THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



©HE eoULiPI^Y IjA^D. 



(EMBODYING RESCXT8 OP ACTUAI, EXPHRIKKCK.) 



POULTRY HINTS FOR JANUARY. 



The early bird catchers the worm, and th 

 chicken catches the market. 



Ohicken.s, like ynen, gH a livivg by scratehing 

 niake sad havoc in the garden. 



early 

 but 



SOME FACTS ABOUT POULTRY DROPPINGS. 



JS^ P. II. Ja-cobs, Wayne, III. 



There have been many valuable hints given in 

 this and other journals in regard to poultry 

 droppings, but few persons, however, are aware 

 of the real value of such manure. The droppin^^s 

 are often estimated as equal to guano, but this is 

 a mistake. As the manure from animals varies 

 according to the quality of the food consumed, 

 so with poultry dropping* The fertilizing quality 

 depends upon the food and not upon the fowlt 

 Growing chicks require a greater proportion oi 

 nitrogen and phosphateB than do m.ature fowls, 

 consequently, as the demand of the animal sys- 

 tem is greater during growth, the droppings from 

 chicks are not as valuable as those from adults. 

 Fowls fed on grain do do not give as rich manure 

 as do those fed upon meat scraps, or those that 



HnW Tn KI£Kr am ) ^^^ ■^"^ complete Hpe^tAoatlonH. with full llluAtra- 

 llUff I U EViKnw nn [ tlonis <lmwlDir« of part's Dieiimirement*, and rimple 



I-.^^-__- - —s,^^ -^ {* directions Tur iiiaklni; liifiibuturM and Brooders. 

 NCUBaTOR.J 



Any one who vnn handle tools can 

 mabe a aa.;o>?:j>4rul Incub.iUir at a 

 ci^l of onlj ubaut ijlfl.OO for 

 luaUTial. Mal.■iIiu^■^ niaile frntu 

 our <tirecliou? art- more «atiN- 

 t'uctory than thoHC oowtine 

 #75.00, as those who u~i_' thfin 

 testify. Hatches o v e resre 

 over 80 per oent. of ferule 

 eccrH. Brooders, or artiScial 



mothera, whit;h will successfully rai-^'' _ _ _ _ 



to raUe aprlnu ehlokena. QUR SPECJAL OFFER": "For 4 yearly eubnorl 

 oepn at »o CIS. eacn, we will ^vu'l ;hes'- ^pecifloations free by 



conKiime a large number of fnseets. In compari- 1 place, in a majoritv <:rf'casesrthe''trouble "is with 



January is the coldest month in the year, and 

 deep snows will often seriouslj- interfere with the 

 operations in the poultry yards. In the South 

 the snows do not remain long enough on the 

 ground t-o c^iuse much annoyance, but in ttae 

 N'orth the poultryman, when the .vards are filled 

 with snow, must either shovel it away or leed 

 the hens in the poultry-house. If they are con- 

 tlncd in the house the doors should he ke]it open 

 during the day-time, provided the house faces 

 the south, in order to allow of the light and air, 

 or the fowls will prefer to remain outside. Thev 

 should have sawdust or straw on the fiour, and 

 the food thrown into it in order that thev may 

 be compelled to scratch. The dust in the dust- 

 box should be replenished often, and kept dry, 

 and the house must be cleaned of the droppings 

 daily. The water will freeze, and so will the soft 

 food, if the weather Is severe; of course (these 

 obstacles are discouraging, but as very little other 

 work can be done at tnis season, there will be but 

 a small loss of labor. It is no easy undertaking 

 to properly care for poultry in January, but as 

 there are many cases in which time and caiiital 

 are not remunerated in other directions besidi,- 

 that of poultry raising, by comparing the lal>or 

 bestowed in the poultry-house with other \cn- 

 tures, it will be found profital)lo to give the fowls 

 all the attention possible. 

 Eggs and cliieks arc hij'h 

 now. and amply rcjiay the 

 l>oultr.vman for his care and 

 attention. 



EGGS FOR HATCHING 

 PURPOSCS. 



