234 One Thousand Questions in Agriculturi 



Rupture of Oviduct. 



/ have had tzvo other hens die suddenly when on the nest. The second 

 one zve opened and found one egg broken near the vent and another wxth 

 shell formed ready to be laid. 



Rupture of the oviduct was probably the cause of the hens dying 

 on the nest and is due to the same condition in the hens; that is, 

 the straining to expel the egg necessary in the engorged condition 

 of the internal organs from overfatness. 



Melons for Fowls. 



Have "stock melons" or "citrons" any merit as a green food for 

 laying hens? Are the seeds of the above injurious to hens or cows? 



Stock melons are desirable for chicken feeding if other succulent 

 materials are scarce, but they are inferior to alfalfa and other clovers. 

 Seeds are not injurious to stock unless possibly one should feed to 

 excess by separating them from the other tissues. If melons are 

 fed as they grow, no apprehension need be had from injury by seed. 



Rape and Vetch for Chickens. 



What time do you sozv rape and vetch and are they good for chickens? 



They surely are good for chickens or for any other stock that 

 likes greens. They are winter growers in California valleys and 

 should be sown in the fall as soon as the land is moist enough to 

 keep them growing, or just as soon as you can get it moist either 

 by rainfall or irrigation. Neither plant likes dry heat or dry soil. 



Preserving Eggs. 



What is a good way to preserve eggs for home use? 



In a cool cellar, eggs will keep very well in a mixture of common 

 salt and bran. Use equal parts, mix well, and as you gather the 

 eggs from day to day pack with big end down in the mixture and 

 see that the eggs are covered. Waterglass eggs are good enough for 

 cooking purposes, but when boiled anyone that knows the taste of 

 a strictly fresh egg can tell the difference in an instant; when fried 

 the taste is not so pronounced, but it is there just the same; besides, 

 when broken, they are a little watery. This watery condition passes 

 off if left to stand for a few minutes. The best way is to use the 

 waterglass method, is one quart of waterglass to ten quarts of water. 

 Boil the water and put away to cool, when cold add the waterglass, 

 mixing well, and store in 3 or 5-gallon crocks in a cool place. Thej 

 will keep six months if good when put in. In all cases the eggs 

 must be gathered very fresh, for one stale egg will spoil the whole 

 lot, so great care is needed. 



Dipping Fowls. 



Hoiv do you dip hens to kill lice? 



To dip fowls you must have a very warm day, or a warm room 

 where you can turn them in to dry. I have know people to use 



