“Fowls cannot be healthy if kept on the same ground year after year, for the earth becomes poisoned.  They should be moved to new ground every year, and the soil occupied the year before used to grow grain, grass, and vegetables; then the fowls could be returned.  Unless a movable coop is used it is a good plan to move the yard from one side of the hen-house to the other.  If the fowls are diseased either through being kept on poisoned ground or as a result of crowding in taking them to market, their flesh cannot be wholesome for food.

“Fowls are sensitive, timid creatures, and should be treated with kindness.  If one cannot take good care of them, it is far better to give up keeping hens and chickens.”

ROBERT VISITS THE PIGS.

“Can I help you about anything this morning?” asked Robert of James, as he strolled out into the barnyard after breakfast.

“I am going to feed the pigs,” said James.  “You may go with me if you like.”

Robert did not seem very much pleased with this invitation, and, as James looked surprised, he said: 

“I do not like pigs, they are so dirty.  Besides, they are always squealing, and they live in such a disagreeable place under the barn.”

James smiled.  “Come with me and see our pigs,” he said; “perhaps you will like them better than you think.”

James had a large wheelbarrow with him, and on the way he stopped in a fine field of clover and cut enough of it to fill the wheelbarrow to the very top.  Robert helped him pile up the clover, and he would have liked to wheel the barrow, but it was too heavy for him.

They passed on into another field where Robert saw a row of little houses.  Each little house had a yard inclosed by a board fence, which was not too high for Robert to look over.

In the first yard was a fine, large sow and six clean little pigs, four of them white, and the other two black and white.  They were frisking around their mother and playing almost as prettily as young puppies.  There was space enough in the yard to give them plenty of room for their frolic.

Robert was so delighted with them that he wanted to feed them, and James let him put an armful of the sweet clover into the yard.  “I have fed them once this morning,” said James.  “They had their regular breakfast before I had mine, which was very early.”

Robert went on to the next yard where a large hog was lying contentedly in the sun.  He gave a cheerful grunt as if to say “thank you,” when James threw some clover over the fence.

“Here, old fellow, are some acorns!” said James, as he took a handful from his pocket and flung them over into the clover pile.  “That’s right.  Hunt them up!”

Robert laughed to see what a good time the hog was having.  As he went on he saw that all the yards were clean and so were the pigs.  There was a trough of fresh water in each yard, and another trough for the food.