February 28 
1 S 2 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
MAPES, THE HEN MAN. 
1 . What Is best for hover curtains to 
chick brooders? Is there any foundation 
for a statement which I heard a practical 
poultryman make that the table felt com¬ 
monly used for hover curtains would cause 
loss of small chicks because of their get¬ 
ting It in their crop, by picking at the felt? 
2. What is the earliest age that it will do 
tc give chicks wheat screenings? 3. How 
many days from time of hatching before 
chicks require something more than sand 
for grit? 4. What are the medical prop¬ 
erties of Venetian red and copperas for 
chickens, and how should they be given? 
Hincolnvllle, Pa. j. l. 
Hovek Ci.'rtains; Fxjeding and Dos¬ 
ing. —1. Good heavy woolen cloth such as 
can usually be secured by cutting strips 
out of cast-off men’s clothing, makes 
excellent hover curtains. 1 have some¬ 
times used the tabie felt referred to, but 
never found that chicks pecked at it to 
any extent. 1 should rather doubt that 
they would be injured by any amount of 
it likely to be swallowed. 2. Wheat 
screenings can safely be given as soon 
as chicks are big enough to swallow it; 
i should say at two to three weeks old. 
A good quality of cracked wheat in con¬ 
nection with cracked corn, makes a 
better feed. 3. If the sand is coarse, it 
answers very well for grit until pretty 
well feathered out, say at six to eight 
weeks old. Our custom is to cover the 
brooder floors with fresh sand before in¬ 
troducing the newly hatched chicks, and 
no other grit is provided until they are 
given free range, when large enough to 
dispense with artiflcial heat. They then 
find their own grit, as our soil is a siaty 
loam. 4. i should advise taking water in 
connection with Venetian red and COP 7 
peras, giving the clean water to the 
chickens, and throwing the rest away. 
I have no faith in such nostrums for the 
poultry yard. 
Ailing Pigs. —We had a little experi¬ 
ence with ailing pigs last month similar 
to that of the Hope Farm folks. A few 
of them got stiff and lame,, particularly 
in hind feet and legs; others seemed to 
choke or have fits. Some of the most 
thrifty pigs would rush out to the trough 
for their feed with the rest, and all at 
once they would fall backwards, and lie 
helpless for several minutes. I thought 
at first that they had choked, but after 
seeing some of them do it when not eat¬ 
ing, concluded that the trouble was not 
due to choking. Instead of investing in 
nostrums we took special pains to pro¬ 
vide a good dry bed every night, using 
some wild hay in place of anything bet¬ 
ter, and changed the feed. We only lost 
one pig out of a batch of 88 . We have 
been able to get an increased supply of 
skim-milk lately, and we put the whole 
batch of pigs (about 60 of which are 
now on hand) on a diet of whole corn 
and skim-milk. They have all the corn 
they can eat all the time and a chance 
to drink all the warm milk they want 
three times a day. The effect of this 
change of feed was magical, and the 
whole batch are again as healthy and 
thrifty as need be. 
A Handy Trough. —We had to experi¬ 
ment a little before we found a trough 
from which 25 shotes would eat shelled 
corn, shut up in a pen 6x25 feet, without 
soiling and wasting some of the corn. 
The following arrangement gives com¬ 
plete satisfaction: The bottom board is 
a two-inch plank 16 feet long and 12 
inches wide. Side pieces are nailed to 
this, making a shallow box four inches 
deep and 12 inches wide. The end 
pieces are eight inches higher than the 
sides. Another plank four inches nar¬ 
rower than the bottom piece, rests on 
the high end pieces. This allows them 
to insert their heads and eat from the 
trough (or shallow box), but prevents 
their standing in it or soiling the corn. 
Since adopting this plan the corn box 
occupies the middle of the long pen, and 
they use one end exclusively for bed¬ 
room. How they do grow. Mr. Cook’s 
estimate of 35 pounds dry matter to each 
1,000 pounds of live weight, page 111 , is 
about correct, according to the way 
these pigs eat. 
Middlings for Pigs.—O n page 105 S. 
