any practical value, so much depends on the size of the birds; it is obvious that a Dorking of ten pounds weight, and a Game fowl of five pounds,' would require very different quantities of food. Again, the quantity must vary with the season of the year, much more being required to keep up the due amount of animal heat in winter than in summer. The work going on in the farm-yard, and the number of birds that are laying, will also influence the amount required to be given; for when a hen is producing eggs, she will ettt nearly twice the amount of food that she requires at another time. The best rule, both as to and time, is to give the fowls a full meal in the morning, and a second shortly before going to roost. Many persons feed their fowls only once a day, usually in the morning; the conse quence is that they go to roost with empty crops, and as the nutriment they have collected during the day is required to keep up the animal warmth, particularly during the long cold nights of win ter, it can not be employed in the production of eggs; thus feeding hens once a day is not favor able to their fertility. It is necessary, therefore, to feed liberally twice a day, if any large amount' of profit be desired from fowld. There is one great advantage dependent on having fixed hours of feeding, namely, that the birds soon become accustomed to them, and do not hang about the The fowls should be let out early in the morn ing; in fact, ii there is no fear of foxes or other thieves, the hen-house had better be left open, so that the birds can come out at will. This they will do at daybreak, and, by wander ing over the fields, secure a large amount of worms .and insect food. They should receive their morn ing meal at a fixed hour: immediately after breakfast is, usually a convenient time. It may be asked, how much corn should be given per head? We believe it to be quite impossible to give to that question, an answer that would be of house door all daylong, as they do if irregularly and frequently fed. They consequently obtain a greater amount of food for themselves, and are less troublesome than they otherwise would be. If fowls have not a free range where they can obtain green vegetable food, a supply is indis pensable to health, and it is as well to vary it if possible. In winter, a swede turnip may be cut across, and thrown down for them to peck at. In summer, cabbages should be sppplied daily; or, what is still better, lettuces, especially those running to seed. The avidity with which these
are devoured by fowls and turkeys is remarkable. I Vegetable food may be advantageously cooked and mixed with meal, as a change. Small waste potatoes, boiled or steamed till soft, form a cheap and useful occasional food; but the fowls soon become tiered of them, and they should only be used at intervals. In addition to wholesome and abundant food, a supply of clean water is indis pensable. Some kind of fountain is often more convenient than an open vessel, in which the water is apt to become dirtied by the fowls. A very cheap and convenient contrivance of this kind may be made out of an earthenware jar and an ordinary glazed flower-pot saucer, by boring a small hole in the jar an inch and a half from the edge. When required for use, the jar is to be with water, and the saucer placed bottom upwards on the top. Both together are then to be turned quickly over, when the water will be found to flow into the saucer to the same height as the hole in the side of the jar. Some of the most successful rearers of chickens and pheas ants are in the habit of administering to the young birds a chalybeate tonic in the water given them to drink; and they speak very highly of its good effects in those cases where broods are weakly, or where the young fowls are inclined to outgrow their strength. For this purpose an ounce of sulphate of iron (green vitriol) may be dissolved in a quart bottle of water, and two or three spoonfuls of this solution added to the water in the drinking-fountain, sufficient being supplied to give it a slight inky taste. The effect of this chalybeate on the health and vigor of the birds is very marked; their combs brighten in color, their appetite increases, and their general stamina is much improved. This mixture is prac tically identical with many of the poultry nos trums extensively advertised. Water fowl, ducks geese, etc., do not require large bodies of water as has generally been supposed. A small pond that may be kept clean in which they may bathe is all that is required, and even when there is no water save for drinking they do fairly well, when only a few are kept. Turkeys require and must have a considerable range, and they must also be allowed full liberty with their young after they begin to feather, else they will surely not be kept in good health. The same may be said of pea, and Guinea fowl. (See breeds under proper names; also, Poultry, in Supplement.)