Get_up the flub to be in tlinv 

 For 4 yearly subscri- 

 mall as a premium. 



son with guano, therefore, poultry manure 

 greatly inferior. Gnano Is deposited by blrus 

 that feed principally upon flsh, or other animal 

 food, as well as being composed of the bodies of 

 birds also.while poultry droppings are theproduct 

 of food of a very ditterent character. The best 



ruano sells at a ver.v high price, ranging from 

 wo to five cent.s a pound, at which price the drop- 

 pings of poultry would more than return the 

 cost of the food. But, a.s we stated, even the 

 droppings vary In composition, and the same is 

 true of guano. 



The value of the droppings dejiends upon the 

 manner of their preservation. There are several 

 ways of so doing. Some mix the droppings with 

 an equal quantlt.v of plaster, while others mix 

 one part droppings with two parts dry dirt, or 

 muck, adding a handful of plaster to each bushel 

 of the mixture. The mixture must be kept dry, 

 liowever. as dampness induces decompositioii, 

 which liberates the ammonia. Wood ashes are 

 unsuitable, though coal ashes are sometimes put 

 to such service, first being fluely sifted. The best 

 method for preserving the droppings is by using 

 an aei 1. If they are collected in a fresh condi- 

 tion, witn but little earth combined with them, 

 for ever.v bushel of droppings enough wat-er may 

 be added to moisten them thoroughly, but do 

 not wet them too much. Now add a gill of sul- 

 phuric acid to a gallon of water, and add to the 

 droppings, stirring the ina-ss well. Mix enough 

 dry dlr-t with them to absorb the excess of mois- 

 ture, and place the mixture away in a barrel, or 

 any ot.ier suitable vessel. Be careful, however, 

 in using tlie acid, especially when adding it to 

 the water, as heat is created, and sliould any 

 portion drop on the clothing it will injure it. 

 After the mixture is dr.v, however, it may be 

 handled with tae hands with safety. 



The advantages ot" the acid process are that 

 the droppings become fixed, and the volatile 

 matter will not pass olT. They will need no 

 grinding or other process at time of application 

 to the soil, and so prepared they will oe more 

 valuable, and give better results than when 

 preserved in any other manner. 



JANUARY THE TIME FOR INCUBATORS. 



-Vs the earliest chiciis are those that bring the 

 best prices, January is an excellent time to begin 

 hatching, although February and March are not 

 late months. We are often asked if incubators 

 are reliable. We will give, as an answer, that we 

 believe that there is not an incubator now ottered 

 but which will do as well as the most sanguine 

 can expect, but we wish to state that artificial 

 incubation is no child's play. That a child can 

 manage them is doubtful, aiid th.at thev require 

 only a few moments attention daily must not be 

 too stricll.y adhered to. The truth is an incu- 

 bator is a in'jchiiie for hatching chicks, and 

 though constructed for a special purpose, has no 

 rea-soning powers. It is as necessary to nave an 

 overseer over it as to have an engineer to manage 

 an engine. The great difficulty with artificial 

 incubation is that operators expect too much. 

 They wish to hatch chicles without an v labor; 

 which is an impossibility, but we admit that the 

 incubators now in use are sf> constructed as to 

 require but very little attenlion. but vet that lUllr 

 must be given. It is not so much in the amount 

 of labor as it is in perloriuing it at the proper 

 time and in the right pla^'e. If von are prejiared 

 to do your part you will find an incubator a very 

 profitable investment, but if vou expect to pro- 

 cure an incubator that is to he filled with eggs 

 and left to itself, then we advise vou to have 

 nothing to do with them. Tlie operator should 

 give his incubator as much attention as possible, 

 and success will crown his eftbrts. 



It is often a problem with 

 some wli.v they at times se- 

 cure good hatches from a 

 portion of the eggs placed 

 under hens, while but poor 

 results are obtained from 

 other sittings. In the first 

 :>f cases, the ti 

 the egf/fi, and not with the hens. For hatching 

 purposes, especiall.v in winter, the eggs must be 

 collected as soon as they are laid, in order to 

 prevent them from becoming chilled, for extreme 

 cold is fatal to the germ. Ko monstrosities in 

 eggs should be used, such as those large enough 

 for two yolks, or that are pointed at both ends. 

 Ordinary, smooth, medium size, well shaped 

 eggs should be selected, and the fresher the better. 

