POULTRY AND EGGS. 235 



and other insects that arc injurious to frnit trees of all kinds, 

 and a very vigorous and healthy growth of the trees will bo 

 noticed around a farm where poultry is kept. The manure 

 seems especially adapted to them, and the fruit will be more 

 plent}', and of better quality. Fowls are more valuable in 

 connection with the cultivation of plums, as there arc very 

 few h)ealitios w!iin-c this fruit can be raised, on account of 

 the destruction of the fruit by the curculio. I have now on 

 my place nearly one thousand i)lum trees, and nearly all 

 trees that arc over three years old bear heavy crops every 

 year. A snriU part of the fruit is stung by the curculio, and 

 drops off, but wo have to pick many more to prevent the 

 trees from breaking and to insure a good quality of fruit. 

 Other farms in the same locality, where plum trees are not 

 so favorably located, very rarely get a full crop of plums. 

 Fowls are also valuable in keeping the borers out of the 

 quince bush. It is only necessary .to loosen the soil about 

 the bushes, as the fowls will do the rest. 



An important item in the keeping of poultry is the large 

 quantities of valualjlc manure produced. The best method 

 of retaining the ammonia in this manure, which is held in 

 quite 1 u-ge proportions, is to spread dry loam or plaster 

 under the roosts, and then store the mixture in barrels. 

 It will hold its strength in this form, and will prove one of 

 the most valuable fertilizers for corn, grass or grain. It is 

 very strong, and must bo composted thoroughly before using 

 it in contact with seed; but if properly applied, it will act 

 quickly on the crop, as its elements of plant food arc of such 

 a nature as to be easily assimilated by the plant. 



Now a word in regard to the use of artificial incubators by 

 the farmer. Some of you, perhaps, may have used them, and, 

 as you think, successfully. I have tried them for several 

 years, having used all the best machines, and I would not 

 take the best one that is manufactured to-day as a present, 

 if I was obliged to use it myself. Chickens hatched i)y the 

 hen are much stronger, larger and finer in plumage ; there 

 is as much difference between artificially produced chickens 

 and natural ones as there is between Jersey butter and oleo- 

 margarine. Nature does her work perfectly when she has 

 proper opportunity. Mau}^ will ask how they are going 



