700 
THE RURAb NEW-YORKER 
July 2, 
Live Stock and Dairy 
STARTING A VERMONT HEN FARM. 
Poultry farming seems the ideal life 
to a vast number of people at the pres¬ 
ent time because it looks easy and 
sure. To a person in the business “eter¬ 
nal vigilance” and “close application” 
are the things that are “sure” while the 
“easy” part is easy only by comparison. 
After living in the city for more than 30 
years we have gone back to the farm, 
and as 60 acres is rather small for dairy¬ 
ing we have installed a poultry plant. 
Our location is most desirable for the 
business, the house and farm buildings 
being on a sandy, gravelly knoll sloping 
to the east, south and west. The first 
year we used some of the farm build¬ 
ings for poultry, but as our flocks in¬ 
creased new buildings were necessary, 
the locating of which has taken time 
and thought. 
Our ground sloping so many ways 
made a long or continuous house out of 
the question, so on the westerly side of 
the hill we plowed and scraped level a 
steep slope 50 by 300 feet. This was an 
easy task, as the soil was so sandy that 
even a cut of five feet was quickly made. 
On this terrace we built five breeding 
houses, each 11x36 feet, leaving a 12- 
foot driveway along the east end of the 
houses, in which end the doors are 
placed. Our determination to keep the 
cost of the installation down and still 
build in a substantial manner has re¬ 
sulted in buildings of which we are 
proud. Even in Vermont lumber costs 
money, but we got in on the ground floor 
by buying the hemlock trees on a tract 
of land three miles away, contracted 
the cutting and drawing of the logs to 
a mill near the farm, and then with our 
own hands, and a handy man by the day, 
put up the buildings. In the soft soil we 
dug a shallow trench for the foundation, 
which consists of discarded cedar rail¬ 
road ties, which cost us the hauling from 
the road that bounds one side of the 
farm. These ties are placed end to end 
in the trench on each side and across the 
ends, they are leveled up and 2x4 sills 
securely spiked to them. Cross sills 
placed six feet apart tie the building to¬ 
gether, and are the foundation for the 
partitions, which divide each house into 
six pens of 6x11 feet each; 2x4 posts 
six feet long are placed along the front 
six feet apart, while on the back the 
posts are 4J4 feet long. These posts sup¬ 
port the front and rear plates. No raft¬ 
ers are used, the roof being supported by 
two other plates which divide the snace 
between the front and rear plates. These 
intermediate plates are supported by 
posts set on each cross sill, and to them 
the partitions are nailed. 
Roof boards 13 feet long put on cross¬ 
wise of the building and securely nailed 
to each of the four plates take the place 
of rafters. The ends, front and rear of 
the building are boarded up and down 
with the rough hemlock boards which 
were thoroughly dried, and over the 
cracks 1x2 inch strips are nailed ex¬ 
cept on the back, which is covered with 
building paper and cotton cloth thor¬ 
oughly tarred, and which, with the addi¬ 
tion of sand, forms the roof covering, 
as described on page 614. Earth floors 
of the sand and fine gravel have proved 
most satisfactory, as it furnishes dusting 
even in the coldest of Winter days. 
Glazed sash 30x30 inches slide in the 
south front of each pen, while above 
these windows sliding frames 18x30 cov¬ 
ered with cotton cloth furnish ventila¬ 
tion. The only change we would make 
in these houses were we to build again 
would be to make the cotton covered 
openings larger, say 18x60 inches. 
These houses have stood the storms of 
Winter without a tremor, were snug and 
comfortable in all kinds of weather, and 
100 laying pullets in each house did good 
work up to February 1 , when they struck 
a 50 per cent gait which they have since 
kept (or bettered), except the break 
that came when we mated up the breed¬ 
ing pens, putting 12 hens and a cock 
in a pen, or 78 fowls in each house. 
The inside furnishings of our houses are 
very simple; dropping boards 30 inches 
wide extend across the rear 30 inches 
from the ground. Mash boxes 30x15x7 
inches deep set on a platform in the par¬ 
titions on the same height as dropping 
boards and extending to it furnish also 
a place for our water tank, so that two 
pens are fed and watered at the same 
time. Nest boxes are under the mash 
platform off the ground, so the entire 
floor space is unobstructed. 
