THE FARM AND GARDEN. 



'5 



©HE gOUIiHiI^Y Uai^d. 



yChniinut'd frinn page 9.) 



GROWTH OF YOUNG CHICKS. 



It is not worth the trouble to discuss at great 

 leugth the cost of production of spring chicks. 

 This is merely or mostly a question of price for 

 cereals and of management. If we depend main- 

 ly on grain for production of chicken meat, it 

 will niakeadifterenee of one half, whether wheat 

 sells for SI. 50 and corn for SI. 00 per bushel, or for 

 75 cents and 50 cents respectively. 



The same variation in the cost may be a result 

 of different management. Some people may 

 need 6 pounds of grain or meal to make a single 

 pound of chicken, while we have shown in the 

 table of weights, given in a previous issue, that 

 we obtained two pounds from the same amount 

 of feed. 



On the other hand, when grasshoppers are 

 plentiful and with unlimited range, a few hun- 

 dred chickens or turkeys can often be produced 

 at less than one cent a pound. In such a 

 case, the raw material is composed chiefly of 

 insects, weed seeds, grains shelled out in harvests 

 ing, etc., in short, of articles which are very 

 valuable as flesh-giving substances, but which 

 would be lost and wasted unless thus utilized in 

 chicken growth. 



For this same season the farmer can raise his 

 one or two hundred chickens at much less ex- 

 pense per pound than the professional " chicken 

 growers " who raise thousand with the help of 

 incubators. 



We have thus far wholly ignored the expense 

 of the production of a newly-hatched chick weigh- 

 ing 1}4 ounces. The "professional," who often 

 has to 6wy eggs for hatching, without knowing 

 what he is buying, and who by the use of high- 

 priced incubators hatches thousands of chicks at 

 once, may have to put the price of a single newly- 

 hatched chick at 10 cents, while the farmer, who 

 pays little attention to this branch of business, 

 and lets his hens do the laying and the hatching 

 during a natural resting spell, will hardly admit 

 the little things cost him 2 cents a piece, when 

 they first emerge from the shell. 



We still believe, and our experiments justify us 

 in 'proclaiming that a pound of chick, under 

 judicious management, can be produced at an 

 expense not exceeding 5 cents (at least with the 

 present price of cereals), Mr. Blanchard to the 

 contrary notwithstanding. 



POULTRY SCRATCHINGS. 



The Damp Days.— Look out for the chicks on 

 damp occasions, as dampness is more fatal to 

 them than cold. 



Milk.— Sour milk, buttermilk, refuse from 

 cheese factories, and even whey, may be mixed 

 in the soft food with advantage. 



Guineas.— Hatch them under hens, and keep 

 them dry. Feed the same as for young turkeys, 

 at first, but after they are a few days old, they 

 may be fed the same as young chicks. 



Meat.— If you cannot procure meat, use blood 

 from the slaughter house, by boiling it in a glue- 

 pot, or vessel within another, stirring in plenty 

 of corn meal and oat meal until the mass is very 

 thick. 



Mating.— Avoid putting large, heavy cocks 

 with small hens, as damage may be the result. 

 But small, active cocks may be placed with large 

 hens. Look for size in the heft, and activity in 

 the cock. 



Green Food.— If there is no grass, steam clover 

 hay, or give chopped onions, *(top and bulbs), 

 with cabbage. Boiled turnips, potatoes or car- 

 rots, are also excellent. Even the potato peelings 

 may be utilized. 



Feeding Soft Food.— Never throw it on the 

 ground, as gapes and cholera will in time be the 

 result. Make small troughs, and when the hens 

 have finished their meal, clean the troughs thor- 

 oughly, washing them occasionally. 



Hens Eating Eggs.— This vice is incurable 

 when once it becomes a habit. It may be pre- 

 vented, however, by constructing false bottoms 

 to the nests, so that when the eggs are deposited, 

 they will roll out ol the reach of the hen. 



