February 25 
I 52 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
“OUR HENS.” 
Wife and I are very much interested in 
“our farm,” as we like to term our little 
suburban home, and our liens and other 
things. Now, Brothers Mapes, and Cos¬ 
grove, and Perkins, and you other ex¬ 
perts, don't get jealous when we tell you 
what our biddies are doing. The weather 
is zero, and these hens are laying, and lay¬ 
ing, and giving us more eggs now than 
we get in Summer, more than we are 
able to use; and we are blowing and 
blowing about these hens and sending 
dozens and half dozens of eggs all around 
among our friends, and are getting a 
mighty sight more pleasure in so doing 
than if we were getting big money for 
them. 
Now, then, about them: We moved 
here in the Spring of 1903, into a smoky 
suburb of a very smoky city—coal and 
iron; there are several acres about our 
home, and lots of ground, tilled and pas¬ 
ture, for the hens to run in, and shade, 
shelter and water. During the Summer 
of 1903 I built a small frame barn against 
the south front of a high bank for a cow 
stable and henhouse, with a hayloft over 
both, and a continuation of barn as an 
open-faced ( facing south) scratching shed 
for the hens. All is exceedingly cosy and 
comfortable, but we have no fire heat of 
any kind; they are not at all frost-proof, 
though, as I see some of the roosters have 
had their combs frozen. The first year 
we got a dozen or more hens, but our 
success was indifferent. They were Ply¬ 
mouth Rocks, Games and Leghorns. This 
year we have 37 hens, four roosters, and 
eight October chickens, eight ducks and a 
dozen pigeons—oh, such a happy family! 
-—and we changed our hen man—the man 
who does all manner of work about the 
place. Of the hens nine are last-year 
birds, mixed, and the others are White 
and Brown Leghorns and Plymouth 
Rocks, last April and May chickens. We 
are now getting 9 to 15 eggs a day, and 
this has been continuous since the first 
of December. 
How do we treat them? About 7.30 or 
8 o'clock each morning the man opens the 
hole in the henhouse and lets them out; 
he then feeds them on a trough in the 
scratching shed; feed consists of hot 
boiled mangels and carrots (we raised them 
for the cow, but have far too many, so 
we boil them for the hens), thickened up 
with bran and cornmeal; then wheat, 
cracked corn, whole corn and oats scat¬ 
tered through the hay on the scratching 
floors. This is not measured, but only 
enough that the fowls eat up clean is 
given. About 4 P. M. they get another 
boiled ration, and about 4:30 they are 
driven into the chicken house, and the 
door and hole shut up for the night. They 
also get such kitchen scraps as two collie 
dogs don’t use up. The floors of both 
henhouse and scratching houses are cov¬ 
ered with four inches deep of lawn grass 
mowings containing much clover, and 
dried to hay for this purpose, and is re¬ 
newed every 10 days or so. One part of 
the floor is bare and deep in dry dust, and 
they enjoy this sunny dust bath very 
much. They get fresh warmed water 
every day. And they get a big Drumhead 
raw cabbage every day. We raised lots 
of cabbage, and have them bedded in a 
row out in the field. Each day the man 
takes a cabbage and hangs it up by its 
root, head down, on a nail on a post in 
the scratching house, and with a knife 
gives it two or three slashes across the 
face; then the hens go for it, .and by 
night they don’t leave a pick of it except 
the stump. And the ducks eat it more 
greedily than the hens. Before Christmas 
we bought some turkeys and turned them 
loose with the hens, and killed them as 
we needed them, and they would eat cab¬ 
bage as hungrily .as a cow. But our cow 
won’t eat them; she’s a pretty dainty little 
Guernsey. 
We have a good many heavy work horses, 
but the stable is some way off from our 
home place; however, T have a small load 
of fresh manure sent up to a heap in our 
poultry yard every morning, that the hens 
may scratch in it, and we scatter a little 
fresh oats in it to encourage them to 
scratch. Although only 20 yards from 
their door, in very cold or snowy weather 
the chickens won’t go out near it, but if 
at all fine or warm, they just scratch that 
pile all over. We give them lots of 
ground oyster shells, but no other pre¬ 
pared artificial foods of any kind. 