The cost of these buildings is made up 
of 1,800 feet of rough lumber, roofing, 
six windows, $4.20, wire for doors and 
partitions, 50 cents, hardware, $2; in our 
case the cost is under 50 cents per hen. 
With lumber at dealers’ prices such 
houses would cost about 65 cents per 
hen, figuring 100 to the house. About 
June 1 the cocks will be removed from 
these breeding houses and the hens that 
have furnished the eggs for our incu¬ 
bators will be given free range on two 
acres of grass and clover land, and we 
feel sure they will continue to “pay their 
way.” 
Haphazard methods or neglect will 
make a quick failure of a poultry farm, 
while patient care will brine: sure results. 
We can only repeat what a friend said 
to us when we were talking of starting a 
poultry farm. “Start with a few hens 
and see if you like the business, for 
there is lots of work in running a poul¬ 
try plant.” We knew he was right, for 
we have worked, but have no regrets— 
only'that we did not start years ago. 
Vermont. farview farm. 
THE CHOICE OF A BREED. 
The choice of a breed may be a diffi- 
cut problem for a beginner, and most 
perplexing if he is not familiar with 
the different breeds and conditions most 
suitable for each. If he is located in a 
neighborhood noted for a certain breed, 
he should consider well the risk of in¬ 
troducing a different breed, with all the 
difficulties of readily changing sires and 
the breed jealousy of his neighbors. The 
economy of production, vigor and con¬ 
formation to type of the breed and fam¬ 
ily should be carefully studied. Yet, in 
spite of the advantages of taking up a 
breed suited to the climate, land and 
neighboring breeders, one sometimes 
meets a breeder loyally and successfully 
supporting a breed of which his stock 
are the only representatives for miles. 
For that breeder the best breed is the 
one he likes above all others. t 1- a 
breeder does not like his breed he will 
rarely be successful with it. If a begin¬ 
ner is located in a neighborhood where 
there is little purebred stock raised he, 
too, should consider the merits of the 
various breeds and the demand. The 
latter point is important but is largely 
dependent on the individual breeder, 
who, by careful breeding and advertis¬ 
ing can create a demand he will be un¬ 
able to Supply. L. R. DAVIES. 
CREAMERY A SECRET SOCIETY. 
We would like to ask readers of The 
R. N.-Y. what share of the consumer’s 
dollar the dairyman gets who sells his 
milk to the creamery. In this neck of 
the woods the creamery seems to be sort 
of a secret society. The producer is not 
allowed to know what he will get for 
his milk for the month of May until he 
gets his check June 15, and this is kept 
up the entire year. In the Winter when 
the producer is feeding high-priced grain 
the milk is bought by the hundred 
pounds, no regard to test. In the Sum¬ 
mer when on pasture the milk is bought 
on test. Here again the producer is not 
allowed to know what his milk tests 
for May until June 15 when he 
gets his check. April milk that tests 
3.3 brought $1.16. As we write we have 
no means of knowing what we get for 
May, but judging the future by the past 
certainly not over $1. Eight pounds 
of milk make a gallon and that spells 
eight cents a gallon, a penny a pint or 
two cents per quart delivered at the 
creamery. We have even been charged 
for hauling the milk when we hauled it 
ourselves, and had the price of hauling 
cut out of our check. When we asked 
the proprietor to refund the money for 
hauling he got mad and ordered us out 
of his establishment, saying that there 
was no use in our talking, that we 
would not get one cent of it until next 
pay day. Although he said it was a 
“mistake,” we must wait 30 days to have 
it corrected. We are told that slavery 
no longer exists in this “land of the 
free and the home of the brave.” It 
looks to us as if the farmer had sold his 
“birthright for a mess of pottage.” Is 
the farmer not a slave who sells his 
milk to those who will not tell what they 
will pay, who will not tell what it will 
test, who will not refund money charged 
by mistake until they get ready? I say 
the farmers are to blame for this state 
of affairs, and when they wake up and 
stand up for their rights then and not 
until then can they ride in automobiles 
and fatten a carload of hogs on skim- 
milk and get wealthy. m. c. hau,. 
