160 



THELANCASTER FARMER. 



[October, 1882 



Poultry. 



Guinea Hens. 



Objection Is made to the guinea fowl in domestic 

 quarters because its voice is liavdly less musical than 

 "the controversy of two ripsaws;" because it bullies 

 less pugnacious poultry and because its lays are in 

 stolen nests. Still its eggs are of what an English 

 man call a "a trood flavor " and its flesh "most de- 

 licious, resembling that of the pheasant." He tells in 

 The Illnstraled Book'of rmiUnj how to ameliorate the 

 birds by kind acquaintance above : " By setting eggs 

 under common hens, and roaring them at home, they 

 grew up much lamer, and will flock round the person 

 who feeds them, and even allow themselves to be 

 taken up petted, like other poultry. When reared 

 thus kindly, and secluded nests a;e provided, they 

 will generally lay in the house ; and if i)erches are 

 placed high for them.and they are regularly fed every 

 night, will roost at home also. So far domesticated, 

 they will pay to rear in places where they can have 

 ample range." 



^ 



Care of Fowls. 



Frost-bitten combs and wattles not only injure the 

 looks of line fowls, but affect the health asvfell. To 

 guard against this, warm houses must be furnished. 

 A house that is partially underground is well adapt- 

 ed in onr climate for a winter habitation. The north- 

 ern portion, particularly, should be sheltered, while 

 thesouthernshould have an exposure of glass. Often- 

 times the fowls will pass through the winter un- 

 harmed, and become frosted in March. Fowls suffer 

 much from the cola if not fretted, and should have a 

 generous protection from severe weather. Fowls 

 should never be removed or changed in the spring 

 until the weather is warm inl settled. 



The diflerenec in flavor of the eggs of the different 

 breeds of hens is a matter of fact which few- people 

 appreciate, although it is as distinct as the ditterence 

 iu flavor of the different kinds in potatoes, 

 and may be varied to some extent by the kind of 

 food— although the dark color of the shells almost 

 invariably indicates the rank egg flavor while the 

 most delicate ffavor is found with white or slight- 

 ly tinted shells. The every-day layers seldom 

 produce as rich eggs as those which lay every 

 second day; and',for hatching the latter are by far 

 the best in point of strong shells, fertility and 

 strength of chickens. These advantages can also 

 be varied by feeding and other influences; the most 

 natural conditions of feed, exercise to., producing 

 the best results. It is the whites of the eggs that 

 generally determine their richness (although the 

 pastry cook tells us the "light yellow yolks do not 

 color cakes and custards sufficiently to make them 

 look rich,") and the kinds of feed which stimulate 

 hens to produce the greatest number of eggs are the 

 most dcfficient in the albumen which constitutes 

 their richness, not only making the polks light yel- 

 low, but the whites watery. 



The food value of an egg can be easily tested by 

 breaking it into water just before boiling heat. If 

 the white draws up around the yolk, and covers it 

 thickly the egg is rich in albumen ; but if the white 

 spreads through the water in stringy liees, leaving 

 the yolk uncovered, or slightly covered, the egg is 

 proportionately poor, though the yolk be ever so 

 dark in color. Feeding hens broken boiled-lobster 

 ghells, will make the yolks of their eggs dark color, 

 at any season, and there is no kind of shell-forming 

 substance which they more crave or more eagerly 

 eat. 



Ducks. 



We are occasionally led into wondering why more 

 ducks are not bred and marketed among our poultry- 

 breeders in America. We have now in this country 

 three or four a varieties of imported ducks, at the 

 head of which the Pekius stand to day, without ques 

 tiou, for size, early maturity, hardiness, and thrift. 

 The Aylesbury (pure white, like the I'eUin), the 

 Kouen (brown or particolored), and the Cayuga 

 (black) are notable, and of good quality. Each of 

 these varieties, within our knowledge, has been sue 

 cessfully bred in New England, upon a country 

 place where there was neither pond nor rivulet for 

 their amusement on the farm. 



The ducklings were hatched under hens, and the 

 ducks were raised with the other poultry and fowls 

 on the estate, with similar feed and care, the owner 

 claiming that lor marketing purposes ducks can be 

 reared, like any other fowls, upon dry laud ; and he 

 has found no perceptible diUerence in their propor 

 tionate thrift during the season, though in his ex 

 periments, in the last two years, his ducks never had 

 access to any body of water. A pleaeanter kind of 

 poultry we do not know of. 



Which is the More Profitable? 



" Do we derive a better profit from the non sitter 

 than from the sitter V is as yet an unsettled question. 

