April if! 
374 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
The Chicken Yard. 
A Wonderful Bird Wanted. 
An old couple not having much to do 
ihink of .starting a poultry business, but 
are not decided as to what breed of fowl 
to get. What they want is something 
beautiful and useful; a good all-round 
business hen, a good layer, a good sitter, 
a good mother, with a good plump round 
body. Would the White P. Rock fill the 
bill, or can you recommend any other 
breed more beautiful and useful? 
Canada. B. R. s. 
You will need a perfect hen to fill the 
bill here outlined. If white is the de¬ 
sired color we suggest the White Wyan¬ 
dotte as better than the White P. Rock 
as a whole. 
Some Sick Hens. 
Can you tell me what is the matter with 
my hens? They seem first to get lazy, 
throw their heads with bill apart, and then 
get blind, sometimes in one eye and then 
again in both. A white scale, seems to 
grow over the eyes and then it turns black. 
Some have died, and some get over it. Is 
there a remedy? b. a. a. 
Uockport, N. Y. 
This fiock seems to be suffering from 
colds and improper diet. For the first 
try boric acid; put about one-fourth 
pound of the powder in a quart bottle of 
water, let it stand three hours, pour the 
liquid into a dish; immerse and hold the 
invalid’s head under until it breathes. 
Two or three of these treatments for 
from two to five successive days should 
effect a cure. The bottle can be refilled 
with water till the powder has entirely 
dissolved. To remedy improper diet, 
keep the birds in dry, draftless, well- 
ventilated quarters, with good, sharp 
grit, charcoal and clean water before 
them. Give them nothing to eat for 24 
hours, and after that feed sparingly hard 
grain thrown in clean litter. w. 
Facts About Hens. 
Our 50 pullets laid 150 dozen eggs dur¬ 
ing .lamiary and February of this year. 
They are “a mixed lot,” as the Hope 
Farm man would say, but there is a pre¬ 
dominance of Barred Plymouth Rock 
blood, with some White and Brown Leg¬ 
horn and also a trace, I think, of Black 
Spanish. I have been introducing fresh 
blood for two or three years, with a 
view to increasing their size. I have 
now two purebred Buff Plymouth Rock 
cockerels at the head of two small pens 
this season, and have two other pens 
headed by White and Brown Leghorn 
cockerels of uncertain degrees of purity. 
One of the latter is a pen of 25 yearlings 
which have been boarders in the fullest 
sense of the term. It takes a long time 
for us to learn some things, and we now 
feel humiliated to learn how stupid we 
have been all these years in keeping a 
lot of superannuated fowls on the 
strength of their good looks. Our suc¬ 
cess this Winter in securing eggs has 
not been due to any one cause, and I 
fear that we could not enumerate them 
all if we tried, but this we do know, that 
more time, care and study have been put 
into our care of our feathered servants 
than we have ever given them before. 
The “Madame” contributed her full 
share to our success, having sole charge 
of them during their chickenhood days, 
and through all the stages of their 
growth and development, i^es, and keep¬ 
ing their egg record, which showed us 
“where we were at.” Our conclusions 
are, that Winter eggs may be profitably 
secured if the following conditions are 
faithfully observed: Vigorous pullets 
(fully developed), clean quarters, small 
Hocks, nitrogenous food in great variety 
(mixed with brains), clean litter, con¬ 
stant scratching and diligent, watchful 
care. N. c. vary. 
crowino Hens.—As to the Michigan bird 
described on page 111 the fact that this 
bird lays, and is in every respect femi¬ 
nine, except the crowing, is, I think, suf¬ 
ficient evidence to warrant tlie conclusion 
that a dissection would not reveal any 
abnormalities of the genital organs. I am 
Int'lined to consider the crowing as an 
aberration of function rather than a re¬ 
sult of any anatomical defect. 
Mass. Agl. College. jas. b. paiok. 
SoUTHKKN Hkns Moultinu. —There 
really is no definite time for hens moult¬ 
ing in the Far South, neither do they as 
completely shed their feathers as they 
do in colder climates. Old hens gener¬ 
ally shed their feathers from the latter 
part of July on to the middle of Sep¬ 
tember. Hens that have been sitting in 
the Spring will not moult until late in 
the Fall; Spring-hatched chickens will 
shed some of their feathers during the 
Winter months. Then, too, the moult¬ 
ing season varies according to the 
change of the second season of the year, 
which may occur in the latter part of 
July or the second week of August. 