Portage Co., O. 
100 L"bs. 
TRADE — MARK 
AJAX FLAKES 
T HIS valuable distillers’ grain 
contains about 31% protein, 
13% fat. It is twice as strong as 
bran. You cannot make milk 
economically if you use bran. 
One pound of AJAX FLAKES 
does the work of two pounds of 
bran, and saves $14.00 per ton. 
AJAX FLAKES 
holds hundreds of official records and 
many world’s records. It is used and 
recommended by Cornell Agricultural 
College, Pennsylvania State College 
and prominent breeders. You should 
lay in your supply now. 
Send for Feeders' Hand Rook with . 
tables and feeding instructions. 
BEWARE OF IMITATIONS 
CHAPIN & CO., Seneca & Main Sts., Buffalo, N. Y. 
Registered 
U.S.PAT. OFF. 
SUARAKTEED ANALYSIS 
Protein 31-3354 
Put 12% 
roil MD V C IMPROVED 
UKUmOd WARRINCR 
STANCHION 
Prof. F. G. Helyar of 
Mt. Herman School, Mt. 
Herman, Mass., writes: 
“ We could not get along 
without Warriner Stanch¬ 
ions.” 
Send address for book¬ 
let of information to 
WALLASE II. CRUMB, Box311, Forentvillc, Conn. 
COW COMFORT 
Means Cow Profit 
The quality of Foster Steel 
Stanchions Is known everywhere 
Durability and easo of operation 
unsurpassed. Send for new cata¬ 
logue of Stanchions and Water 
Basins, showing model stables. 
Foster Steel Stuiielilou Co., 
90ti Ins. liltlg., ICoeliester, V Y 
“New Modern” 
Sanitary Steel Stalls 
Wood or Steel Stanchions (chain or 
swivel hung), Litter and Feed 
Carriers, Watering Basins; etc. 
Glor Bros. & Willis Mfg. Co. 
51 Main Street, Attica, N. Y-. 
"EVERYTHING FOR THE BARN" 
ROBERTSON’S CHAIN 
1IAN <iIN G ST ANCHIONS 
li l have used them for more 
than TWENTY YEAKS, ami they 
have given the very U**t of saiis- 
fuction in every way,” writes 
Justus H. Cooley. M.D., Plainfield 
Sanitarium, Plainfield, N. J. 
Thirty days’ trial on application 
O. If. KOHEKT80X 
Wash. St., Forestvllle, Conn. 
Hill View Ayrshires 
FOR SALE. 
BULL CALF, sired by Dairy King of Avon; dam 
Mayflower Monkland, who is the dam of the cham¬ 
pion 4-year-old Ayrshire cow of the world. 
Also other animals of all ages for sale from my 
great Herd of producing and show animals. All 
tuberculin tested. 
For prices and further particulars, address 
W. W. BLAKE ARIfCOLL, Faoli, Fa. 
THE POPULARITY OF 
has increased more than Ten Fold in last 
fifteen years and the work of the Guernsey 
Herd Register shows a growth of 
80°/ 0 during 1909 
AJ Full particulars regarding this remarkable breed by 
addressing 
The American Guernsey Cattle Club, 
Box R, Peterboro, N. H. 
nilRfiPC THK mG ’ I>KEE fellows 
UUnUUw that grow and mature quickly. 
Pigs and Gilts for sale at all times. 
SHENANGO RIVER FARMS. Transfer, Pa. 
Pfil I 1C DllDQ~From imported stock. Females 
UULLIL I U TO cheap. Nelson Bros., Grove City, Pa. 
CCOTCH COLLIES, Spayed Females, two to 
O eight mos. Oirc. SILAS DECKER, Montrose Pa. 
S COTCH COLLIES— From Imported Pedigreed Stock, 
Genuine Drivers Farm grown Puppies, will make 
fine drivers at bargain prices. Ira Keller, Prospect, 0. 
