THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



1 1 



©HE eoULini^Y yA^D. 



Tlir Farm niul garden contains more informa- 

 tiun lor llic larmcr who valui-s meal and eee» 

 nbove Ij-allii-rs. than any poultry iiaper costiis 

 $l.-j.> a yi-ar. If you agree w;ith this, please 

 send ns a elub, 



APRIL THE BEST MONTH FOB EGGS. 



It is natural witli birds to l)egln laying very 

 «arlv in the spring. It is an Instinct promi'leu by 

 the desire to allow as long a time as possil)le tor 

 tin- vc>iiriL'|oi;ro\v, inorder that they maybe selt- 

 siist'aiiiiii ' l»lore the cold season sets in; and, 

 but lor diunestication, the hens would not only 

 begin to lav early, but also proceed to hatch out 

 the brood 'after depositing a limited number ol 

 CKS in the nest. Domestication, however, has 

 changed the natural habits of the birds, and 

 there is no uniformity in the manner and tmies 

 of laying. April Is a month that fulfils many of 

 the conditions required for laying. The change 

 from very cold weather to warm sunshnie, and 

 green food becoming plentiful, the hens take 

 greater e\<rrlM', have better aiipetites, and are in 

 a liialtliy condition. Tin' season is cool enough, 

 however, to lessen the inclination to sit, to a cer- 

 tain extent, and, as a rule, the hens lay more 

 e""s than when the .season is excessively warm, 

 as I hen the fowls often suffer for shade and water. 



There is usually a greater demand lor eggs in 

 April than later in the season, owing to the 

 occurrence of several holidays, and prices, 

 therefore, are not very low until May and June, 

 consciiiicntly the eggs are more valuable, as well 

 as more easily procurable, from a well managed 

 flock, and instead of having their supply of food 

 lessened, thev should receive full attention. In 

 order to induce the hens to lay regularly. '* ■- 

 of no advantage to keep 

 hens that do ,not begin to 

 lay well in April. Hens that 

 have laid regularly during 

 during the winter, may, 

 perhaps, take a period ol 

 rest for a short time, but 

 ■where the hens or pullets 

 have passed through the 

 winter without laying, they 

 should be laying now, and 

 if they fail in this respect, 

 they are worthless ami 

 should be sent to market. 

 Of course, the pullets that 

 were hatched as late asiic- 

 tober may be excepted, lait 

 no excuse can he tnnd*- lor 

 those that were hatched be- 

 fore the first of June. 



In marketing eggs avoid 

 barrels for packing, as the 

 common supposition is that 

 barreled eggs are second- 

 class. Crates or boxes are 

 better, while baskets are in- 

 dications of fresh articles. 

 Send them to market clean 

 and In nice condition, and 

 endeavor never to allow a 

 rotten egg to leave the farm. 

 A single bad egg in a lot 

 damages the whole, and the 

 sender will find it a difficult 

 matter to regain confidence 

 when once a stale egg is found among Ins lot, 

 we wish to impress upon all the importance of 

 observing such fact. 



IVCEPING LARGE FLOCKS. 



are increased. But it may be asked how are 

 chicks to be hatched. Now, the hens will also .sit 

 as well as lay, and as the number of hens may be 

 doubled, It will be cheaper to buy the eggs lor 

 liatching purposes, care being taken to secure 

 them from neighbors who possess strong, vigor- 

 ous birds. A good plan to pursue. If you contem- 

 plate keeping a large number, is to reserve a few 

 yards for the purpose of securing such eggs; but 

 it will be found a cheap method to hatch out a 

 large number of thoroughbred cockerels,— lor 

 ins(ance, Plymouth Rocks— and go among the 

 lu iuhbors and trade such cocks for their mongrel 

 cocks. This mav seem at a glance to be expen- 

 sive, but a second thought is convincing that the 

 mongrels will partially repay the Investment, 

 while the quality of the chicks from the eggs will 

 more than do so. 



CROSSING BREEDS FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES. 



We often receive Inquiries asking which breed 

 is the best for laying, which the best for market, 

 and which are best adapted for other purposes. 

 As wi- liave often stated, no breed combines all 

 t lie diflennt desirable qualities, but the following 

 crc)ss<s will be found excellent:— 



To produce the best table fowls, cross a strong, 

 full-breasted , pit game cock with dorking hens. 

 This cross maikes a table fowl nearly equal to a 

 turkey. 



To produce the best layers, with medium size, 



cross the Brown Leghorn with Partridge Cochin 



hens, or a White Leghorn with a light Brahma 



hen. 



To produce the best, largest and plumpest 



Capons, cross a colored Dorking 



cock with Dark Brahma 



or Partridge Cochin 



hens. 



To produce the best 

 market chicks, cross the 

 Plymouth Rock cock 

 with Brahmaor Cochins. 

 To produce excellent 

 table fowls, and also com- 

 bine good laying quali- 

 ties, cross a Houdan 

 cock with Lang- 



To produce the plumpest and best ducks for 

 market, cross a colored Muscovy drake with large 

 common ducks, or ducks that are the ollsprings 

 of a Rouen drake and the large common kind. 