San Saba, Tex. J- J- 
Indian Runner Ducks. —On page 234 
of your issue of March 30, A.W. inquires 
for a “new duck.” Many farmers have 
found that the Pekin duck is not a sat¬ 
isfactory farm bird. They certainly are 
unexcelled as a market bird when han¬ 
dled skillfully, but seem to deteriorate 
when given the little care that most 
farmers are able to give to them. The 
Indian Runner ducks, while not so 
heavy as the Pekin (only reaching five 
pounds) are certainly well fitted to hus¬ 
tle for a living. They will lay almost 
as many eggs as a Leghorn hen, and are 
thrifty and hardy under the most ad¬ 
verse conditions. I discarded the Pekins 
some time ago for the same reasons as 
A. W., and find that the Indian Runner 
suits me exactly. J. h. j. 
Brighton, Md. 
Ci.iPPiNCi THE Wing. —The notes on 
page 177 in regard to cutting chickens’ 
wings at the first joint reminds me of 
my experience in that line. I tried it in 
a small way, and am satisfied not to try 
it again. The chickens certainly do not 
enjoy it, and I do not believe it is any 
benefit to them. They did not bleed very 
badly, but when they are so small it 
seems as though it must be some injury 
to them, and it also injures some of 
them for market purposes. The end 
where the cut is made is very apt to be¬ 
come bruised at any time, which often 
leaves a place which is unsightly after 
the chicks are dressed for market. Clip¬ 
ping the flight feathers of one wing is 
just as effectual and not much more 
bother. I have very little trouble in 
confining even the Leghorns with a five- 
foot picket fence, if one wing is kept 
clipped and the fowls are given every¬ 
thing they need, so that they are always 
contented. s. s. c. 
Hardwick, Vt. 
Raising Chicks. —To the busy farmer 
who has the milking and chores to do, 
and is his own plowboy, the care of 
young chickens is often a great incon¬ 
venience. From my own experience I 
believe that the matter can be much 
simplified, and the labor lessened. From 
two years’ trial I feel confident that the 
whole thing lies in proper care. My 
plan is to be in no hurry to take chicks 
from the nest. Nature has supplied 
them with food to last a day or two. I 
never feed soft food. From the begin¬ 
ning I feed good clean wheat, ground so 
that one-third or more of the grains re¬ 
main whole. With the first feed I give 
some grit, and see that the chicks are 
well provided with it at all times. I 
confine the hen in a coop three or four 
feet square for about two weeks. I never 
feed oftener than three times a day. 
Water is kept before them all the time. 
I like an old kerosene can, and turn the 
faucet so that the water drips a drop at 
a time. Of course one has to keep the 
chicks free from lice. By this method 
last year I did not lose one in 100 of the 
chickens hatched. After the chicks are 
two weeks old I let them run as they 
please, and they seldom get grain, ex¬ 
cept at morning and evening, s. t. w. 
Oregon. _ 
Sowing Rape.— Most farmers now know 
something of the value of Dwarf Essex 
rape as pasture for sheep or swine. A bul¬ 
letin from the Indiana Experiment Station 
tells how to sow the crop. In central In¬ 
diana it is sown not before the middle of 
April. It does best in drills, and may be 
.“^own at intervals of 10 days to two weeks. 
Rape may be sown in the corn Just before 
the last cultivation. If the soil is not too 
dry, it will grow well unless the corn is 
very iarge and thick. Where thus sown 
it makes splendid pasture for lambs from 
September till cold weather. Some men 
have had success in sowing rape with oats. 
This, however, is not a sure way, as the 
season will have much to do with it. It 
is a good plan to have the rape patch near 
the barns and alongside of the pasture. 
This brings the animals under the stock¬ 
man’s eye, and if a Iamb “bloats” he is 
there to give it attention. If the stock 
can go freely back and forth between the 
pasture and rape, it will save trouble, 
time, labor and even loss. Rape thus sup¬ 
plements the pasture, making fat lambs 
and good pigs. Where sheep have access 
to both rape and grass, they should not 
be turned on the rape until the middle of 
the day, when the animals are not hungry 
enough to gorge themselves, and the rape 
is free from dew. If they do not have the 
run of the pasture, turn them on the rape 
for an hour a day, gradually increa.sing 
the time, until they become accustomed to 
it. Then keep them on it continuously till 
the end of the season. 
The distress, apprehension. Inconvenience, and 
danger of Asthma, can all be overcome by Dr. D. 
.layne’s Expectorant If administered according to 
directions.— Adv. 
