452 COMMERCIAL POULTRY RAISING 



FORMULA FOR BEANS AND PEAS Pounds 



Hen manure 55° 



Ammonium sulphate lOO 



High-grade sulphate potash 35° 



Acid phosphate looo 



200O 



Approximate analysis: Nitrogen 1.4 per cent, phosphoric acid 8.0 per 

 cent, potash 8.8 per cent. 



FORMULA FOR STRAWBERRIES Pounds 



Hen manure 1000 



Nitrate of soda 100 



Ammonium sulphate 100 



High-grade sulphate potash 200 



Acid phosphate 600 



2000 

 Approximate analysis: Nitrogen 2.5 per cent, phosphoric acid 5.0 per 

 cent, potash 5.2 per cent. 



The disregard of the value of feathers is another source of 

 waste to many poultry raisers. There is a uniformly steady 

 demand for feathers in all sections of the country, some dealers 

 send out buyers for this purpose, yet thousands of dollars are 

 lost annually because farms pay no attention to this product. 

 With some system of saving, sorting and curing the feathers, 

 they can be made to defray the cost of dressing and marketing 

 the poultry, which is an item worthy of consideration. As proof 

 of the demand for feathers, government reports show that in 

 recent years nearly $2,000,000 worth are imported annually, ex- 

 clusive of ostrich and similar ornamental varieties. Evidently, 

 the foreigner finds that it pays to save feathers. Why should 

 the American farmer not follow this example? 



There are many kinds and grades of feathers, and prices 

 vary accordingly. Geese feathers are the most highly prized, 

 and bring about sixty cents a pound. When we consider that 

 geese may be plucked twice a year, ma^'be three times, it is 

 easy to see that the feathers are a source of profit, similar to the 

 wool of sheep. All white feathers sell for more than colored 

 ones or mixed feathers, and dr\'-picked feathers are preferred to 

 scalded ones. Usually duck feathers are rated next to goose 