To produce the hardiest and best turkeys, 

 cross a Bronze gobbler with hens produced by 

 crossing the wild turkey on the common lien. If, 

 the wild turkey cross cannot be obtained, use the i 

 common hens. 



To produce early market chicks, cross, in thai 

 fall, a Game Bantam cock with small common I 

 hens. Such chicks will grow but little, and be 

 about the proper size in spring for broilers. 



To have non-sitters, the pure breeds must be 

 used, as all crossed /oiils u-itl sit, even if the par- 

 ents are pure bred. For instance, the ofl-springs 

 of a Leghorn and Hamburg will sit, although 

 both of those breeds are non-sitters. We would 

 recommend the Brown or White Leghorns as the 

 best of all breeds for eggs, b.ut their eggs must be 

 hatclied under hens of other breeds. 



THE ROOSTS AND NESTS. 



At this season the greatest attention should be 

 given the roosts and nests. The accumulated 

 tilth decomposes rapidly, should the -weather be 

 warm, and lice breed very quickly. Ihe hens 

 must not be crowded on the roosts, and conse- 

 quently thev should all be on a level with each 

 other, and not with the rear roost higher than 

 the front one, as the natural tendency ot fowls is 

 to get upon the highest point, tlins cro\yding 

 themselves upon the rear roost, while tl»' lower 

 ones are empty. The roosts should be swabbed 

 with coal-oil at least once a week, and it the hens 

 are large and heavy, the roosts should be as low 

 as possible, or the hens will go in the nests in- 

 stead of on the roosts. Make the nests of movi^ 

 ble boxes, so that they can be taken out and 

 cleaned whenever desirable. 

 A good method is to swab 

 them with coal-oil, set 

 the oil on fire, and allow it to 

 burn for a few moments. The 

 nests, however, should be car- 

 ried outside for such a purpose. 

 If preferred, a gill of Carbolic 

 acid to a gallon of water may 

 be used for sprinkling, and not 

 only the nests, but the walla 

 should receive an application. 

 Fine tobacco refuse may be 

 mixed with the hay or straw 

 used in the nests. By observing 

 these precautions, there will be 

 but little difficulty with lice. 



By P. H. Jacobs, Waipw, III. 



Before attempting to keep large flocks, it is im- 

 portant that vou determine what you wish the 

 flocks to do. Although ••chicken farming" and 

 " egg farming" may l>e combined, yet, the one is 

 a different pursuit from the other, and requires 

 ditt'erent methods. If eggs, only, are desired, 

 twice the number of eggs may be kept, and the 

 matter of success depends upon when the eggs 

 are marketed. 



To explain the difTerence, we will state that 

 where the eggs are desired for hatching purpo.ses, 

 ten hens and a cock are a sufRcient number 

 together. Twenty bens and two cocks caiinot be 

 in the same flock, as the stronger cock will in- 

 timidate tiie weaker, and render him unservica- 

 ble. If no cocks are used, however, twenty hens 

 may be placed togetiier, instead often, while the 

 eggs from the hens not accompanied with cocks 

 will keep twice as long as will eggs that are suita- 

 ble for hateliing purposes. This has been demon- 

 strated many times by placingeggs in incubators, 

 the infertile ones remaining in the egg-drawer for 

 three weeks, under a temperature averaging at 

 least lorf degrees, and remaining in a fit condition 

 for use when taken out, though slightly damaged, 

 while the fertile eggs not hatching, usually de- 

 composed, and became what we term " rotten." 



The eggs from unimpregnated hens, should the 

 prices be low, may be packed in salt, oats, bran, 

 ashes or dry earth, in bo.xes, and turned, (by turn- 

 ing the box), three times a week, when they will 

 keep fresh and in good condition for at least six 

 months. It is not necessary tokeepeggsover three 

 months, as prices usually rise in November, and 

 hence, as they are cheap, in July, Aug., and .Sept., 

 one Is not compelled to wait long for better prices. 

 Till' best metliod, therefore, wlien keeping hens 

 for eggs, is to allow no cocks to be present, which 

 permits a greater number of hens to be kept, and 

 as the hens will lay just as well (if anything, bel^ 

 ter), without the cocks, a saving of food will be 

 effected, while the keeping qualities of the eggs 



BLACK-BUK.VSTELI ll-EU UA3IES. 



Shan hens. Dark legs will be the result, but the 

 flesh will dress white. 



To produce a breed of good layers, the eggs 

 being extra large in size, cross the Black Spanish 

 cock with Langshan hens. 



To produce the best sitting hen, one that will 

 remain on the nest, hatch well, and tenderly care 

 for her chicks, cross a vigorous pit Game cock 

 with partridge Cochin hens. It also produces a 

 good table fowl. 



To produce a large market fowl, one that fat- 

 tens readily, and is easily conflned, cross a Brah- 

 ma cock with Partridge Cochin hens. 



