Evening star., 1915-09-12

roof of one of the heavier and more
durable materials to be had at all
places selling builders materials and
at many poultry supply houses. These
roofing materials are well advertised,
and no poultryman can plead ignorance
in regard to proper materials or how
to use them, If he will only read the
papers.
By far the larger proportion of poul-
try houses built nowadays are of the
open = front or semi open front style,
facing south or southeast. Such houses
invariably have the roosts at the back,
or north. side-the coldest side of the
full of cracks, creviceS and open places,
that permit the free ingress of north
or northwest winds, the fowls cannot
fail to be uncomfortable at night while
on the roosts. The way to prevent this
is to make absolutely sure the exposed
side of the house is weather tight.
Cover every crack, crevice and Granny,
either with tar paper or building pa
per, or with new siding material. Fail
ure of scores of large and small poultry
plants. because the hens refused to lay
during the winter, when eggs We're
high in price, may be laid dlrectlE 10
the fact that the quarters of the fowls
were not proof against cold WINDS
driving rains or sitting SHOWS.
When the leaves begin to fall from the
trees, rake ana put away tHS i.i SeE'
supply possible. for use as litter during
the winter Thoroughly dry leaves make
| a litter that cannot be eXcelleo. aithoueH
as the leaves soon break up the Htter
| must be renewed at frequent intervals
| The fowls do like to dig and scratch
in such material, though, and as the sole
cost of the leaves is the labor of raklng
them up. putting them into sacks or bar
rels and storing them away against the
| time when they will be needed, tnetr use
is most economical
| Dry leaves as litter are valuable other
wise also, as when hauled out and dumped
on the compost heap they add greatly 10
the fertilizing value of the material. Pos
| sessing greater power of absorption than
| cut or whole straw, they absorb more OF
| the volatile portions of the dropplngs
while decaying the leaves contribute a
large amount of the most valuable humus
to the fertilizer Leaf mold" is perhaps
| the most valuable kind of soil for all
! gardening purposes, and the use of leaves
| as litter gives the poultryman a large
supply of this material, made right on the
place.
| While the days are warm and sunny
| and the soil is dry, make provision for
plenty of dust for the hens dust baths
| during the winter. Thoroughly dry
| erable amount of sand and gravel, Is
! fine, as the fowls obtain much natural
| grit from it, while the sharp particles
of the sand, penetrating to the roots
| of the feathers. make the material
| ideal for dust bath for the poultry.
| The material should be stored away in
barrels or boxes in a place where it
will keep perfectly dry until 1T is
| wanted. Ordinary soil from the garden
| or field. if dug while as dry as pos
sib1e and then stored in the cellar or
| basement, where the heat of the fur
mace will drive out the remaining
| moisture. is good. OF course. if the
| nearby roads have been oiled, it should
be unnecessary to advise against the
| gathering or use of dust from along
| their edges. But if there is "a creek
| or small stream handy, along the banks
| of which sandbars are frequent. get
| just as much of the dry, somewhat
| gravelly, sand as possible-miXed with
| the dust of dry soil it furnishes dust
| baths, and at the same time renders
| unnecessary any expenditure for grit
| for the fowls.
| Don't fail, under any circumstances
| to make ample provision for green
| feed for the fowls during the winter
| If crimson clover has been sown. very
! we'll: the problem will be solved. Or
| if provision has been made for a big
| plot of spinach, this will supply greer
| feed, as will the tops of late-sowr
| turnips, especially if these are given a
| slight covering of straw or leaves be-
| fore hard freezing weather comes. And
| if the root cellar is filled with turnips
| rutabagas, carrots, etc, and a good
supply of late cabbage has been stored
so that it will keep well through the
winter, the poultryman need worry lit
| t1e-a liberal supply of such feeds not
only keeps the digestive systems of the
| fowls in good trim, but aids materially
| in cutting down the cost of other and
| more expensive feeds. And the item OF
grain and millfeeds, according to all
present indications, is going to be a big
| one during the coming winter.