S. C. asks: “Are middlings alone a 
suitable grain ration for pigs?” I should 
say not, particularly in cold weather. In 
hot weather they would probably do 
very well on middlings alone, but a mix¬ 
ture of cornmeal and middlings I judge 
would bring more profit even then. Prior 
to our feeding whole corn and skim- 
milk our pigs had been fed a mixture of 
half middlings and half hominy chop, 
which Is similar in analysis to cornmeal. 
They did not grow and thrive as well as 
the lot we fattened last Winter, on a 
mixture having a wider nutritive ratio. 
That mixture had about two parts corn¬ 
meal to one part wheat feed (bran and 
middlings), and we had no trouble with 
pigs getting fits, etc, 
A Woman’s Hens. —In my account of 
what Mrs. Crawford is doing with hens, 
on page 79, 1 did not mention the most 
remarkable part of her experience. She 
tells me that she only lost one hen dur¬ 
ing the whole of last year. Think of 
that! A productive flock of over 300 
hens with no disease, and only one death 
during an entire year. She thinks that 
one was crop-bound, if there is any such 
complaint. If I had seen this statement 
in print, even in Tile R. N.-Y., it would 
have required a pretty big stretch of the 
imagination to believe it. I have known 
both Mr. and Mrs. Crawford all their 
lives, however, and I have no more rea¬ 
son to doubt their word than I would 
that of my own mother. There must be 
something about her methods or her 
feed which the rest of us have not yet 
learned. What can it be? 
Suggestions in Feeding. —There are 
several things about her methods which 
are different from the generally accept¬ 
ed rules among modern poultry keepers. 
One of these is the fact that she feeds a 
full meal of bulky mash the last thing 
at night. Three-quarters of this mash is 
composed of wheat bran and middlings. 
Another is the fact that she only gives 
one kind of whole grain the same day. 
When she feeds wheat she feeds noth¬ 
ing else with it; the same with corn, 
oats, buckwheat, etc. Another peculiar¬ 
ity is the small amount of animal food 
used; only a small amount of boiled fish 
heads, etc., once a week, with a small 
amount of animal meal occasionally in 
Winter, and none at all in Summer. This 
latter, in my judgment, is one secret of 
the healthy condition of her flock. I 
have long thought that too much animal 
food will cause sickness. I have often 
heard observing men say that they had 
lost a good many hens by feeding too 
much meat scrap. I have also seen a 
flock of hens made sick by children 
gathering earthworms and throwing 
them into the henyard. 
Old Hens. —Does a hen cease to be 
profitable after she is two years old? 
Probably nine out of ten people would 
answer yes. We have a good many hems 
older than that, but I have not yet been 
able to convince myself that it pays to 
turn them to the butcher at two years 
old, unless for the sake of providing 
room for younger stock. It happens that 
our first flock to pass the 50 per cent 
mark this Winter (27 eggs a day from 
50 hens) was a flock of three-yegir-old 
hens. o, w. mapes. 
When you write advertisers mention The 
R. N.-Y. and you will get a quick reply and 
“a square deal.” See guarantee. 14th page. 
Americotn 
Crea-m SepaLra.tors 
are proving the biggest money makers for 
farmers of any machines on the market. 
The price is away down, and we sell 
them on trial. Medal at Paris in 1900. 
Write for free catalogue to-day. 
American Separator Co., 
Box 1066 Bainbrldge. N. Y. 
CREAM 
SEPARATORS 
All about them and other things for 
' the dairy & creamery. A. H. REID, Philadelphia 
I IT PAYS TO KNOW 
creamery 1 
I liver. - 
I whether all your cows are giving butter fat 
1 enough to pay for their keeping and whether the 
lery is giving you credit for all tne butter fat you de- 
You will know to a dead certainty if you use 
ITHE “SWEEPSTAKE” 
Babeock Milk Tester. 
I Made in 2 and 4 bottle sizes. Turns 
I easiest because it runs on baU bear- 
j Ings.Strong.durable.Iastihg. Equipped 
with all neoessary glassware of beat 
I quality . Circulars and prices mailed free. 
