82 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



of the plantation but would probably end in its destruction. Two publi- 

 cations of the Bureau of Forestry of the U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture may be of use to those wishing to investigate this matter further. 

 These are ''The Forest Nursery," Bulletin 29, and "Practical Tree Plant- 

 ing in Operation," Bulletin 27, both of which may be obtained by appli- 

 cation to the Secretary of Agriculture, Was'^ington, D. C. 



THE HEN ON THE FARM. 



LSY DR. C, A. WALDRON^ TECUMSEH^ MICHIGAN. 



The much despised hen has, by attending strictly to business, come 

 to be recognized as one of the necessary adjuncts of the farm and is 

 given a little credit for the good work she has done. She has (clothed 

 more farmers' families, bought more groceries and furnished more of the 

 little necessaries of the farmers' family than any other product of the 

 farm. The question now naturally arises how can we better care for 

 her so that she may continue to do as well, if not better, in her good 

 work. 



It is not my intention to take up all of the different phases of the 

 poultry question and I will leave out the broiler, roaster and the market 

 poultry, as well as the fancy side of the question, except where it natu- 

 rally comes in in connection with the question of egg production, for 

 it is with eggs I think the average farmer can derive the greatest amount 

 of profit. 



To be successful with poultry, like any other business, one must have 

 a liking for it^ for if you do not, there are many little details that are 

 essential to success, that you will neglect, and, before you are aware of 

 it, lice, mites, etc., will creep in on you and you will give up the business 

 in disgust. 



If you have no liking for the hen, do not keep over thirty or forty and 

 they will virtually take care of themselves and furnish you with the 

 fowls and eggs for your table. 



But if you have a liking that way then keep as many as two hundred 

 or more layers, for with this number you are able to buy the necessary 

 foods, etc., cheaper, by buying in larger quantities. You can also better 

 afford to have the necessary machinery, such as bone grinders and clover 

 cutters and power to run them. Never buy a bone grinder expecting to 

 run it by hand, for if you do you will be disappointed, although they 

 are said to run so easy it will soon become a dread for you to think of 

 running them. You had better far buy your bone and meat already 

 prepared. 



Many persons think it is not best to try and get eggs in winter for 

 they do not think it pays for the extra time and trouble, and that the 

 hens will lay enough better in the summer to make it up if they are not 

 forced in the winter. In this I think they are mistaken, for it has been 

 my experience that it takes but a little more time and feed to get winter 

 eggs and I do not think it materially changes the summer yield, and the 