 The nest in winter should be made in a warm 

 location, which is not exjiosed to drafts, nor is 

 dampness essential, though a moist nest is better 

 for the summer. Avoid giving the hens too 

 many eggs to cover. Common consent has adop- 

 ted thirteen eggs as a sitting, no matter whether 

 the hen is large or small but it is niore economi- 

 cal in winter to phice only ten eggs under a hen, 

 as she will be enabled to impart more heat to a 

 smaller than to a larger number, as a full nest 

 sometimes does more injur.v tlian one but par- 

 tially filled, owing to the larger number of eggs 

 that become exposed, there to remain until they 

 in turn are changed to the centre of the nest bv 

 the hen. In extremely cold weather an egg so 

 exi)0.sed is destroyed by the low temperature, "but 

 if the hen succeeds in covering a smaller number 

 she will save th..' djtl'erence in the cost of the eggs 

 required, and also hatch more and stronger 

 chicks. It would be well if the eggs were tested 

 after being under the hen a week ; the incubator 

 oijcrators un<t.rstund this, and whv should not 

 the same practic- be followed with sitting hens? 

 It is a very easy matter. Make an egg tester bv 

 pasting paper boards together, or bv using thin 

 boards, if preferred. A box should be made so as 

 to fit over a lamp globe; say a square box, with 

 a round hole on top and an oval hole on one of 

 the sides. Place the box over the lamp, allowing 

 the chimney to p.oss through the hole on top; 

 now darken the room, using no light but that 

 from the lamp; hold each egg to the oval hole on 

 the side, and look through the egg at the light. 

 If the eggs are a week old they will appear dark, 

 should they contain chicks, the upper part, or 

 large end, appearing clear; this clear space 

 around the inside of the large end is the air-sack 

 (or air-bladder, as some term it). Below this air- 

 sack the contents of the egg will appear dark. 

 Should the egg contain no chicks thev will 

 appear clear, and if compared Willi fresh eggs 

 will show the same appearance ; therefore always 

 use a fresh egg lor comparison. Put the dark 

 eggs back in the nest, and keep the clear ones, 

 cook them, and keep them for feeding the young 

 cliieks. 



THE WYANDOTTES. 



-\s usual, from time to time, we present our 

 readers with cuts of the finest breeds of poultry. 

 We'giveat thistlme acut of a fine pairof Wvan- 

 dottes. This breed was formerly known iu? the 

 American scabright, but is now known by the 

 attractive name of Wyandotte. They are a 

 beautiful laced plumaged bird, white and black 

 laced, of full medium size. .\ good table fowl, 

 and both good layers and sitters. They make, 

 by their fine color, nice appearance, and statelv 

 habits, one of the greatest and profitable ornti- 

 mcnts of the poultry yard. 



POULTRY SCRATCHINGS. 



The Best Chicks Ton Market.— That is, for Ibe 

 cold nionilis, llie Plymouth Rrjck or Dominic cros'.fd on 

 Brahma or Cochin hens will prove superior to ntber 

 crosses. After March the best market chicks are ironi 

 Leghorns crossed with large hens of any breed. 



LixsF.KD Meal for Fowls.— This substance is e.\cel- 

 lenl, but should be led moderately. A teaspoonl'ul Ibr 

 every four fowls is siitlicient if given three times a week. 

 If sunflower see<is are convenient, however, the linseed 

 meal should not be allowed, as thev possess nearly the 

 same value for feeding. 



Saving E'iOS for IlATcniNtj.— Pot them in a box of 

 oats, small end downwartis. and in a place of even tem- 

 perature, as they mu t not fr. eze nor be kept too warm. 

 Packed carelnllv they will keep w .-a for quite a length 

 of time, and will hatch when two weeks olil. tiut the 

 fresher they are when placed under hens the better, 



TheCocks.— .'^houlil they become frosted in the conibs, 

 or appear droopy. tl;e.v bhonld be at once removed from 

 the hens, as thev will be untit for service, and bealtby. 

 viuorous ones subsliluted. When batching chicks too 

 much care and watcbtuiness cannot be ^iven the cocks. 

 OS upon them depends the vigor and ttirift of the young 

 [..ocfc. 



