chickens were losing their feathers and dying. H sought the counsel of the two wise men in
     town, Hing, who was scientist, and Ming, who was a sorcerer.
     Hing, who has had man advanced course hours in poultry science, consults the classic text in
     poultry disease, "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Diseases of Chickens, But
     Were Afraid to Ask." In the book Hing finds a reference to the report of a study showing that
     feeding the chickens with an infusion of gum tree leaves is often a remedy for chickens losing
     their feathers. Meanwhile Ming reads obscure writings of ancient wise men, he meditates, and
     he reads tarot cards and examines the entrails of a pig. Getting no inspiration he uses his old
     standby, reading tea leaves. In a spark of discovery, it comes to him that an infusion of gum
     tree leaves is the cure.
     So the two wise men report back to the influential Chinese farmer. Ming says, "As gum sticks
     to tables and chairs, so shall an infusion of gum tree leaves make feathers stick to chickens."
     Hing agrees, saying "Studies show that infusions of gum tree leaves alleviate feather loss in
     chickens." The influential Chinese farmer is ecstatic, for the two wisest men in town are of a
     single mind. He decides to follow their recommendation. It does not work.
      Moral of the Story: "All of Hing's courses and all of Ming' ken couldn't get gum tea to feather                      a hen."