December, 1911 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS v 
is used, it may contain both beef scraps 
and alfalfa, doing away with the separate 
purchase of these feeds. Alfalfa meal is 
sometimes mixed in a wet mash, but it is 
difficult for the amateur to determine how 
much to use. 
Sprouted grain, especially wheat, has 
much to recommend it. It may be safely 
said, I think, that nothing is better to pro- 
mote the early laying of pullets than fresh 
meat and sprouted wheat. The sprouts are 
produced by soaking the grain in water for 
a day and night, after which it is spread 
out in boxes having holes in the bottom for 
the water to drain off. The layer of grain 
should be only three or four inches deep. 
Each morning and evening the grain should 
be stirred to prevent matting together, and 
sprinkled with warm water. A_ blanket 
thrown over the box will conserve the 
warmth. If the box is kept in a warm 
room, only a few days will be required to 
produce sprouts several inches long, which 
will be eaten with the keenest relish. It 
will be understood that wheat or oats 
sprouted in this way will lose much of their 
feeding value as grain, but no other green 
ration will be required. This feeding plan 
is becoming so popular that boxes are being 
made for the purpose of sprouting grains. 
They are arranged in tiers in a frame, so 
that there will be a constant supply on hand. 
There is a pan at the bottom to catch the 
water; and the cost of the complete appa- 
ratus is low. 
GRIT-FOOD. 
Of course, the hens must be given all the 
grit and oyster shells they need. These 
things are best kept always before them. 
‘Oyster shells alone are not enough, as they 
are soluble. Sharp grit is necessary, as it 
is the poultry substitute for teeth. Char- 
coal is a corrective and it is well to keep 
it in a hopper where the birds can get it 
at any time. 
Eggs are influenced by the rations of the 
hens. The flavor is affected by the food 
more than most people realize. At the Con- 
necticut Experiment Station a number of 
hens were fed on limburger cheese. When 
the eggs were broken there was no question 
as to which hens laid them. Some of these 
eggs strayed to the president’s table through 
an oversight, and—but that is another story. 
KEEPING RUGS IN REPAIR 
By MIRA EDSON 
(| Bere there is a fairly large industry 
which has engaged in it numerous work- 
ers concerned with the mere mending of 
rugs alone, not everyone realizes. Yet 
nearly every large house which deals in 
rugs has a department for repairing them, 
and one, two or more persons who spend 
upon this work their entire time. This 
refers, of course, to the care given to Orien- 
tal rugs, which have sufficient beauty and 
worth to make this desirable. Careful and 
skillful mending can often recover a rug 
which otherwise would be beyond use. It 
is given back to its owner almost, if not 
quite, as good as when it was bought, and 
its continued life, to an indefinite length, 
becomes almost a matter of the care be- 
stowed upon it. 
In the menders a certain degree of skill 
is necessary, and a good color sense is im- 
portant in order to select the exact tone of 
color in the new wool and to appreciate the 
position it is to occupy with other colors in 
the pattern. Some general knowledge of 
the rugs which come under their hands is 
also most important, and the work is usually 
done by men from the East, who possess 
this knowledge already, as if by inheritance. 
Buy Oriental Rugs of Known Merit 
Expert Knowledge 
Personal Selection 
Buying Organization 
in the East 
Genuine Antiques 
Choice Modern Pieces 
Moderate Prices 
Bureau of Selection 
for Out of Town 
Patrons 
Special Offerings 
GIFT BOOK FREE 
Our new book “Gifts 
from the Far East,” 
illustrating more than 
200 moderately priced 
articles, suitable for 
gifts, will be sent free 
‘on request. 
Edition 
limited. 
OUR XMAS GIFT TO YOU 
A New Book of Photographs and 
Plans of Distinctive Houses 
This book, ‘Inexpensive Homes of Individuality,”” contains 
Comparatively few Americans have an expert knowledge of 
Orientals. The materials used, the number of threads to the 
inch, the weave, the pattern, the dye, all enter into the question 
of quality. 
You should either have the advice of an expert or buy from 
a house of unquestioned reputation. This has become particu- 
larly true as the finer pieces have been taken out of the market— 
with the resulting abuses of imitation and substitution. 
Vantine’s was one of the first to bring the choice weaves of 
Eastern countries to the United States, and has been distinguished 
for absolute reliability for over half a century. 
Buying tours year after year by a member of the firm, com- 
bined with a permanent organization in the East, maintained to 
take advantage of the “‘finds”’ of native collectors, and the 
choicest offerings of modern weaves, have resulted in a stock 
of both genuine antiques and selected modern pieces, which can 
be unreservedly recommended. 
The actual advantages had in buying and the direct importation 
of such quantities make it possible to give price advantages to 
Vantine patrons. Quality considered, the prices of Vantine rugs 
are most moderate. 
For the benefit of out of town patrons, we have developed a 
Bureau of Selection, which has proven very successful. If the 
dominating colors of the room, approximate size of the rugs and 
prices are given, we will make a choice and send for approval in 
your home. We urge a trial of this Bureau for orders of any 
size. A good rug when chosen with regard to its fitness for its 
special place never becomes tiresome. 
At this time, we are making some special offerings at less than 
regular prices. These are listed in a folder, which we will mail 
on request. Address Desk “ K.”’ 
i 
2 6 
Oriental Drapery and 
Wall Fabrics, Dress 
Silks, Japanese The Oriental Store. 
Screens, Fans, Kimonos, 
Broadway, bet. 18th and 19th Sts. 
New York City 
Also Boston and Philadelphia 
Carved Ivories and 
Bronzes. 
8, 
m3 
Christmas 
Catalog is Ready 
Wonderful Christmas merchan- 
dise, and 1000 toys and games. 
Let the kiddies see the pic- 
i 64 pages and 108 photographs and floor plans of the most 
distinctive houses of moderate cost in the country. All the 
illustrations are of houses that have actually been built and are 
reproductions in detail of interiors and exteriors teeming with 
suggestions for the home owner or prospective builder. It 
offers an exceptional opportunity of studying in detail some of 
the best designed houses of the various architectural types 
built today. It is artistically printed on the best stock, bound 
into an art cover and sellsfor 25c. Wegive you this book FREE. 
TO INTRODUCE HOUSE & GARDEN. The magazine 
for the man or woman who wants to make the most of the 
home whether there is little or much to spend. House & 
Garden brings you into homes whose owners have planned 
them with wonderful ingenuity and individual taste, it shows 
distinctive decorative effects, portrays successful gardens and 
beautiful landscape results and, best of all, tells you just how 
# to secure each one of these things. while a profusion of actual 
photographs aid in planning the many details that insure a 
home of individuality. On mention of American Homes 
and Gardens andreceipt of 25c we will send you, postage 
paid, the big Christmas Number of House & Garden and 
‘Inexpensive Homes of Individuality’’ FREE. 
McBRIDE, NAST & CO., 31 East 17th Street, N. Y. 
tures and you'11 know instantly 
what will please them most. 
Over 50 pages of our General 
Winter Catalog are devoted to 
Christmas suggestions. Askfor 
THAR, WOO 
Both are free cn request. 
"Send 
tt 
Write us today: 
Christmas Catalog No. 101. 
JOHN WANAMAKER, New York 