TiTE Pkk'ES.— Do not send the old stock to market 

 bcloi'etiie middle of this month, as prices usuall.v take 

 an npward course aliout that time, and maintain the 

 Iiigber fi^Miics nniil ,\pril. Chicks, however, bring the 

 best prices al an.v time after Cbrisinius. and the smaller 

 the size the better when the broil.nt' season tietrms. Kcr 

 chicks of more advanced size April is tlie best nioutli 

 tor obtaining the high prices. 



now To Heat a Potltry House.— Make a small 

 cellar and build an oven, which may be done cheaply it 

 a medium-size grate be encasetl in brick. Connect a 

 chimney of si.x-inch drain tile to the grate, running Ihe 

 drain tile the length of the poultry bouse, terminating 

 it at the end upwards, in order to allow of a draft. Let 

 the tile be laid six inches down in the floor and covered 

 with dirt, and at a small cost for ctial the pouhrv bouse 

 may be made moderately warm. It is not desirable lO 

 have poultry houses too warm. About fitly degiees j8 

 sufficient for adult fowls. 



Feathek Pfi m.s'o,— This vice is one for which no 

 cure has been tbuiKl. JIjtn.v remedies have been^iriec. 

 but none have proved successful. The flock thai l>e- 

 comes addicted to pulling feathers may as well be de- 

 stroyed as to be retaine<t. so far as the value of the fowls 

 is concerned, for tlie bens will not lay and by plucking 

 feathers from each other have a very unsightly appear- 

 ance. The latest suggestion is to sn^ear the' feathers 

 with some disagreaable substance, such as tar. which 

 prevents the piactice. If this can be done, and the 

 fowls well supplied with animal food, the vice may he 

 forgotten in a few weeks. 



CoiUlnucd on page 18. 



One fnrti/ rhirk^n wtfl more than pay for the Farm ani? 

 Garoen". Tl'A.v not raise two more and ^eti one oj fhi^nt 

 for the Farm and Garden.^ UV trytofitlf hints In our 

 pentttry eolumtis that xeiU uvtl repay you. L*t i/.s divide. 



INCUBATORS^ 



■ trial. C. \V. Savidec, 2S 



The SAVIDGE. 100 



eggs, S21. Different sizes. 

 "ever Ihils. Sent on 

 2524 HunllngdooSt., Plllla. 



25T.^rtaiiryMD 



108 Pn^cs. Teaches you to raise, 

 earn for, ft-t- <1. auil be a "auci-'fasful 

 jioiiltiytiiaD;" how Ut pievcui djs- 

 eaaes of old or yotinp. and have 

 lipiia to layepBS. 2BctK. In Rtanipa, 

 ami a Fifty Page Book ■■Iiee for 

 all" with it. 



A. .11. I.ANG, 

 Cove Dalf, l.ewifi Co.« Hy. 



Ttie b«*Bt ill Anieiica. The 

 lesi Nirain^til 1 111" .■onnir: 

 iti Recent Importalioni 

 from Mnjor < roTiii. "I Iji-l-n-i, Ker;;-. !*:*i..*>0 lor 13, 

 S4.50for26. ^--imI n.i -ii.'niai- i.f BKST Innibatoc. 

 A(l(li.-s. J, I^. IIAUKIS, Ciunaiiiiii'^on. N, J. 



LflNGSHANS.S 



PUREBBEDPOllLTRfSSSS 



nois. Prices niuUerate. Also TitrUeys ami Diirk^. 



sAvloeriNruBATOR. Nonc but the Best kept. 



;^8rt'',--&W i -T-;*r-!^j-'.- SB 



DO YOU WANT A DOG? 



If so. send for DOG BUYERS' 

 GUIDE. CI. nUining colored plates., 

 xao engravings of different breeds, i 

 prices they are worth, and where to 

 buy them. Also, cuts of Dog Fur- , 

 [iishmg G'ods of all kinds. Direc- 

 n.'n^ f^r TrjitiinK D.igs and Bieedi] 

 iiig I-crreti. Mailed fur lo cf-". 



FHILICZLFSU EEIHTELS, 

 237 a. 8th St. PM1»: 



Have yon Butter 

 Egers. C'hickens to, 



In wrltlns advertlsens mention Farm und Garden. 



COUNTRY PRODUCE. 



sell? Write In ns tor prices at this Mark*"!, (.'onsien- 

 ments solicited and prompt i-etiirns iiin«Ie. Refer, 

 by permis-sion. In thp [>!ihlisher= '>\ this paper. 

 SEEDS &. FERCJIISOX, C'oii.MiU«ioii ,>lerrlinnt«5. 



Twelfth Street Market, i'hilnUelphia. 



