208 A YEAR IN AGRICULTURE 



A preventative of digestive troubles is granulated charcoal. 

 It is not a food or a medicine, but a corrective. 



The greatest protection against any ailment is to have 

 only healthy, vigorous, breeding stock. Healthy stock and 

 sanitary conditions will eliminate most poultry troubles. The 

 best protection against the spread of diseases which are gen- 

 erally carried through drinking water is to use crystalline 

 potassium permanganate in the water. This destroys organic 

 matter. A few crystals in a quart of water will color it pur- 

 ple, and will be sufficient for the purpose. For protection 

 against parasites, keep the houses clean and spray frequently 

 with a mixture of coal oil and crude carbolic acid. The best 

 protection against lice is an application of a mercurial oint- 

 ment. A piece about as big as a pea rubbed in the fluff over 

 an area of about one square inch will protect the chicken for 

 a month. 



The water-glass recipe for preservation of eggs. Use one 

 part of liquid water-glass, which can be bought at about 75 

 cents per gallon, with nine parts of ordinary drinking water. 

 It is best to boil this water first to expel the air. Mix thor- 

 oughly. Put the eggs into a two-quart fruit jar. This will 

 hold about sixteen eggs and require about one quart of the 

 solution. Screw the top on. The eggs will keep in large 

 stone crocks without covers, but after the liquid is exposed 

 to the air it begins to thicken in the bottom, and the eggs 

 which have thin shells will be a little alkaline to taste after 

 several months. If a fruit jar is used and the lid is screwed 

 on tight, the liquid will remain as clear as water. 



Poultry judging. If the community is interested in prac- 