To produce the largest and best geese for 

 market, cross the Toulouse gander with the 

 Embden goose. 



POULTRY SCRATCHINGS. 



CHANGING Food.— Do not 

 change from adry toagreendiet 

 too suddenly, or diarrhoja will 

 be the result. Commence gradu- 

 ally, giving only a small quan- 

 tity at first. Give a few pinches 

 of salt to the fowls In the solt 

 food, and cease feeding corn 

 alterthe weather becomes mild. 



Symptoms of Roup.-Sneezing, 

 discharge from the nostrils, 

 swelled head and sore eyes, 

 hoarse breathing, and sore 

 throat accompanied by foul 

 odor. A good remedy is to give 

 half a teaspoonful of coal oil 

 once a day. If the fowl is weak give a pill com- 

 posed of equal parts of gentain, quinine, (or Pe- 

 ruvian bark) and rhubarb. 

 Notice our Specification Oiler on this paice. 

 Keep a few Guinjeas.- On farms where there 

 is plenty of range, guineas are of great advantage. 

 They do not scratch, or do damage, but destroy 

 large numbers of insects, searching everywhere 

 for them. If hatched under hens, and induced 

 to roost near the house at night, they will give 

 the alarm should intruders put in an appearance, 

 being always on the alert for hawks or owls. 

 The Pearl guinea is the best known, thougU 

 the Whites are favorites with some. 

 (Continued cmpage 18.) 



Ftr additional Poultn Mvertlsements. tee page 18^ 



aiTn iinRTnnc The sa vidgk. loo ejtgs 



INI IIKfl I llnS»'il-00- Different sizes. 



■ llUUDH I UIIV Never fails. Sent on trml. 

 B V. \V. S.WIDGE, 2524 Hunllnodon SI., Phllad'a. Pa. 



HIGH CLASS POULTRY AND PIGEONS. All the best varie- 

 ties. Kees for hntcliine a Speclall«. Send sL-imp lor 

 KirgeiMustrateii circulars, ft. Vanderhoven, Kahway, JV. J. 



CAMPV POULTRY AND PET STOCK FOR 



rANuf SALE. SCQd eunip for circuKir to J. K. KONS, 

 Mentiuu Farm and Garden. Level, Warren Co., Ohio. 



imrC PEKIN. ROrEN, and CAYTIGA. 



JtlHO. «:J.0O aoair. EegM S'J.OO per doz. 



HORAcli lU KR. WILnflNGTON, DEL. 



W. 0. DAKIN, Toledo, 0., .'^T^Zi. 



bredTjANG8HANS,ThoroughbredWYANDOTTKS 

 Handsome Circular free. Mention FABMiNDGARDEN, 



■^^^n.^if ) ^fgff^'"\"^'"--"'"--'---"- ■■■■■■■ — 



Practical Poultiy Boot 



loO pages; be.intiful COLORED 

 plate: enCTavinL'S of nearly aU 

 kinds of fowls; plans for puultry 

 houses; how tocaponiie; informa- 

 tion aboutincubaiors. Descriptions 

 of the breeds, and where to buy 

 them Eggs from beststockat 51.50 

 per sitting. Book sent for I5_«"L^ 



^ASSOCIATED FANCIERS 



LANGSHANS 



THE BEST IN AMERICA. 



Thi- Inest strains in this country 



^^^ iiialeri with lerfnt imporlatinnt 



frcim Miij.jr Cn.a.l. of F.iii;hind. Ekus $2.50 for 13. $4.50 



lor 26 S.'iid fnr cimilars with niv iiistiiii'tions for railino 



Sprino Chickens and BKsTIXcUBATdP.AN-nBROODEK. 



Address J. li. I1AKR1.S, Ciuuauiinaon. N. J. 



3EI01k7V TO T^jAJSSJEI -A-IO" IKTOXJiO-A-TOH.- 



NEW AND COMPLETE SPECIFICATIONS. 

 With lull ilhistratioiis, drawinRS of parts, measurements, anfl 



simple directions lor makins Incubators and Brooders. 

 Any one who can handle toc.ls can make a successful Incuhalor 

 Rt acost of onl« aboul SB.Ot) Inr material. Machines miiile Irom 

 our directions are more salislaclon) than those costinK S7S as 

 lli.i^c-uiio use ih.-ni itsiiiv. Hatches average over 80 per cent, ol 

 lerllle egos. Brooders, or Artificial Mothers, which will »"cccstloM» 

 raise the chicks, shown, Gel up Ihe club and be In lime. OUR SPECIAL 

 OfFER: For 4 Yearly subscribers at «5 cents each, w.- udl s.iio in.se 

 sp.'.iM.-ations tree, hv mail, as -a preniiiini: or ue Wlll^ena 



Speclflcallons and The Farm and Garden. 1 vear, tor 62 cents. Address 

 Child Bros. & Co., 725 F'.drt Street, Philadelphia. Pa. 