Chicks Dying in the Shell.- This is peculiar 

 to the breeds that lay the dark eggs, the shell 

 being, usually, harder and thicker than the white 

 ones. Sprinkle the eggs with tepid water once a 

 day, for two or three days before the period for 

 hatching. 



Market the Chicks.— Never wait for a rise in 

 the price of young chicks. It never comes. As 

 soon as asparagus appears in the market, is the 

 time when they may be sold to good advantage. 

 When once the prices begin to decline, they go 

 down until the "old hen " standard isxeached. 



Buying Stock.— Never bring a hen into your 

 flock until you have quarantined her, or disease 

 may appear in the flock. In buying a lot of hens 

 select those with bright red combs, clear eyes, 

 good legs, and clean plumage. Notice that they 

 are clear of filth on the beak and rear parts, and 

 use the nose for detecting odor of roup. 



The Droppings.— In summer the droppings 

 render the poultry houses very offensive, and 

 should be removed, at least twice a week, or an 

 absorbent used in order to disinfect them. One 

 part plaster and three parts dry earth is excellent 

 as an absorbent as well as a disinfectant. Another 

 method is to sprinkle dry earth with chloride of 

 lime or Carbolic acid, and use the earth freely 

 under the roosts. 



Hens Eating Eggs.— This vice is not easily 

 cured. Make the nests in dark places, so that 

 the hens cannot easilj' see the eggs, and have the 

 strips in front high enough to prevent the eggs 

 trom rolling out of the nests. The habit is usu- 

 ally formed by the hens first eating the eggs that 

 have rolled out of the nests on to the floor, and if 

 this temptation is removed, the difficulty will 

 not be so great. 



The Pullets.— Remember that early-hatched 



pullets are the ones that begins to lay in the 

 fall, and continuing to do so during winter. 

 Endeavor, therefore, to hatch them this month, 

 if you have not already done so. A Leghorn 

 cock in a flock of heavy hens, will produce pullets 

 that will lay in the fall, and that will also 

 make good winter layers, if kept warm and in 

 good condition. 



Early Rye as Food.— Those who followed our 

 advice last fall, and sowed a patch of rye for the 

 hens, will flnd themselves fortunate. A lawn 

 mower, passed over a portion of the patch, will 

 cut all that may be desired for a day, and it will 

 grow up again to furnish a fresh supply. It may 

 be pulled by hand and thrown into the pen, if 

 preferred, and %vill furnish a bountiful crop until 

 the regular grass comes in. 



The Dorking.— In England the Dorking is re- 

 garded as the most desirable of all fowls for gen- 

 eral purposes. It excels for marketing and the 

 table. It is up to the average as a layer, but 

 does not equal some of thejother breeds. In this 

 country the chicks are not as hardy as are those 

 from our well-known Asiatics, but their close and 

 compact bodies make them attractive, and good 

 prices are realized from their sale. 



Use Plenty of Coal Oil.— The cheapest 

 method of avoiding lice, is to swab the roosts 

 with coal oil once a week. It may be mixed in 

 proportion to one quart of coal oil and one gallon 

 of milk, as an emulsion. Now slack enough 

 lime in warm water to make a bucket of white- 

 wash, and to each bucket of whitewash, add one 

 quart of the oil and milk emulsion. Use it freely 

 on the walls and every part of the poultry house, 

 and the lice will be destroyed. 



Scaly Leg. — An ointment for eradicating the 

 accumulated matter froni the legs of fowls afflic- 

 ted with scaly leg, may be made as follows : Sul- 

 phur, one tablespoonful; carbolic acid (liquid), 

 one teaspoonful ; lard, one ounce. Mix the 

 ingredients intimately, and after washing away 

 the dirt with soap and water, anoint the legs. 



»from the thighs to the toes, well. Repeat the 

 operation once a week. Three or four applica- 

 tions will usually be suilicient. 



