£#H). 
DRY MASH WINTER POULTRY FEEDING. 
THE RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
1066 
Bulletin No. 170, which has recently 
boon issued by the Maine Agricultural Ex¬ 
periment Station, sheds a deal of light upon 
the subject of the Winter feeding of poul¬ 
try by what is commonly known as the 
dry mash system. Several years ago this 
method was brought before the public by 
this same experiment station, and highly 
recommended as a means for saving much 
time and labor in the care of poultry, so 
that larger flocks could be kept with 
greater profit and less work than was pos¬ 
sible under the more cumbersome methods 
that were previously in general use. The 
routine of feeding was as follows: Soon 
after daybreak each morning a ration of 
whole or cracked corn, in the proportion 
of four quarts to each hundred laying pul¬ 
lets, was strewn over litter that was six 
or eight inches deep. At 10 o’clock an¬ 
other ration, consisting of two quarts of 
wheat and two quarts of oats, was fed in 
the same manner. No more whole or 
cracked grain was given to the birds, but 
they depended for their further nourish¬ 
ment upon the following mixture—the so- 
called dry mash—which was constantly kept 
before them in hoppers, so that they could 
help themselves as they desired: Wheat 
bran, 200 pounds; cornmoal, 100 pounds; 
middlings, 100 pounds; gluten meal or 
brewers’ grains, 100 pounds linseed meal, 
100 pounds; beef scrap, 100 pounds. In 
addition, green vegetable food in some form, 
grit, shell, charcoal and fresh water were 
freply supplied. A dietary that was so 
simple in detail, so easy in application, was 
soon taken up by poultry keepers all over 
the country, and the dry mash system of 
feeding quickly assumed the prominence 
that it now enjoys. Its merits were plain 
to be seen, and its imperfections were not 
found out until the test of time and ex¬ 
perience had taught a good many careful 
observers that dry mash feeding, like every 
other "system,” had its limitations, and 
could not be relied upon to work out suc¬ 
cessfully in every instance. The new bul¬ 
letin embodies the results of the inves¬ 
tigations of the station during the past two 
years and, with admirable frankness, it 
admits that the dry mash system, as it was 
originally described and is now generally 
employed, is open to serious objections. It 
tells us that “during the years when this 
mash was fed more or less difficulty was 
always experienced with liver troubles in 
the birds. Birds died with all the symp¬ 
toms that would be expected to come from 
indigestion arising from feeding too rich 
food.” Another disadvantage was the 
“moulting in early Winter, after a short 
spurt of egg production in the Fall months. 
* * * Ou the old system of feeding such 
birds were common every year.” When the 
method was first proposed such objection¬ 
able consequences were not anticipated. It 
was asserted and believed that the birds 
would not care enough for the mash “to 
gorge themselves with it, and to sit down, 
loaf, get overfat and lay soft-shollpd eggs.” 
but the bulletin shows us that some of 
them, now and then, do these things and 
more—they sometimes over-eat to such an 
extent that they make themselves sick and 
die. If such ill effects have occurred at 
the Maine Experiment Station where the 
poultry receive most skillful care and at¬ 
tention, how much more frequent are they 
likely to have resulted in the pens of or¬ 
dinary joultry keepers, who, too often, have 
carried ont the method in a slip-shod and 
careless way. 
The bulletin goes on to show that the 
dry mash system has been altered and im¬ 
proved in several particulars at the experi¬ 
ment station. It is now recommended that 
the laying stock should not be abruptly 
taken from free range to be shut up in 
pens and to have their diet and mode of 
life suddenly changed, but that they should 
be accustomed gradually to limited quarters 
and the new method of feeding. To this 
end it advises that the transition should 
begin early in the autumn. More impor¬ 
tant still, in place of the one heavy, forc¬ 
ing mash, on which in former years the 
laying pullets were fed from the time they 
were penned up until they went out on 
range in the following Spring, new formu¬ 
las for mashes of different degrees of rich¬ 
ness have been worked out, and new guides 
arc given for their practical use. The 
whole and cracked grain rations remain un¬ 
changed. 