M ILK PRODUCERS for New York City market 
desiring information how to form brandies 
of the Dairymen's Dengue, write to the Secretary, 
ALBERT MANNING, Otisville, N. Y. 
Vmi PonH AffnrrJ A Grade, when I can sell 
I UU Udll l HIIUIU you a leg. Jersey hull, best 
dairy stock, ready for service at farmer's price. 
R. F. SHANNON. 907 Liberty St.. Pittsburg, Pa. 
RED 
POLLED 
CATTLE 
CHOICE STOCK OF EITHER SEX 
at SPRINGDALE FARM 
Pr ice8 rea sona b l e 
E. J. ADAMS. Adams Basin. N. Y. 
HILL TOP FARM AYRSHIRES 
One of the Good Herds of the Breed 
The home of the Champion two-year-old heifer and 
the ex-Champion two and three year old heifers. 
Herd headed by the great A. R. sire Noxemall, 7312. 
Young Bulls for sale, of approved type and 
backed by official records. Herd tuberculin tested. 
L. A. REYMANN, WHEELING, W. Va. 
STEEL HOG TROUGHS 
that will hold 12 to 15 gallons $1.00 each. Try one 
and you will want more. CHAS. H. EMENS, 
Spring Hill Farm, Binghamton, N. Y. 
nupcuiRpc —thk white, bacon hog, 
untomneo Long-bddied, Square-built, good 
grazers, good mothers, gentle, profitable. 
MOKNINGSIDE FARM, Sylvania, Pa. 
FOR SALE—Ontario Cornucopia Lad 
Born March 16, 1910. Sire, America De Kol 
Burke; dam, Cornucopia Beauty, butter 18.69, 
three years. Attractive prices on this choice 
youngster. Correspondence solicited. 
CLOVERDALE FARM, Charlotte, N. Y. 
C. S. LUXT, Owner. J. J. EDEN, Manager. 
The BLOOMINGDALE HERD OF 
HOLSTKIN-FRIESIANS 
are bred for large production. Good size, Strong 
Constitution, Best Individuality. 
If these are the kind you want write or come to 
see them. 125 to select from. Animals of both sexes 
and all ages to offer at prices that will please you. 
A special offer on some nicely bred Bui.i, Calves. 
A. A. CORTELYOU, Somerville, N. J. 
REGISTERED OHIO 
HO LSTEI NS - FRIESIANS. 
THK BA WNBA LE STOCK FARM 
For three years the home of Pletertje Henger- 
veld’s Count De Kol. Eighty head. Bull calves 
for sale. Address. 
CHAS. W, HOUR, 
Wellington, Ohio 
F OR SALE— Registered Jersey Cows, Heifers & Bulls. 
Herd averages 1 lb. butter from 12 qts. milk. 
Write for prices, or, better, come and see them. 
Rumsonhill Farm, Rumson, N. J. David Wallace, Supt. 
—The New York Farmers 
Hog. Hardy, prolific; 
strong, clean bone; early 
maturing. Young stock for sale. DEPARTMENT OF 
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 
LARGE BERKSHIRES AT HIGHWOOD 
Mature animals weigh 600 to 950 pounds. Several litters this 
spring of 12, 13 and 14, one of 15 ami one of 17 so far. Litters 
last year averaged 11. 
H. C. & H. B. HARPENDING, Dundee, N.Y. 
SPRINGBANK BERKSHIRES.-RLZlJ 
in Connecticut. Sows bred for April litters all sold. 
Havel sows bred to farrow in July; late, to ser¬ 
vice of Watson’s Masterpiece. Will book orders 
for March and April pigs now. Send for new 
Booklet. J. E. WATSUN, Proprietor, Marbledale, Conn. 
Kalorama Farm Berkshires. 
Service Boars all sold. 
Bred Sows all sold. 
Fall Pigs all sold. 
Am now taking orders for Spring Pigs, April and 
May delivery. 
CAL VIN J. HUSON, Penn Yan, N.Y. 
NIAGARA STOCK FARM 
D° yo,. need Shropshire or Southdown 
the money? Wo are offering some very choice ones 
J. C. DUNCAN, Mpr., Lewiston, New York 
