1848. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



127 



Profits of Poultry. 



Messrs. Editors : — I have looked in vain in 

 all the numbers of the present volume of the 

 Farmer for something on the subject of Poultry ; 

 as some of the subscribers I obtained for the 

 Farmer are to some extent engaged in that 

 business, I promised them that their interests 

 should be regarded. Compared with some of 

 the large oxen raised in Western New York a 

 hen is a very small thing ; but when we con- 

 sider how much she contributes towards the lux- 

 uries of life, I think she should not be entirely 

 overlooked. * 



I will give 3'^ou some statistics of my little 

 flock — hoping that it may induce others to come 

 out who have had far better success than I have. 

 My flock averaged from January, 1847, to Jan- 

 uary, 1848, 27—12 of which were full blood 

 Polands, and the remainder half bloods. They 

 yielded me, within the year, 



285 dozen Eggs (average price, 10c.) 28.50 



60 Chickens, (full bloods, worth Is. 6d. each,) 11.25 



$39.75 

 Keeping the 27 Hens, and raising Chickens, $19.86 

 7 dozen eggs used for setting, at 10c. 70 



Profits, $19.19 



I Keep my hens in a close yard and keep 

 grain before them at all times, changing from 

 corn to buckwheat, barley, broom-corn, &c. 

 The true way to make hens profitable is to 

 anticipate all their little wants, and supply them. 

 I keep none now but the pure Poland, of which 

 I have 65, and so far as my experience goes, 

 there is no better kind of fowls — constant layers, 

 and seldom wanting to set. 



J. H. Stanley. 



Le Roy, N. T., April, 1848. 



* " Our seniiments" likewise, If we have neglected the 

 subject it was unintentional. We thank Mr.* S. for his 

 favor, and will endeavor to bear his hint in mind. We 

 shall be happy to hear in like manner from others who 

 have been successful in the raising and management of 

 Poultry.— Ed. 



Salt for Swine. 



Messrs. Editors : — I have recently read an 

 article in the " Watchman of the Valley," pub- 

 lished at Cincinnati, 0., recommending the lib- 

 eral use of " charcoal, sulphur, and salt," for 

 swine. In regard to charcoal and sulphur I 

 know nothing, except that 1 have before seen 

 them recommended, especially the former. Of 

 salt, I know a little from experience, and that 

 little is not in favor of its use. I recollect that 

 when a lad, my grandfather stated, that when 

 giving salt to his cows his hogs followed him, and 

 he gave them a little, which they ate readily, 

 and he then gave them a little more. Very soon 

 afterward they all began to vomit. An uncle, a 

 neighbor, and myself, all tried the experiment 



about the same time, and with the same result. 

 The quantity given was small, perhaps not much 

 exceeding a common teaspoonful. 



A ^e\\ years ago, one of my neighbors had 

 fattened several hogs for market ; (it was during 

 the latter part of summer.) Three of them sick- 

 ened, two of which died in a very short time, 

 the other recovered. The owner could assign 

 no reason for the occurrence, but their having 

 eaten salted food ; and this was generally be- 

 lieved, although it was not certain, that this was 

 the cause. For these reasons I have always re- 

 garded salt as injurious, if not fatal, to swine. — 

 I would be glad to learn more on the subject. 



Fairport, N. Y., 1848. H. 



Sugar Maples. — Suggestion to Farmers. 



Few observers have failed to notice that holes 

 bored in the maple never heal over. The wood 

 and bark both perish for several inches above 

 and below the hole, and often two inches each 

 side of it ; the tree is in consequence essentially 

 injured, and after a series of years ruined. The 

 reason why it does noi heal, is probably because 

 of the unfavorable shape of the wound — the new 

 wood not having room to form. 



The maple is a beautiful and valuable tree, 

 and sorry I am that so few farmers care enough 

 for the future, or those who shall come after 

 them, as to lead them to take pains to save and 

 perpetuate this pride of the forest, this bountiful 

 free-giver of an unequalled and delicious sweet. 

 My suggestion is this : — let the manager of the 

 sugar orchard, when on his round to gather his 

 buckets, at the close of the season, take with him 

 a gouge chisel and mallet, and a basket of well 

 made wooden plugs, or else corks — (the gouge 

 should be some half inch wider than the hole in 

 the tree :) let him cut out a chip slanting inward 

 above and below the hole meeting at the centre 

 of it ; then drive in the plug or cork so as to 

 make a smooth and water-proof fit, and the work 

 is done. A healthy lip will soon form and grow 

 over the orifice, and the tree will thus be pre- 

 served from decay, an ornament to the grounds 

 where it grows, and a benefit of no little impor- 

 tance, reaching to several generations. 



Rome, N. Y., 1848. H. 



Though not "in season," the suggestions con- 

 tained in the above article may hereafter prove 

 valuable to those who preserve the Farmer. 

 The matter is worthy of a second thought, and 

 some attention. 



Every man certainly has a right to live, and 

 the duty of every just man is to let him live. 

 Blessed be the day, if come it ever should, when 

 man will learn tha:: his own true prosperity is 

 essentially involved in the prosperity of his 

 neighbor. 