CREAMERY PK’G MFC. CO., Chicago, Ills. 
f 
hatches 1733 chicks. One woman 3496, 
One man 3633. Many others do eqnally 
well with the PEBFBICTBD HATCH- 
INQ SYSTEM, Beats inonbators. Book¬ 
let free. P. GBUjNBY.MorrisonvUle. Ill. 
IHCUBATOR BUYERS! ATTENTIOH! 
All persons Intending to buy Incubators will, upon 
writing to me, receive the 1903 catalogue of 12 leading 
incubator mfrs. H. L. Squires, Wading River, N. Y, 
FOR NOTHING. 
hbT« pftld tbftt sum MTenl tlxDeR I 
for leiB luformatlon th&a U oonulned In our ^nuid | 
new book, to Maht Money with PonUtry ano 
Ineubatort.** 8x11 loobet, 196pnge«. Ithxslll 
•pooUl ehkpton b/ tbo best expert! in tbe country I 
ooTerinK tbe entire poultry subjeol Over 800 Ulusv I 
tmtlons and pbotompblo views of tbe Largeet and | 
Mott i9uoe*tt/ul PAUtry Plantt In this xnd other | 
eountiies. Tells nbout tbe OTPHEHS INCUBA> 
TORa ItwillbetontFR£EPOSTPA2'Dforthe 
next 30 dayt to all who mention tbit paper In writing. Address nearest offloa. 
CYPHERS INCUBATOR. COMPANY. 
BotrslOfN.T. CUesfO,!!!. Boitvn.Usu. NcwlarVN.T. 
ICTOR 
INCUBATORS 
Hatch every fertile egg. Simplest, 
most durable, cheapest first-class 
hatcher. Money back if not posi¬ 
tively as represented. Wepay freight. 
Circular free; catalogue 6c. 
Don't Pay Double. 
1 S... 1 
y ^ Day* 1 
PrM 
r* TriaL 
1^1 for the money than any other 
W incubator concern on earth. Newin- 
y proved r^iilator, that can’t get out 
^ oforder. Big hook-SOOinuftration. fte*. 
SUBS HATCH INCVBATOB CO., 
CUy Crater, N*b. or Colonbait OUii. 
1 INCUBATORS 
( From $6 up. Best reasonable priced 
^ hatchers on tbe market 
Brooders, l$4 up. None better at any 
price. Fully warranted. Catalog free. 
L.a. banta, ligonier. ind. 
Send, for 
.est ever 
l 
The PRAIRIE STATES \ 342 
KEEP AT THE HEAd\ 
More made-more sold- 
more prizes won than^\ 
ALL OTHERS combined. V 
catalogue-just out-fin-''\ 
issued.Mention this paperX 
tIRIE STATE INCUBATOR Co,; 
lOKER CITY Pa., U.S.l'. \ 
$ 1 rt-80 For 
1 200 Egg 14 xa 
INCUBATOR 
Perfect in oonstrnction nnd 
action. Hatches every fertile I B 
1 egg. Write for catalog to-day. | ^ B 
[ GEO. H. STAHL, Quincy, III. 
SO.AY' 
Woifire 10 days'free trial, no money in »dTanoe,oD 
Mann*A IVcw Model Bone Cutters 
Vou prove on your own preulses that 1 1 turns easier and 
outs faster than any other. Catalo{i;ue tree. 
F. W. MANN CO., BOX IS, MILFORD, MASS. 
EGGS! EGGS! 
I Feed cut bone and double your yield. The 
J Humphrey Open Hopper Green Bone 
and 1 egetnblc Cutter is guaranteed to 
I cut more bone with less labor .than any other. 
Send for free trial oiler and catalogue. 
[HUMPHREY & SONS, BOX 39, JOLIET, ILL. 
Death to Lice 
on HENS and CHICKS 
64-page Book FREE. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box ^7, Apponang, B. I. 
SQUABS PAY 
Easier, need attention onlr part of 
time, bring big prices. Raised In one 
month. Money-makers for poultry 
men, farmers,women. Send for FREE 
BOOKLET and learn this rich home 
Industry. PLYMOUTH ROCK SQUAB 
CO., 4A Friend Street, Boston. Mass. 