Formula for the first month in the lay¬ 
ing house : Bran, 300 pounds ; cornmeaj, 
100 pouuds; middlings, 100 pounds; meat 
scrap, 100 pounds. Formula for the sec¬ 
ond month in the laying house: Bran, 
200 pounds; cornmeal, 100 pounds; mid¬ 
dlings, 100 pounds; gluten meal, 100 
pounds; meat scrap, 100 pounds. Formula 
for the third month is the same as that 
tor the second month, with the addition of 
60 pounds of linseed meal. Formula for 
die fourth month is the same as that for 
the second month, no linseed meal being 
used. In the. fifth month the linseed is 
restored, and in the sixth month it is 
omittedthe same sequence being followed 
as long as the pullets are being pushed for 
ogg production. 
It is most important for poultry keepers 
to remember that the foregoing directions 
are intended exclusively for young laving 
pullets and do not apply in any manner to 
mature hens and the male birds of any age 
that are to be used as breeders. These lat¬ 
ter must be guarded from over-fatness, and 
it is well known that yearling hens and 
older fowls will quickly put on too muph 
fat if they are given the same amount of 
food that laying pullets require in order to 
do their best as egg producers. Over-fat¬ 
ness will diminish egg production and im¬ 
pair fertility, even though it may not go so 
far as to injure seriously the health of the 
birds. So the diet of the breeding stock 
shopid be much less stimulating than that 
of the laying pullets. The hens, cockerels 
aud cock birds receive the same amount of 
grain in litter as is given to the pullets, but 
if they show a tendency to take on fat the 
corn is diminished or given up altogether 
and they receive only wheat and oats at 
both feedings. The dry mash of the breed¬ 
ers is made up as follows: Bran, 400 
pounds: cornmeal, 50 pounds; middlings, 50 
pounds; meat scrap, 100 pounds. Under 
this diet there is usually no egg production. 
About a month before the breeding pens 
are mated up the quality of thp mash Is 
gradually raised until the birds receive the 
same mash that is given to the laying pul¬ 
lets in the third month, and this generally 
brings them into full laying condition. This 
improved dry mash system, like the old one 
which it will gradually displace, is essenti¬ 
ally a forcing system, and, being so, it re¬ 
quires much care and judgment in its use. 
When conditions are favorable and the de¬ 
tails of the plan of feeding are observed and 
carried out its advantages are great, but 
it is not adapted for general use upon 
farms where chickens of all ages are 
housed together during the Winter. 
Pennsylvania. wm. r. fisher. 
Creosote in Chimney. 
M. IF.. Hording, Mass. —What can I do 
for creosote iu a chimney? It runs down 
the pipe, and after a hard rain soaks 
through the bricks to the wall paper. What 
will be the best way to clean the chimney 
of it? It is on with lumps as big as a fist. 
Ans. —This troublesome drip is caused 
by a defective chimney or the use of 
green wood. If dry fuel has been used, 
the difficulty is probably with the chim¬ 
ney. This may have to be rebuilt, but 
in some cases a simpler way to correct 
the trouble may be found by making an 
opening in chimney below stovepipe and 
putting in a piece of iron pipe or a grat¬ 
ing that can be closed when desired. If 
done properly this will improve the draft 
and help dry out the chimney. One ef¬ 
fective way to clean the chimney is to 
lower a rope from the top and fasten to 
it a hunch of thorns or some other rough 
bushes. This is pulled up and down the 
chimney until the lumps are scraped off. 
It will not be necessary for the man at 
the lower end to wear his best clothes 
for this job. 
Western Men and “Abandoned Farms.” 
M., Moulton, Iowa .—I am a young man, 
raised on a farm, and used to handling 
horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Could you 
give me any information as regards the so- 
called abandoned farms in New York and 
New England, and a poor man’s chance to 
pay out for a farm there, especially on a 
sheep basis? Is tliat section of the coun¬ 
try suitable for clover raising, and will 
dent corn mature? Is hired help available 
at a reasonable figure? 