Of course you may say, “No thanks to 
your hens for laying,” and “their feed and 
keep are more than their eggs are worth, 
no matter how much they lay.” Now, 
Pm not going to argue these points, for 
they pay us. They make our home more 
homey. We love to see them and to have 
them. And the great pleasure it is to my 
family to have these eggs to give away to 
our friends who have no hens, and to 
sick people whom we know, cannot be 
measured in cash. And it is always a 
delight to our visitors to "let’s go up 
and see your chickens,” and what a joy 
it is to children who come here to see 
the hens and gather the eggs in the hen¬ 
house with their own little hands. 
WILL RENOCLAF. 
NO SHOES ON HORSES. 
I note your editorial on page 86 with 
regard to shoeing horses. I have not had 
a shoe put on our farm horses for five 
years. I find the shoeing of farm horses 
in our country an unnecessary expense. 
We sometimes use these horses on our 
roads (clay) for a number of days con¬ 
tinuously with no bad results. The hoofs 
soon become very tough and hard, and 
will stand a lot of wear. Many farm 
horses are kept shod to their detriment 
and to the farmers’ financial loss. 
Pennsylvania. j. t. Campbell. 
R. N.-Y.—This is an excellent plan 
where there are not many stones, and the 
hoofs stand the wear safely, but many 
horses have been so long dependent on 
shoes that they cannot endure continuous 
work barefooted. 
TROUBLE WITH A COW. 
What should be done for a cow retaining 
the afterbirth after calving? Is there any 
way of preventing a cow doing that each 
time she calves? reader. 
New York. 
Removing the membrane by mechanical 
means is the only sure treatment, but this 
operation should not be attempted by an 
inexperienced person. There is no sure 
means of preventing this trouble. Cows 
are much more liable to it when some¬ 
what run down before calving, hence a 
little extra care previously will tend to 
avoid it. One of the best tonics to use 
as a preventive is fluid extract of Vibur¬ 
num prunifolium, commonly known as 
Black haw. Give doses of one table¬ 
spoonful two or three times a week for 
a month preceding calving. The use of 
this, with proper care and feed, may pre¬ 
vent a recurrence of the trouble. 
Tuttle’s Elixir 
$100.00 REWARD. 
Cures all species of lameness, 
curbs , splints, contracted 
cords , thrush, etc., in horses. 
Equally good for internal 
use in colic, distemper,foun¬ 
der, pneumonia, etc. Satis¬ 
faction guaranteed or money 
refunded. Usedandendorsed 
by Adams Express Company . 
SOLD BY ALL DRUGGISTS. 
TUTTLK’8 FAMILY ELIXIR Cures rheumatism, sprains, 
bruises, etc. Kills pain instantly. Our 100-page 
book, “Veterinary Experience,” Free. 
TUTTLE’S ELIXIR CO.. 80 Beverly 8t., Boston. lass. 
Bewsre of so-called Elixirs - none genuine but Tuttle’s. 
Avoid all blisters: they offer only temporary relief if any. 
It is Pratts 
Animal Regulator. 
Made by Pratt Food Co., Phila. Over 30 years old. 
CREAM SEPARATORS 
The advantages of the Centrifugal Cream Separator have 
come to be so universally recognized that nobody longer questions 
the importance of having a separator if they have cream to 
separate. 
It has become simply a question of whether they are going 
to purchase the best separator, get the most value for their money, 
and be sure of the best possible results in the handling of their 
milk, or whether they are going to be induced to put their money 
mto some second or third class machine making attractive but 
largely false claims “on paper.” 
This is the problem which confronts every intending purchaser 
of a separator. He can make no mistake if he puts his money 
into a De Laval machine. He must make a greater or less one 
Ly buying any other. 
The St. Louis Exposition gave the Highest Award to the 
De Laval machines, as has every international exposition before 
it. 98 per cent, of the creamery butter of the world is made 
with De Laval machines. 600,000 users, or ten times all others 
combined, have bought them. Each of these facts is conclusive 
of itself. 
The De Laval was the original cream separator and for 
twenty-five years has made every new improvement. Would-be 
imitating machines simply utilize the construction which expired 
De Laval patents leave free to them. New patents still protect 
all later improvements. 
