PRAIRIE FARMER'S POULTRY BOOK 



space devoted to mangels will give a surprising return. 

 Carrots do not freeze readily and make a good feed that can 

 be grown at small cost. 



Condiments 



We do not advise the use of stimulants and tonics as a 

 practice. When the hens are healthy and happy and are doing 

 full service in filling the egg basket why change a system of 

 care and feeding that has been tried and found successful? 



There are times, however, when a tonic will help the fowl 

 to tide over and save it from disease. Frequently the egg 

 organs are dormant and only need a tonic to stimulate them 

 to action in order to bring them into laying condition. Fowls 

 are like human beings, they have their ills and humors and 

 often need a corrective or a tonic, to which they readily re- 

 spond, though it would be folly to depend upon these alone. 



Unless an egg totiic is used in connection with a balanced 

 ration more harm will result than good. If the raw material 

 is not present how can the egg be manufactured? If the 

 nervous system needs a little stimulus to action, or the diges- 

 tive system is sluggish and needs a tonic to correct abnormal 

 conditions, or the reproductive organs are inactive and need 

 a stimulant to incite the process of egg forming, a tonic may 

 serve a good purpose. 



There are a large number of advertised tonics. Some of 

 these are of real value, some are measured by an interrogation 

 point. There are also private tonics which are offered as great 

 secrets and sold for a price. Some of the substances frequently 

 used are cayenne pepper, Venetian red, quinine, strychnine, 

 sulphuric acid, ginger, onions, etc. Of these the following 

 deserve mention : 



Cayenne picpper is a stimulant to the liver and other, di- 

 gestive organs. It is used to relieve colds, in which case it is 

 given in gelatin capsules. This powerful stimulant should be 

 used in limited quantity, if at all. 



Venetian red contains oxide of iron and calcium sulphate. 

 It serves as a tonic to the digestive system and is beneficial to 

 the blood. 



Iron, quinine and strychnine are valuable tonics and com- 

 bined in tablets or capsules will be found a splendid help in 

 restoring to vigor fowls that are off their feed, anaemic or 



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