HOME-GROWN POULTRY FEEDS 237 



external appearance. On every poultry farm a small area 

 should be planted with alfalfa or clover, preferably alfalfa. 

 This can be cut and cured as hay, then cut into short 

 lengths and fed in the dry mash. If desired, it can be 

 wet with hot water and fed moist. Fine, dry cut hay of 

 this type is very wholesome for young chicks on the 

 brooder floor. Dry alfalfa in the mash acts as a source 

 of vegetable protein, alfalfa hay containing 12 per cent of 

 protein. One acre may be expected to yield from four to 

 five tons of cured hay. 



Root Crops. — The necessity of succulent feeds has been 

 previously mentioned, and root crops form an ideal succulent 

 feed. They are particularly valuable because they give a 

 relatively big yield per acre, are easy to store for winter 

 feeding, retain a high water content throughout the storage 

 period, are easy to feed and are relished by the birds. 



Mangel Beets. — Mangel beets are the best root crop, 

 because they give the biggest yield, and are very succulent. 

 The seed should be sown on rich fertile soil, in drills, two and 

 one-half feet apart. This admits of horse cultivation. After 

 they are an inch or two high they should be thumed 

 out so as to be no closer together in the row than 

 eight inches, which will allow each root to develop to 

 its maximum size. 



To secure the greatest benefit from the beet crop, the tops 

 should be harvested and fed to the birds in the fall before 

 freezing. They can be cut off with a com knife, leaving the 

 roots intact. The roots should then be dug up and stored 

 before severe freezing (Fig. 131) . The ideal way to store them 

 is in root cellars specially built for the piupose. Where there 

 is no such building, they can be stored in a pit dug in the 

 ground. The beets should be packed in the pit, then covered 

 with com stalks, and this in turn with a foot of soil. Packed 

 in this way they will keep a long time without any risk of 

 freezing. Mangel beets can be chopped fine and fed to birds 



