FARM ANIMALS 301 



or shell material. Since this substance could be 

 obtained very cheaply by using oyster shells or 

 other similar material it seems unbelieveable that 

 poultrymen should continue to pay from twenty 

 cents to forty cents a pound for material which is 

 really worth about one-half cent a pound. 



Green Feeds for Chickens. If chickens are 

 raised under conditions where they cannot have 

 access to grass or other green material some green 

 feed must be supplied to them in their pens or yards. 

 For this purpose almost any garden stuff, grass or 

 weeds are available and valuable, but the legumi- 

 nous hays are most nutritious and effective both 

 in the production of eggs and in putting meat on 

 chickens. So well known is the value of alfalfa 

 and clover that a number of chicken feeds are now 

 on the market containing green alfalfa as a basis 

 with grain and other materials added. This again 

 is objectionable on account of the unnecessarily 

 high price which must be paid for the material. 

 It is far cheaper for the poultryman to buy his own 

 alfalfa or clover if he does not raise it himself and 

 grind it to feed hens. About one-third of the mash 

 fed to poultry may be made of alfalfa and clover 

 and when this material is fed the results are always 

 satisfactory both in egg production and in gain in 

 weight. Where chickens are allowed to run prac- 

 tically at pleasure they pick up as much green 

 material as they require and are always observed 

 to be fond of leguminous crops such as alfalfa, 

 clover and peas. That the recommendation in 

 favor of the constant green feed in the ration for 

 chickens is based on practical feeding is proved by 

 the fact that in all comparative feeding tests, where 

 an excellent ration has been fed with and without 

 green feed, the best results have always been ob- 