A. C. VAN DEMAN 
Successor to H.E.Van Deman &Son 
S. C. White, Brown and 
Buff Leghorns. 
Extra Early Fertile Eggs 
From my best matings, 
11.50 per 15; 14 per 17..50 per 100. 
Eastern Shore poui.try Yards, 
BoxII, Parksley, Va. 
KowlsofW. &Rd. Rock, W. & Bn. I,eg.,W.Wyan.vars., 
Eggs $1 A 1.50 26. Stamps. M rs..l. P.UellIngs,Dover,Del. 
■Dlanclianrs White Leghorns.—The leading 
strain of heavy layers. Eggs for hatching from 
finest stock, lll.cir.free. H. J. Blanchard,Groton,N.Y. 
H. H Mohr, Quakertown, Pa., breed.s 
all varieties thoroughbred P. Rocks. Wyandottes. 
Brahmas, Leghorns. Langshans, Cochins, Mlnorcas, 
Uamburgs. Eggs, 15, II; 40, $2. Catalogue. 
ILVER WYANDOTTES WANTED AT $8 EACH 
See Rural New-Yorker. March :10, page 2:i4. 
BEAVER HILL FARM, Beaver, Pa. 
Partridge Wyandotte Hens. 
The Large Money Makers. 
Write for circular. C. G. LURING, Dedham, Mass 
TIID M. Bronze, ButT Leghorns, 
I UHIVd O BuR P. Rocks. Also eggs. Circu¬ 
lar. S. J. B. DUNBAR, Klkhorn, Wls. 
TheWolverine 
HOG RINGER 
Is the only really successful 
ringer made. Easily and 
quickly used ;posltl vely stops 
all rooting; rings never come 
out. Ask your hardware deal, 
er for them. Circulars free. 
HEESEN BROS. A. CO.« 
Tecamseh, Mich. 
SELF 
DUMPING 
S. & B. 
Earth Auger. 
Sample at 
cost to 
introduce. 
3 STYLES. 
8 SIZES 
Fencing Machines 
■Send for free catalog. Eureka Fence Mlg Co* 
Wire at cost. Box Y Klchmond. Ind. 
How to Drain Land Profitably. 
On every farm there ia probably some land 
that could be made more productive by under¬ 
drainage. Properly drained land can always 
be worked earlier, and more profitably. The 
best and most 
economical way 
to drain is ex¬ 
plained in the 
book, “Benefits of Drainage and How to Drain,” 
which Is sent free b.v 
JOHN H. JACKSON. Third Ave., Albany, N. Y. 
Farm Blacksmithing. 
An lllustruted book writ¬ 
ten crxpressly for fiirmers. 
It tells all about making 
and tempering steel tools, 
making chains, hooks, 
rings, clevises, bolts, etc., 
etc. FilingSiiws, splicing 
roi)e, shoeing horses. 
Price 50c., cloth bound, 
by mail post-paid. Address 
J. M. DREW, 
St. .Anthony Park, Mlun. 
fDE 
MACHINERY 
I Beat and cheapest 
' Send for catalogue 
BOOMER & BOSCHERT 
PRESS CO., 
Water Street, 
SYRACUSE, N. 
Barred P. Rock. W. P. Rock and S. 
0. Brown Leghorn. 26 eggs. $1; 
100 eggs. HI. J. W. KILLKN, Felton, Del. 
F M M A—Fertility guaranteed. By the sitting 
or hundred. 26 varieties of prize-wlu- 
ning land and water fowls. Big Cata¬ 
logue free. Our guarantee means something. 
PINE TREK FARM, Box T, Jamesburg, N. J 
QQ and Belgian Hares. All combined and Infor¬ 
mation In (iO page book, 10 cents. J. A. BEK- 
GEY, Telford. Pa. 
Wyandottes (210-egg strain), B. Rocks. S. C.W. 
• * • l.eghornB, bred from stock which won at N. Y. 
and Boston 1800 and 1900. 1). Brahmas and Pekin 
Ducks won In 1808. Eggs. 15, $2; 100.15. Satisfaction 
guaranteed. 1). H. COLT, Elmwood, Conn. 
BUY YOUR S. C. WHITE LEGHORN 
Eggs from us. Ours are noted for heavy laying. Eggs, 
fresh and fertile. $1.25 per 15; $2.00 peritO; $5 per lOo. 
Low ex. rates. T. I). Goodwin, Columbia Station, O. 