To Make Yocng cnicics Grow.— Cook one 

 pint of oatmeal in suthcient water to make a 

 thick porridge. While cooking, add three eggs, 

 (well beaten), anri a pint of milk. Allow it to 

 boil a few niomeni.s more, then thicken stiffly 

 with corn meal, and feed twice a daj-. A few 

 chopped onions, cooked potatoes, or turnips, win 

 make it more palatable and varied. In addition 

 to the two feeds of the mixture, the chicks should 

 have any other kind oi food, as a variety, that 

 may be convenient. 



Geese. — The best geese for feathers are the 

 Embden, they being entirely white. The best for 

 market is a cross of the Toulouse gander with the 

 Embden goose, which produces offsprings larger 

 than either of tlie parents. Geese cost but very 

 little if allowed the liberty of the fields with 

 access to a pond or stream, but to attempt to 

 make them profitable without such advantages, 

 will result in failure. The cost of raising a goose 

 may be as low as twenty-five cents, actual outlay, 

 or it may be as much as two dollars. Every- 

 thing depends upon the possession of the proper 

 conveniences for keeping them. 



Young Turkeys.- The turkey hen will make 

 ber nest away in the fields if given liberty. By 

 removing the eggs she will lay a larger number 

 than if they are allowed to remain. Although 

 the eggs are often hatched with chicks under 

 hens, the turkey hen is the best mother. Dryness 

 is the most essential requisite for young turkeys. 

 Feed them on hard boiled eggs for two or three 

 days, and four or fiye times a day, giving a small 

 quantity of mashed potatoes mixed with chopped 

 onions. Then feed on clabbered milk, oatmeal 

 niush, and continue the chopped onions, allow- 

 ing meat in a fine condition once a day. Do not 

 keep them too closely confined. 



Crossing Plymoxtth Rocks.— The Plymoutu 

 Rocks are liable to become very fat when highly 

 fed and under confinement, and in such cases 

 they may be crossed with the Dominick, advan- 

 tageously. Of course, there are other suitable 

 crosses, but as the Plymouth Rock and Dominick 

 are alike in color, and other respects, except size 

 and comb, the cross preserves the uniformity of 

 plumage and promotes vigtjr and activity. The 

 Dominick is almost as good at flying as the Leg- 

 horn, and is therefore made more compact by the 

 infusion of Plymouth Rock blood. The cockerels 

 of either breeds may be used upon the hens of The 

 other, but the Dominick cock and Plymouth 

 Rock hens should be preferred. 



Peculiarities of Fowls.— The feathered leg 

 fowls are the Cochins ,Brahmas, Langshans and 

 Sultans. The yellow-legged breeds are the Brah- 

 mas. Cochins, Leghorns, Wyandottes and Plym- 

 outh Rocks. The hens that lay the darkest col- 

 ored eggs (shells), are the Cochins and Brahmas, 

 followed in order by the Plymouth Rocks, Wyan- 

 dottes and Langshans. All the non-sitters, such 

 as Leghorns, Hamburgs, Black Spanish, Houdans 

 and Polish, lay white eggs. The rose-comb breeds 

 are the Hamburgs, Dominiques and Wyandottes. 

 the pea-combed breeds the Brahmas, and the 

 straight, oi- single-combed breeds, are the Cochins, 

 Games, Plymouth Rock, Black Spanish and Leg- 

 horn. The French breeds have horn-like combs. 



