Page 26 



BETTER FRUIT 



March, Ip2i 



l_____l „|^, s some satisfaction" 



Inquiries Answered Contributions Solicited 



1 niilllliiimillttmiiH unit 11 11111 nun mil: 



CULLING A FLOCK OF HENS. 



In a bulletin recently issued on culling a 

 flock of hens Byron Alder, of the Utah experi- 

 111. ill station, brings out the following salient 

 points: 



Hens which are expected to produce eggs at 

 a profit must be housed in comfortable roomy 

 quarters, must he fed a ration which supplies 

 all that is necessary to manufacture the eggs, 

 and above all, must have the ability to lay. In 

 all breeds or strains of fowls there are indi- 

 viduals which are pour layers because of some 

 inherent quality which prevents them from 

 making the best use of the care and the feed 

 they receive. It is this which robs many 

 poultry raisers of part or all of their well- 

 earned profit. The elimination of the non- 

 producer from the laying flock is an essential 

 part of good poultry management. Many flocks 

 which are now producing at a loss would be 

 made profitable by culling the poor layers. Be- 

 cause of the high price of all poultry feeds 

 the necessity for a strict, rigid culling was 

 never more important than now. More eggs 

 will be obtained from a few good, vigorous, 

 well-selected hens properly fed than from 

 three or four times this number of ordinary 

 hens over-crowded and poorly or under-led. 



The first "essential for a good layer is a 

 strong, vigorous, well-developed body. Any 

 hen that shows a lack of vigor should be 

 eliminated. This lack of vigor may be indi- 

 cated by a long thin beak and head, (crow 

 head) by dull eyes, pale swiveled comb, long 

 toenails, and by the habit of spending much 

 of the time during the day on the perches. 

 This type of hen should be sent to market at 

 any season of the year she is observed, whether 

 she is three months or three years old. 



Culling the Pullets— The flocks of pullets 

 should be gone over carefuly early in the fall 

 and all those eliminated which show a lack of 

 development, are thin and emaciated, or have 

 an unthrifty, listless, inactive disposition. The 

 ability of a pullet to lay is limited by the 

 amount of feed she can consume; therefore she 

 must be large through the body and must have 

 a well-developed abdomen. The color pigment 

 lest cannot he applied on pullets before they 

 begin to lay. All White Leghorn pullets and 

 most pullets of the American breeds should 

 have deep yellow shanks, beak, and skin until 

 they have been laying several weeks. 



Every flock of layers should be gone over 

 thoroughly at least once each year and each 

 bird handled and the culls eliminated. This 

 can best be done in August or September for 

 two reasons. First, it is easiest to pick out 

 the poor or non-layers at this time and it will 

 be several months before they will begin lay- 

 ing again. Second, part of the old hens should 

 be disposed of to make room for the pullets. 



PARASITES ON POULTRY. 

 At least nine different species of lice, several 

 species of mites, and at least two species of 

 fleas attack the hen, according to entomologists 

 at the New York State College of Agriculture 

 at Cornell University. Hens, geese, ducks, and 

 in fact all kinds of domestic fowls, are likely 

 to be infested. Waterfowl are popularly sup- 

 posed to be free from such pests, though the 

 experts say they are always infested. Some 

 of these cause serious injury to the fowls, 

 with a consequent loss of profit to their 

 owners. 



The bird lice thai are found on poultry are 

 known as permanent parasites; that is, they 

 spend their entire lives on the bodies of the 

 low Is. They have biting, not sucking, mouth 

 parts and their feet have sharp claws which 

 scrape the skin of the fowls in the constant 

 movements of the lice over the fowls' bodies. 

 The constant irritation caused by the pres- 

 ence of the lice it is stated, eventually 

 weakens the fowls infested and renders them 

 susceptible In such diseases as gapes, cholera, 

 roup, ami others. 



lit mites there ate at least eighteen species 

 p;n:isiiic on poultry. Some of these are not 

 permanent parasites, but attack the fowls 



Baby Chicks from the Famous 

 O. A. C. Strain 



Eggs from 221-cgg hens mated to cockerels 

 from 300-egg hens. All chicks tested and 

 guaranteed free from white diarrhoea. 

 Deliveries begin February 15, 1921. 



PORTLAND SEED COMPANY 

 180 Front St., Portland, Oregon 



asserts the Boss Packer 



"to handle boxes that hold up like 

 those Diamond B's from Bloedel 

 Donovan Mills." 



Standard apple boxes, crates and 

 cases of selected materials, care- 

 fully constructed. 



Yes, the prices are right. 



Our large and complete stock 

 enables us to guarantee prompt 

 shipment. 



Write for price lists. 



Bloedel < ^*^ > Donovan 



Lr-u-TYvbeir 2vTill,S 

 1018 White Bldg. Seattle TJ.g.A. 



Pioasands 

 of Kirstins 



Try If 30 Days Free 

 ^end No Money 



One Man Alone 

 Handles Biggest Stumps! 



Write for Big 

 New Free Book 

 \of Kirstin Stump 

 Pullers! ,~, 



' published— pictu 

 : 'HORSE"fOW*E"R'."Jfl^"" 



^r'KIB^irn^™- Wr't " f-"; KKKK HOUK'sti'VTCUa 

 A. J. KIRSTIN CO., 2 90 E . Morrison St., Portland, Ore. 



How large is your "ghost pile ? " 



For every crop of Apples you actually gather there are many 

 piles of "ungathered fruits" left behind. 



NITRATE OF SODA 



will bring forth the "phantom crop." 



a4 FACT: Its actual use in an apple orchard resulted in an increased 



yield of 100 bushels, and improved the quality. Write for book of results 



DR. WM. S. MYERS 231 Douglas Building 



Chilean Nitrate Committee Los Angeles, California 



RITING ADVERTISERS MENTION BETTER FRVTT 



