278 Journal of the Department of agriculture. 



Radish.- — Should be grown quickly to be palatable. Use Red aud White 

 Turnip-rooted for a thirty-day crop,' French Breakfast to follow, and then 

 China Rose. Seeds of the first two should be sown at intervals of fourteen days, 

 a little seed at a time to save waste. 



Spinach. — Sow winter varieties on rich soil in drills 18 inches apart; sow 

 the seed ^ inch deep ; grow it quickly, otherwise it will be leathery. Swiss 

 Chard is an excellent substitute for sowing now ; it is perennial and keeps 

 growing all through winter and spring. 



Salads. — Sow Mustard and Cress under shade for salads. 



Broad Beans. — As cooler weather approaches this crop has better chances 

 of succeeding; a light sowing should be made. 



Parsnip. — Continue to sow except on high veld. 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



March. 



By J. J. Jordaan, Lecturer and Instructor in Poultry, Glen, Orange Free State. 



Moulting.- — The moulting breeding birds should by this time have progressed 

 sufficiently in regard to new feathering to be almost completely feathered. 

 During this month every effort must be made to excite the egg organs so 

 as to get the hens laying by the end of the month, or at the latest next month 

 before the first frost falls. Feed as follows: — 



Morning Mash: 4 parts bran, 1 part crushed oats, 1 part mealie meal, 

 1 part pollard, 1 part meat meal or Crayferine, 8 parts lucerne-hay or meal. 

 Midday : Green food. Evenings : Oats, sunflower, Japanese millet, and crushed 

 mealies alternatively. 



To the drinking water add Douglas Mixtuie daily for two or three weeks 

 until the comb and face show signs of reddening up. 



Egg Production.- — Early hatched pullets should also be fed as above to 

 assist them in getting to the paying stage this month. The smaller the number 

 of birds in a flock the better the results will be as regards egg production. 

 New laid eggs rule high, and therefore the flock;5 should be kept small. Have 

 the roofs of all houses covered with soil or stable manure to break the effect 

 of early frosts which would stop egg production almost instantaneously. 



Breeding Pens. — Cockerels intended to be used in the breeding pens should 

 also be penned up and fed well to get them into good condition. Always keep 

 an extra one as a reserve bird in case of accidents. Discard from the breeding 

 pen any birds that have developed vices such as feather or egg eating during 

 the moulting period and also any that have been backward in the moult. 



Showing. — The agricultural shows are now in full swing; the wideawake 

 poultryman will exhibit even more strongly here than at poultry shows, because 

 he is more certain of getting into touch with buyers than at the latter shows. 

 By exhibiting at agricultural shows the breeder indirectly assists in furthering 

 the industry by helping to make a good exhibition which creates interest in 

 and respect for the industry. 



General.— Only birds that are required for breeding purposes and egg 

 production should be kept. All others should be disposed of; this is a splendid 

 month for sales. The pullets that are to be tested for egg production, in view 

 of possible use the following year in breeding pens, rhould now be selected and 

 penned in individual runs or in pens in which trap-nests are provided. 



Advertise young turkey cocks for sale. "When selling pens, sell old hens ; 

 this will give better results and more satisfaction to customers. 



