1908. 
THE RURALi NEW-YORKER 
905 
PRECOCIOUS DUCKS. 
Is it unusual for ducks to start layine 
when 100 days old? I have 10 that gave 
me six to seven eggs a day since first part 
of August. These ducks were hatched on 
Easter Sunday. About 10 per cent of the 
eggs laid by these ducks have two yolks 
and last week I got one with three. 
G. K. 
It is rather unusual for ducks to begin 
laying when only 100 days old. Indeed 
they seldom lay much before the age of 
six months. Pekins hatched in the 
Spring usually lay but little before the 
following Winter in December or Jan¬ 
uary, although they can be forced to 
lay earlier._c. f. b. 
AILING SOWS. 
My sows are taken sick a day or two 
after farrowing, the trouble usually last¬ 
ing four or five days. They refuse to eat, 
udders are caked and swollen, they seem 
very sick, do not pay much attention to 
pigs. I usually lose most of them by the 
bow lying on them or starving. Sows are 
not overfat. They have access to yard 
and grass and are fed some grain. Can 
you give me some idea what it is, and what 
will prevent it? I have never lost any 
SOWS. XT. W. 
Amsterdam, N. Y. 
I think the trouble can be summed 
up in just three words: “Too much 
feed.” I very rarely, if ever, give a 
sow anything but some warm slop, and 
mostly water at that, the first 24 
hours after farrowing. I begin about 
the third day to give her a light grain 
lation, say a quart of wheat middlings 
twice daily, with a half-pail of skim- 
milk or whey, and gradually increase 
this diet until she is getting three 
quarts of wheat middlings or ground 
barley twice a day, and keep her in a 
closed, dry, well-ventilated pen until 
the pigs are a week or 10 days old; 
then, in fine weather, give her a range 
on pasture if possible. f. d. squiers. 
Jefferson Co., N. Y. 
TRICKS OF THE EGG TRADE. 
In a recent issue of The R. N.-Y. I saw 
a note about eggs, principally in regard to 
misbranding. That is good advice to an 
egg producer seeking to build up a repu¬ 
tation and a good trade in fancy fresh 
eggs. Did you ever think that eggs as 
well as Baldwin apples might have the mis¬ 
branding done after they had left the 
farm, and that the poultryman as well as 
the fruit man might be innocent? One 
man had his name and address on a rub¬ 
ber stamp and stamped each egg. That I 
think would have been all right had he 
sent them direct to the retailer or con¬ 
sumer, but instead they were sold to a man 
whose business was to gather eggs through 
the country. He in turn sold to large 
dealers; they assorted, candled and packed 
for shipment to your city. Let us trace 
those eggs to the city one hot day in the 
gatherer’s wagon. Perhaps one week in 
storage before the dealer got them, an eight- 
mile trip with him in a heavy wagon to 
his place of business, then candled and 
packed; that means being handled separate¬ 
ly, three times there, and finally taking an¬ 
other eight-mile wagon ride to the depot 
for shipment. Some of the eggs would be 
one week old when first started toward the 
city. They would be between two and 
three weeks old when they reached the 
consumer. The life of the egg is gone, 
and no one would want his name or photo 
on such an egg. A friend of mine had 
gained a good reputation for fancy fresh 
eggs. He received a check and word that 
if he sent another case like the last it 
would be the last to him. This was when 
he was producing 150 dozen per week, and 
shipping regularly. The eggs were right. 
Where was the trouble ? 
Another man, with a known reputation, 
some weeks ago sent a case to a retailer 
in New York city, and nine days later 
sent another case from another town to the 
same dealer. Later he received a check 
for the two cases, one netting 30 cents 
and the last 26 cents a dozen, also word 
that if he received any more like the last, 
he should return 22 cents as for held eggs. 
This last case sent was as good in every 
particular as the first. Was the trouble 
with the city dealer? I think not, as I 
believe both to be reliable business men. 
Some have tried making good strong cases 
with their names stenciled on them, but only 
a few came back and the scheme was aban¬ 
doned. Now second-hand cases are bought, 
and on them you will find “fancy fresh 
eggs,” “candled,” “dirties,” “cracks,” etc., 
but put there by the first shipper or deal¬ 
ers to distinguish instead of to mislead. 