 Poulterers are prone to give more credit for the time 

 being rather than to enter into a closer examinaiion 

 of facts. The best of the non-sitters do not 

 average over 18u eggs during the year; but the sitter 



is equally as sure for 132 or more. This is a difference 

 of four dozen eggs, and as the non-sitters lay more 

 eggs in the summer season than in winter the mone- 

 tary value will not exceed seventy-five cents as the 

 measure of ditrcreuce. Using the Leghorn as a 

 sample of the non-silting breeds and the Brahma to 

 represent the sitters, it cannot be denied that the lat 

 ter, being better winter layers, are nearly if not quite 

 equal to the Leghorns in monetary product, even if 

 the number of eggs laid is smaller, owing to the 

 enhanced price of eggs during the cold terms. But 

 the young chicks should be taken into account ; and 

 on an average of only five to the brood, after deduct- 

 ing loss aud the low price of 30 cents per pound, at 

 two pounds each, the .account will be §-• Estimating 

 yet lower in the price, making it 123^ cents per pound, 

 and we still have an advantage in favor of the sitter. 

 The expense will correspond with the ratio of sale, 

 and the gain cannot be ofi'set. The Leghorn matures 

 earlier tiian the Brahma, and gains time in that re- 

 spect. Tliey take resting spells, however, from lay 

 lug, and if they are not at work bringing forth chicks 

 the time is lost. With all that may be said in favor 

 of the non-sitter, it must be remembered that the 

 young chicks count in value as well as eggs. 



Fattening Turkeys. 



An old turkey raiser gives an account of an ex- 

 periment in fattening turkeys as follows : Four tur- 

 keys are fed on meal, boiled potatoes aud oats. Four 

 othei's of the same brood were also at the same 

 time confined in another pen and fed daily on the 

 same articles, but with one pint of very finely pul- 

 verized charcoal mixed with their food — mixed meal 

 and boiled potatoes. They had also a plentiful sup- 

 ply of charcoal in their pen. The eight were killed 

 on the same day, and there was a difference of one 

 aud one-half pounds each in favor of the fowls which 

 had been supplied with charcoal, they being much 

 the fatter, and the meat being greatly superior in 

 point of tenderness and flavor. 



FARM AND WORKSHOP NOTES. 



There is more smut in corn this season than 

 usual. 



The Bermuda onion always does best from im- 

 ported seed. 



A M,aryland farmer produced a 26 pound canta 

 lope this season. 



It is said that sheep in orchards will annihilate the 

 codling moth. 



Hogs in the neighborhood of Reading are dying of 

 some unknown disease. 



At a recent cattle show the Polled Angus bulls 

 captured the premiutns over the Short-horns. 



It is conceded that cros.'sing breeds of poultry pro- 

 motes laying, and gives better results in hatching. 



At an Indiana Fair the Ilolsteins won the sweep- 

 stakes ou bulls, the Shorthorns on cows and the 

 Hereiords ou steers. 



.Mr. II. G. Mumma, of Washington county, Md., 

 raised 152 bushels from 9% acres of land, or about 

 4t) bushels to the acre. 



Farmers should, be cautious in destroying unknown 

 insects, as they often turn out to be kinds that prey 

 on those that injure crops. 



The Boston Cnltivutor says that new varieties of 

 corn are produced from the small nubbins that grow 

 on the end of the tassel. 



J. A. Dodge, in the Journal of Agriealture, says he 

 cures hog cholera by giving half a teaspoonful of 

 carbolic acid in a gill of milk It is administered 

 from a long-necked bottle. 



Samuel T. Earle's cow, Valma Hoffman, of Queen 

 Anne's county. Aid., has produced in thirty days 

 over eighty seven pounds of butter, or nearly three 

 pounds a day. She is valued at S.5,tlOU. 



Celery will be much better if allowed to grow until 

 checked by cool weather at the end of the season, 

 and then placed in boxes of trenches and blanched 

 for future use. 



Literary and Personal. 



The Pottltrt and Stock Journal. — A chroni 

 cle for country gentlemen, breeders and fanciers. 

 Published at the National Capital on the 1.5th of 

 each month, at one dollar a year, (irant Parrish, 

 editor and proprietor. Address, Capital Hill P. 0., 

 Washington, D. C. This is a first-class illustrated 

 quarto, printed in clear type on heavy calendered 

 paper, aud in embellished tinted covers. Although 

 largely devoted to poultry, in its pet and fancy 

 phases, ft also includes a general view of stock and 

 literature appertainining thereto, and discusses the 

 various subjects with ability. To a person desiring 

 variety in his literary repast we can recommend 

 nothing better than this I'uuUry licviiin'. 



Appeal of Mrs. Elizabeth Thompson to the 

 American people, on the subjects of " lutemperauce 

 and Ignorance," together with the poem, "What 

 Right?" as a preface to 14 pages of the " Congres- 



sional Record," containing the speeches of Hon. 