■DKOOKSIDE’S WHITE WYANDOTTES please 
^ every one because they are carefully bred for 
business as well as fancy. Eggs that batch from the 
choicest matings, $2.00 per 16. Almost their equals 
for business, $1.00 per 16. $5.00 per 100. 
J. K. STEVENSON, Columbus, N. J. 
KEEP EGGS FRESH A YEAR. 
I have tested Recipe two years,keeping Eggs fresh 
through hot Summer to Christmas. Perfect success. 
Simple, Inexpensive. Refer to Bank of Edgefield and 
Farmers' Bank here as to my veracity. Recipe, .50c ; 
stamps taken. E. J. NORRIS, Edgeheld, S. C. 
Death to Lice 
on Hens and Chicks 
_64-page Book FREE. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box607, Apponaug, R. I. 
FUMA 
9 9 kills Prairie Dogs, 
' ' Woodchucks, Gophers 
and Grain Insects. 
“ The wheels of the 
Gods grind slow but 
exceeding small.” So the weevil, but you can stop 
EDWARD R. TAYLOR, Penn Yan, N. Y. 
Do You Keep Chickens 
Make 100% more. You want 
Wilson’s New Green Bone Shell Cutter 
Bend for circular and testimonials. 
WILSON BROS., Sole Mfgrs., EASTON, PA. 
Cut-Cut-Ca-Da-Cut 
means that you own one more egg. If your Poultry 
yard is fenced with Page Poultry Fence you don’t 
have to go all over the farm to “hunt eggs.” 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO., ADRIAN, MICH. 
RULL-. mOHG ! 
....PIG-TIGHT.,., 
An Illinois farmer said that aft¬ 
er harvest 1.,' had fully 200 bush¬ 
els of loose oats on the ground 
that he could not secure any ben¬ 
efit from, because the fence 
around the field would not turn 
hogs. Figure the loss foryourself. 
He also said, all this would have 
been saved if he had used the 
Kltselman Woven Wire Coiled 
SprinK Fence, and the value 
would have gone a long ways 
towards paying cost of the fence. 
With the Duplex Machine 
any farmer can make it himself 
at the actual cost of the wire. 
Catalogue free for the asking. 
KITSELMAN'BRO^ ^ 
BoxDos. Munoieilntf* 
7 FNAIFIIM kills Lice, Ticks, Mites, Pleas, Etc., 
AiH X VEimiTl 00 uli kinds ot animals and poullry, Ulven 
Intenully U drives out worms. Cures all cuts, wounds, sores, etc. 
Non-polsonouB. Endoreed by leading veterinarians. “Veterinary Ad- 
viaeF'free. ZennerhlsiiifectantCo. 100 hates St, Detroit, Uieh. 
and bow to get it is told In GLEANINGS IN' BKE 
CULTURE, a handsome Illustrated semi-monthly 
magaziiie, employing the best experts on the subject Sample and 
valuable tMxik on Bees and Bee Keepera’ Supplies free to sll who 
mention this paper. The A. I. Root Co. Medina. O. 
INCUBATORS 
From SS.OO Dp. 
BROODERS FROM 16.80 UP. 
Free Catalogue. 
L. A. BAHTA, Llgonier, Ind. 
DIR D cell I TC boa'a small In- 
DIU IICdUL I Ovestment. That’s 
what you get inbnyingTfaellautaui Hatcher, 
Hsteneaevery batchableegg,often 50 chicks 
from 60eggs. 60 egg slie fa. SENT ON M 
DAYSFREETRIAL.SonddcforcatalogNohS 
lluekrye Incubator Co., Springfield, U. 
VICTOR . 
V INCUBATORS( 
Simpleat, | 
flrst-olaM I 
• Hatch every fertile egg. 
moat durable, oheapeat 
batcher. Hooey back if not poaitiraly ^ 
aa repreaented. Girealar free; oaia* ^ 
logueOe. OEO.BBTBLCO., <)al&ay, m. » 
200-Egg Incubator 
for $ 12.00 
iPerfect in oonstmotion and 
laiition. Hatches evary fertUa 
Writ# for oatalogna to-day. 
lEO. H. STAHL. Oulney, III. 
DBS 
LIFE PRODUCERS 
SUCCESSFUL INCUIATOIS. 
LIFE PRESERVERS 
SPECIAL PRICES 
for next 30 day.s on HATCH-ALL INCUBATORS 
and WARM-ALL BROODERS. Send at once 
for free Catalog No. E-83. It will surprise you. 
Hatch-All Incubator Co. Toledo Ohio. 