The Greider Strains. 
fifty of them, are bred to make prize winners.^ 
Very low prices on birds and oggs, considering 
quality. Elegant 1903 catalogue sent postpaid 
for 10 cents. Write to-<iay. 
B. H. GRBIBER, RHEEKS, FA, 
Duff Rocks only. 23 selected Cockerels. Des. Booklet 
^free. Branch Valley Poul. Yds., Telford, Pa..R.D.2 
9 n n Barred and Buff Plymouth Bock Cock- 
ZUU erels and Pullets. Prices reasonable Satis¬ 
faction guaranteed. Dr. S. C. Moyer, Lansdale, Pa. 
FnU/io fnr Coin—white Wyau., P. Rocks and 
lUnio lUi OulC Leghorns. Stamp. Eggs, $1 
for 13. Mas. J. P. HELLINGS, Dover, Del. 
vniiun PUinifQ shipped safely any distance 
I UUliU UniUIxO Try them Instead of eggs foi 
hatching. VUleview Poultry Farm Co., Salem, N.Y. 
Cav C«| j|~Kose-comb Buff Leghorns, Rose-comb 
rUr vClIC Brown Leghorns, Wliite Guineas. 
Eggs for hatching from the above stock and Silver 
Wyandottes. A. S. BEEKMAN,South Branch, N. J. 
BUFF ORPIHCTONS 
f^nPVCDCI Wyan., P. Rocks. 
vUUIVblll.bV Brahmas, Cochins, Leghorns, 
from prize-winning stock. 23 varieties of land ant 
water fowls. Satisfaction guaranteed. Big catalogue 
free. PIKE TREE FAUSl, Box T, Jamesburg, K. j. 
R o s e - c o m b Buff 
__ Leghorns and 
Single-comb Buff Leghorns; Barred Plymouth Rocks. 
Cheap for the quality. Eggs In season. 
D. J. KENEPP, MoVeytown, Pa. 
HOUDANS 
Our stock direct from the greatest breeder in France. 
Circular. D. E. HOWATT, New Brnnswiok, N. J. 
MEADOWVALE FARM 
Plymouth Rocks, Single-Comb White Leghorns 
and Pekin Ducks. Eggs and stock for sale at 
reasonable prices. Address 
LEWIS E. BENEDICT, Lutherville, Md. 
CHOICE BARRED ROCK COCKERELS 
$3 and $4. Bred from our 198-pgg strain. Strong, 
healthy, vigorous, nicely barred farm raised stock. 
Eggs. 12 per 13; S5pcr40; $10 per 100. Incubator Eggs, 
$6 100; $10 200. J. W. Parks, Altoona, Pa., Box K 
Breeders’ Directory 
FOR SALE. 
Jersey and Guernsey Cattle—Young Cows, 
Heifers, Calves of both sexes, and yonng Bulls 
old enough for service. Berksliire Swine, all 
ages and both sexes. For description, pedigrees 
and prices address 
LEWIS E. BENEDICT, 
Meadowwale Farm. Lutherville, Md. 
Butter-Fat Test Low? 
GUERNSEY BULLS 
will Increase it, and we have several at reasonable 
prices. Ages, calves to those 10 months old. 
WILLSWOOD FARM, 
Wills a. Seward. Budd’s Lake, N. J. 
A Foundation Herd of 10 or 20 young reglsterea 
HOLSTEIN COWS Is offered at a special price 
by DRLLHURST FARM. Mentor, Ohio. 
PUREBRED HOL8TBIN- 
r or FRIESIAN BULL CALVES 
and SCOTCH COLLIE PUPS from registered stock.. 
W. W. CHENEY, ManUus, N. Y. 
Holsteiti-Friesians 
ust breeding for sale. Prices reasonable. Every 
.nlmal registered. WOODCRB8T FARM, Rlfton, 
Ulster County, N. T. 
cno C Al C—lot* Choice High-grade Jersey or 
I UK dllbb Guernsey Cows, fresh or soon to be. 