 Henry W. Blair, of New Hampshire, on the " Manu- 

 facture and sale of intoxicating liquors ;" and on 

 "Aid to Common Schools." Time and perseverance 

 may render the last named measure possible, if not 

 probable, because it belongs to the intellectual in 

 man ; and, (^s the intellect becomes enlarged and 

 elevated, he maybe enabled to see and acknowledge 

 the wisdom of the measure, and finally yield his as- 

 sent. But the first named seems to be moi-e 

 nearly related to the alfectioual in man. It strikes 

 at his animal nature and its loves : a domain in 

 which it is dilflcult to get him to see what is best for 

 his moral and physical welfare, oreven toacknowlege 

 it, and bring himself under its reforming influences, 

 when he docs see it. Mrs. Thompson's ai)peal is 

 but a reiteration of similar appeals which we have 

 been hearing and reading these fifty years or more. 

 The task is a herculean one, and it is not at all sur- 

 prising she should be pained at the little advance 

 that has been made. So far .as prohibitory laws per 

 se are concerned it would make little difference to us, 

 pei>onally, what the punishment for their violation 

 might be — whether fine, disqualification or imprison- 

 ment — if the prohiliition was accompanied by a 

 rational discrimination ; and until all men take a 

 similar view of the subject ic would be vain to look 

 for an honest execution of such a law, even if it 

 were enacted. 



Silos and Ensilage, a Record of Practical Tests 

 in several States and Canada. .Special Report No. 

 48 of the Deparment of Agriculture. The Commis- 

 sion of Agriculture sent out a schedule of questions 

 to the number of 2f>, and received statements from 

 92 persons who had built silos and tested ensilage. In 

 reply from difi'ereut parts of the United States, and 

 the Dominion of Canada, and in their details they 

 are generally very favorable to ensilaire. On the 

 profitableness of ensilage "there is hardly a doubt 

 expressed — certainly not a di.>isenting opinion." "The 

 general use of ensilage must depend largely on its 

 cheapness. Costly silos and expensive machinery 

 must always be insurmountable obstacles to a ma- 

 jority of farmers. For this reason, experience tend- 

 ing lo show what is cHtienfial to the preservation of 

 fodder in silos, is of the first importance." 



Two Leghndart Poems : " The Botanist cheek- 

 mated. By A. G. P. and " The Plague of Flies." 



By T. G. P., from the annals of the P Family. 



Printed for private distribution. Express Publish- 

 ing CO., Easton, Pa., 1883. ^8 pp. 12 mo. A clever 

 satire, written in the Hiawatha mea-sui'e. 



Free Trade Bulletin, issued monthly at .50 cts. 

 per annum. G. U. Wing, Publisher, Nos. 37 aud 29 

 West 23d street. New York. 



This is a demi-folio, and is a zealous, and able ad- 

 vocate of the views of Freetraders, a subject which, 

 we must confess, has never occupied much of our at- 

 tention, and even those who have made commercial 

 intercourse a specialty do not seem to have come to 

 a harmonious eonclusion. It would perhaps require 

 some self-concession to arrange a system of duties on 

 merchandize, that would be acceptable to people in 

 general. There are people who dtmand the very 

 highest prices for their own manufactures, especially 

 when they know they can get it, but when they are 

 in need of the manufacture of others they go where 

 they ean obtain them at the very lowest price. The 

 former position may be regarded as high (ari(t\ and 

 the latter, low tafifl'. These individualities carried 

 into the enactment of general laws give them a simi- 

 lar taint. 



The Agents' Hekald.— L. Lum Smith, editor, 

 publisher and proprietor ; 50 cents a year, monthly ; 

 a demi-folio ol 16 pp. In the interest of legitimate 

 agents and agencies, and the exposure of frauds. It 

 is wonderful what a power agents have become in 

 the world of business. Where there was one twenty 

 or thirty years ago there seems to be a Ihouxaad 

 now ; therefore ii is not surprising they should need 

 a representative organ. This journal has a very 

 characleristieally embellished " title head." On the 

 right hand an agent, with his traps under his arm, 

 is sitting ou the "cow-catcher" of a locomotive, 

 with a bright expectant look towards the station the 

 train is approaching. On the left hand an agent is 

 standing as far forward as he possibly can get on the 

 bow of a boat approaching a wharf, and 

 straining his gaze over a town ; whilst just below 

 them in the foreground an agent with a long (gum- 

 elastic) arm is presenting his card to a victim on the 

 right, who is receiving it with a similarly elongated 

 member. The countenance of the former illustrates 

 a dogged, yet blanil, importunity, whilst the latter 

 exhibits a jaded atl'ability, such as business meu 

 sometimes manifest when they wish their pertinacious 

 imp(n'luners at the devil. 



Since the times and the fashions are such as cha- 

 racterize the period iu which we live, it is, perhaps, 

 essential that all parts of human industry, energy 

 and enterprise should assume au organized form, in 

 order to effect their successful progress. " Times 

 ain't as they used to was ;" and " we can't do as we 

 used to did.'' Hence, provision must be made to sus 

 tainaclas& that, iu our, earlier days, had not "a 

 local habitation and a name," but now is becoming 

 "a power in the land." 