Axs.—Write the Department of Agri¬ 
culture at Albany for their pamphlet on 
unoccupied farms. This gives pictures 
and descriptions of many farms, with 
prices and other figures. From this you 
can get an idea of what the farms are. 
It will be hard for a Western man to 
understand just what it means to farm 
on hillsides in a rough country, and we 
would always advise him to come and 
see for himself before buying. We be¬ 
lieve that all things considered a healthy 
man with moderate capital can do bet¬ 
ter on one of these Eastern farms than 
in any other part of the country, but 
hard work will he required. Most of 
these rough farms are well adapted to 
sheep. Clover does well after the use 
of lime, which in most cases is necessary. 
In a few favored places dent corn will 
ripen, but as a rule the flints are safer 
and more profitable. 
Fat Stock Brmgs Fat Prices 
TT is the wise stockman who knows how to put his 
animals in prime condition to get top-market prices. Proper 
feeding is the secret. Whole grain lacks many vital essentials—con¬ 
tains too much moisture—often causes colic, worms and disease—is 
not thoroughly chewed, loss results; is not properly “balanced”— more 
loss; contains heavy percentage of waste—still more loss. It is foresight 
and economy to feed a perfectly balanced ration that is scientifically 
blended, ground, kiln-dried, high in nutriment with least waste, such as 
STOCK FEED 
Puts fat on stock and money in your pocket. Sterling Stock Feed has just the 
right elements to fatten stock in the shortest time—Protein, Fats, Carbohydrates, 
all in the richest, most digestible form. Made of corn, oats, barley and their by¬ 
products. Not compounded on mere theory It really docs the work. Read this: 
From W. P. Schanck, Breeder and Importer of Ayrshire Cattle, Avon, N. Y. 
“I have been feeding your Sterling Stock Iced to my prize-wi mi ing stock and cannot 
recommend it too highly. I feed nothing but Sterling, except bran and oi 1 meal at oc¬ 
casional intervals, and find it puts my stock in as good condition as I ever had them.” 
Ask yourdealer for Sterling Stock.Feed. Interesting folder free if you send namo in on postal. 
The GREAT WESTERN CEREAL GO. Chicago 
MAKERS OF QUALITY FEEDS 
Boss Feed, Grogson’s Calf Meal, Daisy Dairy Feed, Sterling Scratch Feed, Sterling Chick Feed 
Branches: Boston, New York, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Memphis 
MONTItOSS METAL SHINGLES 
Offer you a permanent, dependable rooling for a i 
your bnlldincs. Fireproof. Ornamental. Inex- 
-'.EXih, pensive. Catalog. Moutross Co., Caindeu, ,\. J. 
TRAPPER’S 
Tells yon when, where 
and howto trap. Tells 
you of Animal Baits 
that are as important to 
a trapper astrups. Reveals 
trapping secrets and gives 
methods that will increase 
the catch of any old trapper 
and quickly make successful trap¬ 
pers of the inexperienced. 
Tells how to prepare skins and 
how toget the most money for them. 
The book also contains the Game Laws of all 
;he States and ( anmla and gives other information 
worth many dollars to any trapper. It will be sent 
:o you free if you write at ouce. 
F. C. TAYLOR & CO. 
CREATEST FUR HOUSE IN THE WORLD 
765 Fur Exchange Building, SI. Louis, Mo. 
RAW FUR SHIPPERS 
The only way for yon to judge whether 1 
pay more than my competitors is to send 
me a shipment and say, “ hold separate.” 
I’m willing. Write for price list. 
JAS. P. ELLIS, 
WHO HANDLES 
21 EAST 16TH STREET, 
NEW YORK CITY. 
YOliU GINSENG? 
RAW FURS 
NEW YORK PRICES FOR 
are the highest in 
thecountry. Wewill 
pay the highest New 
York cash prices for 
your Muskrat, Skunk. Mink, Coon. Opossum, 
Fox aud all other standard furs in large or small 
lots. We hold shipments separate on request. 
