1S2 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Question. — What is the hest way to apply hen fertilizer to 

 garden culture or vegetables? 



Mr. Rice. — Hen manure is valuable. It i- rich in nitrogen, but 

 deficient in phosphoric acid. So we use dissolved South Carolina 

 rock under the perches. This keeps it dry and locks up the nitro- 

 gen. Never put wood ashes under the perches, or lime, either. 

 They will absolutely drive the nitrogen out. Land plaster is good, 

 so is road dust to use as absorbents. At least 40 per cent, of the 

 nitrogen in hen manure can be lost where it is allowed to heat 

 without absorbents. Care should be used in applying it to garden 

 vegetables after they are planted. It may burn them. Its value 

 will depend somewhat upon the quality of food the hens are fed. 

 "We usually mix the droppings with other manures and get it on to 

 the land where we intend to use it, as soon as possible after it is 

 made. 



INCUBATING AND BROODING. 



Question. — Are incubator chickens as healthy as those hatched 

 by hens ? Do you prefer incubators for hatching chickens ? Why ? 



Mr. Chapman. — I have never been able to detect any material 

 difference, where incubator was handled properly. I prefer in- 

 cubators, because they do not fight and break the eggs, are less 

 work to care for, do not breed lice and set when I want them to. 



Mr. Jennin. — Yes, providing incubator has been run with 

 proper ventilation and at a moderate temperature, say 102 degrees, 

 no higher, as higher temperature weakens the chicks. Incubator, 

 because the incubator is always broody, and can be depended on 

 to stick to business. Also when a large number of chicks is wanted, 

 it is cheaper. 



Question. — What is the average number of chickens which can 

 be produced and raised from 100 incubated eggs. 



Mr. Chapman. — If a man gets 75 chickens from 100 eggs, 

 hatched in an incubator, I think he will be doing well. We often 

 read of 99 per cent, of hatched eggs, but they were not from the 

 first egos put in, because at the end of every few days, the eggs 

 are tested and all eaa-s not fertile are thrown out. Later, when 

 dead chickens arc found in eggs, the eggs are replaced by new ones. 

 In that way, as many as 99 per cent, of the eggs that passed as 

 fertile or with live chickens in them, hatch. We raise 75 per cent, 

 of those hatched. 