Ml 



ffi^N SWEET POTATO PLANTS 



Niin«iiii..iiil. l',;irlv York. Nrw .!i-rs.-v Sweet and other poml varielir^. SI. 00 per Hundreil. by mail, oost- 



A ''?,Ve" TTo&?ATo'ir::4"^sna'uv.^o;rd: n e w s w e e i potato-extra eariy 



iiiljfiior to all uiliii, in enrlinesa. proiliirCiveness. ami fine quality. ^Iiap'' nearly rounil, 



iirt of a bright yellow color. Does well hi aiiv ordinary soil, and is llie best ot kiejiers. Price 01 



per Hundred, post-paid. By Ex- rflRRflnP PI ANT^ '*" '"'"' enrlv ninl late varieties. 75 ctt. 



press SI. 00 per Hundred. $7.00 perThousanJ UHSSSSHUt rUHKia pe, Hundred, post-paid By Express 50 cenis per 

 Hundred S2 50 per Thousand. FIVE THOUSAND and over. SI. 75 per Thousand TO.XATO. < .\l MFI,(»\V h,K, lAwU, 

 I'liri'EK, and CKLERY FI,.\NTS at lo.v prices. \\f pa. k our plants ,■„,./"«.; in damp moss and nm 

 ship thtm saSely to any point in Uu Viulfd State-i. Hen.it t)v P..st.\l Note. P.O. M.i.vEY Order, or Eeo. Letter. 



sand. tivL inuu&HT 



CAROLINA aV 



plants Si. 50 per Hund 



JOHNSON & STOKES, 



SEED "WAREHOUSES. 



Nos. 219 and 1114 Market St,, Philad'a, Pa. 



BATES' ImprOTed 



are the bent. ©aizes.SlS 

 to SIOO. 100 to 1000 

 ej::9. Warranted. AW 



Rr.EKDKES of POCLTRTUSe 



iptive circnlara and testimoniala. 

 JOSEPD I. BATES <fe CO.. WEYMOUTH, MASS. 



TNCDBATORS; 



4b them. Send for descriptive ci 



W. 0. DAKIN, Toledo, 0., .]T{iTJ.. 



bred LANGSHANS,Thon)iighbred WYANDOTTES 

 Handsome Circular free. Mention Farm andOarden. 



T'/i/^C American Dominique Ileadrninrters. Fowls 

 JLIJUO. audEg-3 M. B. RICHARDS. Easton. Penna. 



■prj,/tlCL!i^"Kshan. Wyandotte, R.C.B.Leghor-i. Pekin, 

 •*^^'^'^Duck, aud other leading varieties. $1.25 per 13. 

 B. Turkey, f5.00 per 13. J. G. FISHER, Stanton, Del. 



EXCELSIOR! 



POULTRY AND PET STOCK YARDS. 



Plymouth Rocks, Lang-haiii. Black Java's, 

 Brown Leehorns. and Houdans. Piii; dogs- 

 Bull Terriers, Rabbits Ferrets, and Guinea Pig.s. Send stamp for 

 Illustrated clrciilnr ftnd Drlce-llHt. Pn'^ials not noticed. 



Address, W. S. POTTER. 121 Wetherslleld Ave.. Harllord. Ct. 



|lj2 S^h O tCun g ^< M i[a^^ Revolvers. 



f\^-^f^^t-(iiogu«fre^ Gin Work*, PlttiburgS^S^^F 



FRIENDS' PRINCIPLES EXPLAIN^ffi. 



Three sermons by J. .1. Cornell, delivered in PUila- 



delnhia. Price lOc. Stamps taken. 

 H. T. Child. M ~ '" 



Price lOe. Stamps 



P.. 634 Race 8l.. I'liilad'a. 



Pa. 



Singerc1fir.^5'„^;S>l7 



'ncludinga full set of extra I # 

 (Attachments, needles, "* * 

 oil and usual outfit of la pieces with 

 each, fiaarant^d Perfect. Warraatcd 5 

 jears. Hand'ome and Dnrable, Don't 

 paj S^O or $.iU for aiarhlne* no brtttr. 

 Wc will send them anywhere on 15 Arj"* 

 trial l>efore paymgr. Circulars and iuil 

 panlrulari frrc by addr-ssJn? 



E. C. HOWE A CO., 



ISS Martk 6th St., rilllo.. Pi. 

 Luck Box 1087. 