Wo charge no commission and pay all express 
charges. Send us your name and address at once 
and wo will keep you fully posted. 
STRUCK-CMA1T1N CO., Dept. A, 8 East 12th St., New York 
SKUNK 
We buy Skunk, Mink, Muskrat 
and all other raw furs at high¬ 
est market prices, and give 
liberal assortments and “A 
square deal ” to everyone. 
- -■ — I’riee-List Free. 
M. J. JEWETT & SONS. Dept. 29, Redwood, New York. 
KBBBBBBBBBBflB-BBBBBBBBBBBB 
S Raw Furs Wanted S 
B Skunk. Mink, Raccoon. Opossum. Fox, Muskrat B 
B and other furs are bringing high prices in g| 
m New York, the best market for you to ship n| 
S to. Do you wunt to know 
g} “How to Get More Moneyfor Your RawFurs?’* g. 
■ tvriteand ask formy price list^it’sfree. Highest m 
m commercial references. Address Dept. J 152 n 
H F. N. MON JO, 152 W. 25th St., N. Y. g 
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LET US TAN 
YOUR HIDE. 
Cattle or norse hide. Calf. Dog, Deer, 
or any kind of skin with hair or fur on. 
We make them soft, light, odorless, 
wind, moth and water proof, and make 
them into coats Ifor men or women) 
robes, rugs or gloves when so ordered. 
Your fur goods will cost yon less than 
to buy them, and bo worth more. Send 
three or more cow or horse hides in one 
shipment from anywhere east of Den¬ 
ver and we pay the freight both ways. 
Get our illustrated catalog which 
gives prices of tanning, taxidermy and 
head mounting. Also prices of fur 
goods, and big mounted game heads 
we sell. 
The Crosby Frisian Fur Company, 
571 Lyell Ave., Rochester, N. Y. 
HIGHEST l'KICES FOII 
AW FUR 
Let’aget acquainted. Write for price li*t. 
LOt IS J. KA1IN 
3 and 5 Y. 19th St., New York 
RAW FURS 
WANTED. 
A 
Free price list and best posting possiblo for 
tho asking. 
LOWELL LAMB & GO., 
East iOtli Street, New York, N. Y 
J 
WE BUY RAW FURS 
aud being located in New York since 18G1 can 
pay best prices ; no commissions. 
Write for free price-list A. 
. . . Ship to a Reliable Firm . . . 
L. BRIEFNER & SONS 
No- 20 East 16th St., New York 
CDCC Cflnv FOR HUNTERS 
mCE. DJUn ANDTRAPPERS 
Send 5c for CAMP AN 1 ) TKAIL, a great 
_ JP ,24 page weekly; or 10 c for lir.NTKR- 
TllAliKli-i’KAl’l’KK, a big 100 page ma¬ 
gazine; both de'oted to fishing, hunting, trapping, etc. With 
cither on© we'll give yon absolutely free,a G4 page book, ‘*Hints 
for Hunters and Trappers.'* Contains all the fur and game 
laws, many hunting and trapping secrets. Worth hundreds of 
dollars. A. it. ILAltDIXU PUB. CO., Box 509 , Columbus, Ohio 
HANDY BINDER 
IUST the thing for preserving files of 
” The Rural New-Yorker. Durable 
and cheap. Sent postpaid for 25 cents. 
‘Jhe RURAL NEW-YORKER, 
409 Pearl Street, New York City 
Driving Away Mice. 
Regarding the inquiry on page 964 about 
mice in a warehouse, the best remedy I 
know is to dust with sulphur, also put 
some 111 holes; mice and rats vanish. 
W ashmgtou. ^ jj_ 
90 % 
Of All 
Fine 
FURS 
worn in tho United Flutes sire 
msuiufaetured in New York, the 
world’s best market. Send for 
price list and ship to 
ill. F. Pfaelzer & <’o., 
6 E. 12th St.. (Desk 22). N. Y. 