If you have use for a separator BUY a De Laval NOW. 
Don’t delay making so profitable an investment another day. 
Send for a De Laval catalogue at once giving all separator 
information in detail and for name of nearest local agent. 
The De Laval Separator Co. 
Randolph & Canal Sts., 
CHICAGO. 
1213 Filbert Street, 
PHILADELPHIA. 
9 & I I Drumm St., 
SAN FRANCISCO. 
General Offices: 
74 CORTLANDT STREET, 
NEW YORK. 
121 Youville Square, 
MONTREAL. 
75 & 77 York Street, 
TORONTO. 
248 McDermot Avenue, 
WINNIPEG. 
Don’t Bind on Track 
Can’t jump off, don’t break fork pulley, 
trips easily— 
Louden Hay Carrier 
We make a specialty of Carriers, Steel 
Track, Switches, Pulleys, Hay Rack Fix¬ 
tures, Feed and Litter Carriers. Flexible 
Born Door Hanger, best in the world. Send for 
complete catalog of above and other hardware 
specialties. Mailed free. 
LOUDEN MACHINERY COMPANY, 
39 Broadway, Fairfield, Iowa. 
Harness 
We seU custom made, oak- 
tanned harness hy mail. All 
st yles.G uaran teed to give sat¬ 
isfaction or goods returned 
at our expense and money 
back. Illustrated catalogue 
V and price list Tree. 
The KIN G IIA K.\ ESS CO. 
6 Lake St. 
Oweiro, Tioga Co., Ji. Y. 
N O MORE BLIND HORSES.—For Specific Oph¬ 
thalmia, Moon Blindness, aDd other Sore Eyes, 
BARRY (JO.. Iowa City, Iowa, have a sure cure. 
DOG POWERS 
.BEST. CHEAPEST 
HARDER MFG. CO., 
Cobleskill. N. Y. 
w 
Mr 
Want Power ? 
Steam’s the dependable thing. Cheapest and made 
simple enough and sate 
enough for any user and 
any purpose by 
LEFFEL 
Steam Engines. 
Leffel stands always for 
highest efficiency—w e 1 1 
shown in its line of small 
powers adapted to farm 
uses. Quick steamers and 
equal to any duty. 
Many styles in up¬ 
rights and horizon¬ 
tals. Before you buy 
inquire into Leffel 
efficiency. Write for 
_ large free catalog. 
iL. The James 
Leffel & Co., 
Box 146 ( 
Springlield.O. 
Milk makes the money and Dr. Hess 
Stock F'ood makes the milk. Like a 
magic purse the farmer’s money bag 
fills itself, though it is a conditional 
favor dependent entirely upon his 
knowledge and good management. 
DR. HESS 
STOCK FOOD 
is not a condimental food, but a sci¬ 
entific 6tock tonic and laxative, the 
famous prescription of Dr. Hess 
(M.D., D.V.S.). which combines natu¬ 
rally with the ration fed, and is 
eagerly taken up by the organs of 
assimilation, causing increased vigor 
and a greater flow of richer milk. 
Dr. Hess Stock F'ood prevents indi¬ 
gestion, keeps the milch cow free 
from disease and in a healthy con¬ 
dition during the entire milk-giving 
period. 
5 
si per lb in 100 lb Hacks, 
Y 25 lb pail $1. GO 
Smaller quantitiei a 
little higher. Small dose, I 
Except In Canada 
and extreme 
West and South* 
Sold on a Written Guarantee 
DR. HESS & CLARK, 
Ashland, Ohio. 
Also manufacturers of Dr. Hess Poultry 
Should be in every stable 
Pratts Prepared Fever Powder. 
Made by Pratt Food Co., Phila. Over 30 years old. 
NEED A NEW ROOF 
For old or new buildings of any kind use 
PAROID ROOFING 
The roof with quality and durability in it. You’ll be surprised at its low costand 
longlife. Any one can apply it. Contains no tar. Slate color. Each roll contains 
a complete roofing kit. Don’t take an imitation; get the genuine. Send for 
Free Sample and book on “Building Kconomy.” Established In 1817. 
F. W. BIRD & SOU, East Walpole. Mass,, or Monadnock Bldg,, Chicago. 