Most producers do not brand at all, the 
card bearing their name being all the guar¬ 
antee needed. 
About every express company agent is an 
egg buyer, and you will frequently see a 
carload of empty cases that they claim 
when others can get none. Each man send¬ 
ing eggs is known by the express agent, 
and one way to account, for the poor eggs 
would be to say that the cards had been 
changed from a case of doubtful eggs to the 
fresh ones, by an interested party. One 
could see it could be done without the 
knowledge of the producer of fresh eggs. 
The man has lost the difference in the 
price per dozen between fancy eggs and bad 
ones, but he has lost a reputation that it 
has taken years to acquire. I can see no 
remedy. That is another way the hard¬ 
working man is beaten by sharps. 
c. N. SMITH. 
MORE BARN PLANS. 
Your correspondent, E. W. C., of Massa¬ 
chusetts, page 837, asks for barn plans that 
will fit his foundation. I think his basement 
being nine feet deep and dry furnishes ideal 
conditions for a first-class barn and stable 
and I send plans as I should arrange 
stable and first floor. I am assuming his 
house is nearest the east end, if nearer the 
west plans should be changed end for end. 
I have arranged for 13 cows and seven 
young stock. As there is ample room, and 
he may want to increase his stock, I 
* 
should make barn with 16-foot posts which 
will allow for a silo 24 feet deep, which 
should be inside the barn ; this saves roofing 
and painting, and it will last a long time. 
Horses I should want off the main floor 
and away from cow stable. I have some 
doubts about cement floor for horses as I 
am inclined to think sharp calks in Win¬ 
ter would soon wear holes in it. I am 
using such a cow stable that I put into an 
old barn, and it is the only right kind 
to have in my opinion. It should be borne 
in mind that the foundation of the New 
England farm is the manure pile, and the 
foundation of the manure pile is the liquid 
portion of it, so we aim to save every 
drop of it. We put 50 or more loads of 
dirt under the floor to use in the gutters 
every year, and thereby largely increase 
both quality and quantity of manure, and 
for that purpose alone stable is worth 
many times its cost. g. 
Connecticut._ 
Instructor: “Mr. Smith, kindly name 
the bones of the skull.” Student Smith: 
“Well, sir, I’ve got them all in my 
head, but I can’t think of their names 
just now.”—Bohemian. 
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ARATOR CO ■ Bainbridge, N. Y 
FOR 
THIS 
Krause 
John Fritch, of Clarno,Wis., increased’ 
his milk production 25 per cent—by | 
feeding Badger Dairy Feed to his cows. 
He feeds Badger Dairy Feed because he 
has proven —as have many thousands of 
others—that it makes more milk— 
and better cows —at less cost than 
any other feed. And the reason why 
Feed 
it is the rijfht combin- 
grains mixed with a certain 
amount of pure molasses to make it pala¬ 
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adapted to the cow’s needs. If you’ll 
feed it 15 days, you’ 11 never feed any¬ 
thing else because no other feed will 
bring you as good results. 
Write for our new Feed Book—it’s 
free. Contains information from 
old experienced dairymen telling 
how they feed, breed, etc. 
Milling Co., Dept. 100, Milwaukee, Wis. 
You 
Steal 
See Leffel 
tn Engines 
wherever you go. They are 
engines that insure service. 
You want an engine 
that insure, serv¬ 
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ana prove Leffel 
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show you why a 
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W engine. Book free, 
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- ~ . James Leffel fit. Co. 
Box 219, Springfield, O- 
ALFALFA MEAL 
Do you know that a cow will produce at least 
25% more milk when fed ALFALFA MEAL 
than when fed bran ? SHE WILL. 
Let us send you our circular on Alfalfa Meal. 
ALFALFA MEAL COSTS NO MORE THAN BRAN. 
AMERICAN ALFALFA MILLING CO., 
612 New England Building, Kansas City, Mo. 
National Field and Hog Fence 
gives best service, lasts longest, causes no trouble. Don’t 
buy a fence until you have written about this, our 
M. M. S. Poultry Fence, 
Steel Web Picket Fence, 
or Hanger Barb Wire. Tell 
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delivered price. 
