282 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



The practical problem then becomes to find a satisfactory 

 and economical system whereby a supply of green food may be 

 kept at hand for the birds at all seasons of the year when 

 wanted. The following system of rotation in the green stufit* 

 supply has been in use for several years on the poultry plant 

 of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station with entirely 

 satisfactory results. It should be said that, owng to the small 

 area of ground available for the poultry work at the Station 

 in relation to the number of birds it is necessary to carry, green 

 food must be added to the ration practically throughout the 

 year, not only for the adult fowls in the laying houses, but 

 also for the chicks growing on the range. The number of birds 

 reared is so great in proportion to the area which can be devoted 

 to them that the natural pasturage is very quickly exhausted. 



Beginning with the time in the fall of the year when the 

 pullets are put into the laying house they are given green corn 

 fodder chopped fine in a feed cutter. This is fed stalks, leaves 

 and ears (if there are any) all together. The pieces are cut 

 from a quarter to a half inch in length by the feed cutter used. 

 This green corn fodder is one of the most satisfactory sources 

 of green food for poultry which the Maine Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Station has ever been able to discover. The birds eat it 

 ravenously and in large quantities. It may be safely fed in 

 larger amounts than any other green food yet tried. After the 

 corn has been killed by frost so as no longer to be available 

 the birds are given cabbage and mangolds fed with the tops on. 

 These plants serve until well into the winter (December or 

 January). Then the oat sprouter is started and green sprouted 

 oats serve as the chief source of green food until well on into 

 the spring (April or May). The green oats are supplemented 

 with mangolds or with clover hay cut in short lengths with the 

 feed cutter and steamed. In case clover liay is not available 

 cut alfalfa is sometimes substituted for this. As soon as possi- 

 ble in the spring fresh green clover is cut from the range and 

 fed to the birds in the houses. To the young chicks in the 

 brooders, however, the best source of green food which has 

 yet been found is green sprouted oats. To these little chicks 

 only the tops are fed and these are cut fine. In the regular 

 crop rotation system carried out on the range green corn. Dwarf- 

 Essex rape, mangolds and cabbages are planted each spring. 