H. I. PIERCE, Columbus, Ohio. 
■Registered Jersey Bull Calves 
from Imported Golden Lad at fair prices. 
R. F. SHANNON, 907 Liberty jStreet, Pittsburg, Pa. 
FOR SALE 
Purebred Devon Calves 
__at reasonable prices. 
B. J. WIGHTM AN, West Eaton, N. Y. 
JACKS FOR SALE. 
150 Jacks, Jennets and Mules now ready for the 
Fall trade. Some bargains. Address 
BAKER’S JACK FARM, Lawrence, Ind. 
Chester Whites”®”"””' 
sale. 
Pigs, hogs and bred sows for 
WILLW. FISHER, WatervUet, Mich. 
Boar and Sow; good 
llllbwnillbd ones; seven pigs, October far¬ 
row. Tbe lot at a bargain If sold soon. 
HERBERT GRANT, Cleveland, N. Y. 
jPAn oil IJ—Choice Recorded Large English 
lUlf wAbb Berkshire Boars, ready for serv¬ 
ice. Write your wants or come. 
E. E. HALL, Stanley, N. Y., R. F. D. 1. 
^IPROVED LARGE YORKSHIRES 
Kng. bacon 
aog. Pigs of all ages from Irnported stock for sale. 
MEADOW BROOK STOCK FARM, Rochester, Mich 
le^P, Chinas, BerRshires and C, Whites. 
8 wks. to 6 mos.. mated not akin. 
Service Boars, Bred Sows. Write foi 
prices and description. Return If not 
satisfactory; we refund the money. 
HAMILTON & CO., Uosenvlck, Chester Co., Pa. 
Shropshlres by Imported stock. Shorb 
horn Cattle Calves by imported sires. 
Chester White Swine. Orders booked 
for Spring Pigs, pairs not akin. B. P. 
. Bocks, fine stock, a specialty All 
stock safely shipped to distant points. 
SIDNEY SPRAGUE, Falconer, N. Y., R. F. D. 71. 
For Sale.—Scotch Oollies, magnificently 
bred. A. J. BENEDICT, Woodworth, Wls. 
For Sale—Purebred Collie Pups; unexcelled for farm 
use. $5 each. Geo. A. Hull, St. Catharines, Ont. 
White Plymouth Rock Eggs for Hatch 
ing; 13 for ."iOc.* J. M. Thorniley, Marietta, Ohio. 
PULLETS, $ I S'SS $2 EGGS 
4c. Fine 
J VI K.I. Reds LUUO stock. 
Free range. W. 1RI.SH, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
for hatching from choice matingsof B irred 
bUbv P. Rocks and White Wyandottes. $2 ]»'r 
sitting; three sittings, $5. WOODCRE8T FARM. 
Rifton, Ulster County, N.Y. 
rppP 15,$1; 40,$2. Buff, Wh.,Barred Rocks; Butt, 
LUUu Wh., Br. Leghorns; Buff,Wh.,Golden Wyau.; 
Black Langshans, Buff Cochins,Lt. Brahmas, Minor- 
cas, Hamburgs. Cat. H. K. Mohr,Quakertowu, Pa. 
Record and Calendar for 1903, full of 
Practical Poultry Pointer for each 
month, mailed free on request. 
GEO. H. LEE CO., Omaha, Neb. 
—Best Barred and Plymouth Rock 
Eggs for batching. Matings from 
Shoemaker and Heller strains. Free range and 
fertile eggs; 75 per cent guaranteed. Prices low. •• 
E. W. JENKINS, Dover, Del. 
Eggs that Hatch at Cut Prices 
Distance no objection. We pack in cotton batting, 
which prevents jar and chill. B. Rocks, W. Wyan¬ 
dottes, B. l.eghorn8. MT. BLANCO POULTRY 
FARM, Mt. Blanco, O. 
Sloan s Liniment^ 
There is nothing like it to kill 
a Spavin, Curb or Splint. 
Invaluable for cuts, kicks or bruises. Manu¬ 
factured scientifically by a famous Veterinarian. 
Sold by Dealers generally. 
Horse size, 60c. and NS 1.00 per bottle. 
Family size, 86c. per 