DeKalb Fonce Co., DeKalb, III. Kansas City, Mo. 
RANGER i 
. HUMANE 
&VGLYIN& 
[barbwire 
l K< 
all the food value from the grain.Grind 
it yourself and save money. Grind every 
few days and your stock will relish the 
^fresh, sweet feed. A Victor Mill will 
soon pay for itself. 
[MOST PERFECT MILL BUILT 
1 Resulting from over 30 years* experience, 
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VICTOR FEED MILL CO., Box32 , Springfield, Ohio 
ECONOMICAL FEEDING 
Horses, cow and pigs, as well as poultry, respond 
more quickly, pay better, and feeding costs less 
when fed properly cooked feed. Cook the feed in a 
If “Farmers’Favorite” 
Feed Cooker and Boiler 
Useful for many other purposes, 
such as preparing spray mix¬ 
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Made to wear, economical and 
inexpensive. Write for Illus¬ 
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LEWIS MFG. CO., Box C, Cortland, N. Y. 
;AVE YOUR BACK 
Save time, horses, work 
and money by using an 
s 
Electric Handy Wagon 
Low wheels, broad tires. No 
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lEltcfric Whet’Co. Bx 88, Quincy,III. 
10 200H.P. Saw Mill outfits. I 
Steam .Gasoline or water Power, 
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VERMONT FARM MACHINE CO 
Bellows Falls, Vt. 
j Prompt Deliveries from 16 Ware- 
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1 505'’ 
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Stand strain of most powerful 
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Durable, well-braced. Simple. Light- 
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Full line, belt power or sweep. Free 
booklet. Send for it. 
THE STAR MANUFACTURING CO. 
13 Depot St., New Lexington, O. 
—99 %o % Pure— 
American Ingot Iron Roofing 
Guaranteed For 30 Years 
Without Painting 
The Only Guaranteed Metal Roofing ever put on the 
market. Samples free. Write for a free book showing 
remarkable tests. A way out of your roof troubles. 
THE AMERICAN IRON ROOFING CO., Dept. D, ELYRIA, OHIO 
BROWN FENCE J 
High Carbon, Hard, Coiled Spring Stool No. 9 Wire 
Doable Galvanized, Weather, Wear and Shook proof. 
Stout, durable, adjustable to all weather changes 
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15 to 35c per rod. WE PAY FREIGHT 
We send free sample and catalog. 
The BROWN FENCE & WIRE CO. 
Dept. 59 Cleveland, Ohio, 
CUT ICE 
MADE 
IN 
THREE 
SIZES. 
With the Dorsch Double Row 
Ice Plow We guarantee it will 
cut more than 20 men sawing by 
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ot any size and thickness. One 
man and a horse will cot more ice in 
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make the prica ol our plow in two days use. 
Ask tor catalogue and Introductory prices. 
JOHN DORSCH & SONS 226 WELLS ST.. MILWAUKEE. WIS 
Why Pay Out Money 
to buy your Xmas gifts ? 
C. We’ll tell you how to get 
them FREE. It costs you 
nothing to know about this 
new idea. Don't send money 
—just your name and ad¬ 
dress to Farm and Home, 
Dept. 37, Springfield, Mass. 
DON’T BUY GASOLINE ENGINES 
alcohol engine, superior to any one-cylinder engine; revolutionizing power. Its we 
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engine. Bend jtouCatalogue. ■' —-- — --- 
UNTIL YOU INVESTIGATE 
“THE MASTER WORKMAN," I 
a two-cylinder gasoline, kerosene or 
Its weight and bulk are halt that of single cylinder engines, with greater durability. Costs 
.Iy, easily started. Vibration practically overcome. Cheaply mounted on any wagon. It is a combination portable, stationary or traction 
TAlJS TLMl’LL 1* L MI* CO.. M fra., Meagher uud lath Mia., Chicago. THIS la OUR FIFTY-FIFTH YEAR. ‘ 
