THE GENESEE FARMER. 



25 



depredators, while the apple and plum crop is 

 almost a failure ; but the hay, straw, corn fodder, 

 and roots are more than an average. Yet, with 

 these alight drawbacks, upon the whole the far- 

 mers arein quite as good a condition, besides the 

 real improvements, which are not a few, as in al- 

 most any former year. Land which was seeded 

 down never was more promising for a good hay 

 crop than those of this year's seeding, but the win- 

 ter and spring ordeal is yet to be experienced. 



The Season and Weather.— The spring was 

 wet, cold, and backward, and the cold part con- 

 tinued through the summer, so that it lias been 

 called, and justly, a cold season. Though the sum- 

 mer was remarkably dry, the nights were cool, 

 which is generally the case when it is very dry, 

 that is, with us. Since October came in it has 

 been very rainy, though not heavy or hard storms, 

 but warm and frequent rains, giving twelve rainy 

 days, besides several nights, for the month ; and 

 November is faithfully following on in the same 

 train. 



Stock,' Sheep, and Horses.— The demand for 

 these is fully up to times of peace. Buyers of beef 

 and mutton visit every farm, however isolated, 

 where either are to be found, paying cash for all 

 that are eatable. Beef cattle have not- been quite 

 as high as in some former years, nor have store 

 cattle, but ready sales. Sheep are unusually high, 

 with many buyers, ranging from 2$ cents to 3 

 cents per lb., live weight. Horses, which have 

 been low and dull, are in better demand, and better 

 prices are paid for them since Government com- 

 menced buying. o. w. true. 



Elm Tree Farm, Maine. 



FECUNDITY OF HENS. 



It would seem a providential arrangement in be- 

 half of man that the domestic hen should be en- 

 dowed with so great fecundity. The ordinary 

 productiveness of a single hen is astonishing. In- 

 stances are recorded of hens laying over two hun- 

 dred eggs annually, while probably one hundred 

 and twenty would be a fair average. Undoubtedly 

 much depends on circumstances as to the product- 

 iveness of hens. Climate has great influencein 

 this subject, and the lodging, food, and attention 

 which is bestowed upon these animals have more 

 or less effect in promoting their fecundity. 



It is asserted by Buffon that a hen, well fed and 

 attended, will produce upward of one hundred and 

 fifty eggs in a year, besides two broods of chickens. 

 We find statements recorded in our agricultural 

 journals of several instances of extraordinary 

 products of hens, which will enable us to form 

 some judgment on the subject. 



The editor of the Massachusetts Ploughman says 

 from eighty-three hens seven thousand two hun- 

 dred eggs were obtained, which would give to each 

 hen eighty-four eggs for the year. 



A remarkable instance of fecundity in the hen 

 is related by a correspondent : Three pullets of the 

 Poland breed, hatched in June, commenced laying 

 in December following, and, from that to the next 

 December, laid five hundred and fifty-four eggs, 

 averaging one-hundred and eighty-five to each hen. 

 It seems ever to have been ah object of great 

 importance in an economical point of view to se- 



cure the laying of hens during those periods of the 

 year when, if left to themselves, they are indis- 

 posed to deposit their eggs. Old hens can not be 

 depended on for eggs in winter, the very time we 

 want them most. As pullets do not moult the 

 first year, they commence laying at an earlier 

 period than the old hens ; and it is possible so to 

 arrange as to have eggs throughout the winter, as 

 well as spring and summer. 



Some hens are ascertained to lay at longer inter- 

 vals than others ; some will lay one egg in three 

 days; some every other day; others every day; 

 and we have heard of one that laid two eggs in 

 one day ! The act of laying is not voluntary on 

 the part of the hen, but is dependant upon her age. 

 constitution, and diet. If she be young, healthy, 

 and well fed, lay she must; if she is old and half 

 fed, she can not. All that is left to her choice is 

 where she should deposit her egg. 



66 Mist 29th street, N. Y., Nov., 1861. C. N. BEMENT. 



SENDING POULTEY TO MARKET. 



Messsrs. Briggs & HELFRicn, of New York, 

 send us the following directions for dressing, pack- 

 ing, and forwarding poultry to market : 



First,, see that all poultry is well fattened, as. the 

 difference in price in our market between fat and 

 poor poultry is very great. Remember that you 

 not only get pay for every pound your poultry 

 gains in fattening, but by improving the quality 

 you gain from one fourth to one half in price on 

 the whole. 



In fattening poultry, it is always the best econ- 

 omy to feed all they will eat. Poultry fed on corn 

 is yellower and better than on buckwheat. 



Keep from food before killing a sufficient length 

 of time so that the crop will be nearly or quite 

 empty, as full crops are quite detrimental. 



The best mode of killing is by opening the neck 

 veins, though the head may be cut off, but, if so, 

 the skin should be drawn over the neck bone and 

 tied after dressing. 



All poultry should be scalded just enough to 

 make it pick easy. The water should be nearly 

 boiling hot; dip the poultry in and raise it out two 

 or three times, so as to scald evenly, then pick off 

 all the quills, feathers, and pin feathers as quick as 

 possible without breaking the skin. Don't rub 

 them off, as that rubs off the thin outside skin, 

 which injures the sale. Next, immediately before 

 it cools, dip it into clean hot water ; hold it in but 

 a few seconds, then suddenly dip it into cold water 

 for a few' seconds more, then hang or lay it up to 

 cool and dry. 



The intestines or crop should not be drawn. 

 Be sure it is all entirely cool through and the 

 surface dry before being packed. 



Boxes are best to pack in, though barrels will 

 do. Obtain bright rye straw, if possible , wheat 

 or oat straw, if very bright and clean, will do, but 

 is not as good. Shake out all the dust, place a 

 layer in the box, then a layer of poultry, back up, 

 with the legs flat on the straw ; put a little of the 

 straw next the sides of the box, then in the same 

 manner alternate layers of straw and poultry. 

 Stow very snug, so it can not move ; put straw on 

 the top, press on the lid, and nail strong. If the 

 weather is warm, use plenty of cry straw. 



