Thomas Chick, lives in a
quaint old low house, next to an old
fashioned square-towered church, and
the hamlet lies around and about
These houses and farm-buildings are
prettily ensconsed in the narrow valley,
on both sides of which is the land occu-
pied by Mr. Chick. Here he has re-
sided for forty years. The farm Is
about five hundred acres in extent, and
is chiefly devoted to sheep-breeding,
dairy farming. and poultry keeping.
Corn or wheat growing is only very
minor portion of the work. The herd
of Devon cattle is a very good one, and
| have seldom seen finer collection of
these beautiful animals. Mr.. Chick de-
votes his attention to economic breeds,
of which he keeps several varieties, and
not only does he send large quantities
of eggs and chickens to market, but he
supplies to small poultry-keepers and
other farmers eggs for sitting and pure
bred stock birds. This, however, is a
perfectly legitimate part of the system
and one which very many farmers
might encourage. to their own profit
During the egg season, higher prices
are obtained than if merely for the
table, and the extra shilling received
for stock birds always add to the bal
ance at the years end. This is all done
without regard to mere fancy considera-
tons. All that is necessary is to give
thought to the selection and mating Of
the breeders.
1.-The fowls are divided into families,
and spread all over the farm. This is
so far done. that, at the time of my
visit to Stratton, it was necessary to
walk between three and four miles in
order to see all the various focks.
Nearly every large field has a small
poultry-house in it, with pen of fowls,
and in some of the largest fields there
are a couple of these houses. OF
course. they are put as widely apart as
is possible, and where there are two in
one field, these are placed at the ex-
treme limits There is no fencing or
wire-netting used to form runs. and the
birds have the fullest liberty. The farm
is studded about with fine large trees,
principally elms, and these give splendid
shelter to the fowls. Cattle are kept in
the fields, and the only attention the
birds get or need is to be fed and have
their houses cleaned daily, and moved
occasionally. Each flock, generally a
distinct breed, appears to keep its own
company, and was told at the time OF
my visit that it was the rarest thing for
bird of one lot to be found mixing
with any of the others.
THE houses are movable ones, so
made that they can be lifted and carried
by couple of men, handles being pro-
vided for the purpose. These houses
are of home erection, and roughly put
together, but are well and substantially
made. They stand upon legs about two
feet high, thus giving a shelter to the
birds below. The inmates reach the
house by hen-ladder. Every day the
i ~ arc oa .:s: 'oonou III ~
! any alo s'ls, ,; W h.,. ~, ~
snow synP'on. '" ;.asod ' IT, ~ ' L..J',
.ei 70 ,o.y i q. ~ - aro dont
na.uIal way IN WHICH my o selS
ing, made disease more conspicuous by
its absence than by its presence. In
.wu or .nlee ins.a:oS p0.nanon =.
pu'luinss were ocouP'cu pons -,
Iowlsi pu1 'hr0ugn9u., :" ~ Ease az
tne pou,ry alioweu W 'hser.eie WIZ. ~
Ine reguia. w1lh ~ I,i a.har; b ~
occupy Ina' WHICH "o''u o'''o' WISE &c
increased. III.
~ Is only we auui: o,las Vi .Ie o.ue.
chickens enaS are pun III .nis way ous ol
tne 1arm. Inc chlckens are G nalIieu
either at the Iesioence Vi MI. CnicN VI
at Iafms1eauing son,e Two iilies away
Wneie lves .ne man VINO mas 'ne pouitLs
speclaliy uhuer ms care. IN on1 VI sne
otner u 'nese piaoes .no onloa' ~
kepl uneil olu enough 70 NC pun ou'.
many OF .ncin' % couIse: are SOU ~
kliieu wneh qul.e yorns. el.nea iot .au ,ls
OF as ssoca iowls me nunoea " .s "a
sofa on tnis iarln every year ~ aoou: ~ .
Teen snousanI' anu .n1le are s,A ~ ILL
~ o .hos .ha monvu Say S"s W,
~ - .luo sna. 'I Ix :. =: 70" 90 ~ L.
very woeucriui' Iu' ~ 40 alSo = 70 ona'
Il every farmer VINO mas ne saln1 acio
age wouio 40 Ine same me ,un nuLap ~ !. %
eg as anu p a p1u mndred "v ner cont