THK K.U. 
. 1 * iSiJ^VV- VORKJSR 
RHODE ISLAND REDS. 
Their Origin and Breed Characteristics. 
L ITTLE Compton is justly famous as the home of 
the Rhode Island Red. About the middle of the 
past century trading vessels coming into Nar- 
ragansett Bay brought ungainly fowls from the Far 
East. These birds readily intermingled with those 
reigning supreme on the farms of the surrounding 
country, and from the impromptu interbreeding 
that resulted there evolved specimens of beautiful 
plumage pattern, but possessing no definite type. 
Eventually practical poultrymen awakened to the 
market possibilities of these cross-bred fowls, or¬ 
ganization followed and today, instead of an irregu¬ 
lar mixture of Asiatic and native blood, the Red 
is universally recognized as a bona-fide 
American breed. 
BODY ESSENTIALS.—Structurally 
the Reds reveal a closer resemblance to 
the specific egg breeds than do the 
other members of the general purpose 
group. To what extent body shape af¬ 
fects physiological activity is a matter 
of conjecture, but it would seem that a 
favorable correlation exists between 
the rectangular conformation of the 
female and profitable egg production. 
Extensive abdominal development, a 
well-formed breast, and a long keel 
bone are all-important essentials for 
the breeding pen. Six or seven in¬ 
dividuals, carefully selected for these 
characters and mated to a male with 
high gametic efficacy cannot fail to 
form a reliable basis for the upbuild¬ 
ing of a proficient laying strain. 
BIIEED CH A R A GTE It I STIC S.—The 
Reds are constitutionally vigorous and 
display unusual aptitude for foraging: 
consequently an abundance of succu¬ 
lent nutrients, preferably in the form 
of sprouted oats, must be available in the dormant 
season. Inherent hardiness enables the producers 
effectively to withstand adverse climatic conditions, 
and is conducive to the maintenance of health in 
the flock. Co-existent with these characteristics na¬ 
ture has instilled in the females a remarkable moth¬ 
ering instinct. It is not infrequent that a hen will 
absent herself from the range, only to return in 
due time with a brood of lively chicks. 
MARKET POSSIBILITIES.—The breed has re¬ 
ceived commercial impetus because it is unexcelled 
in the production of Winter eggs. It is inferior to 
the Plymouth Rock in the broiler stage; but its capon 
and roaster qualifications are unlimited. This is 
due, in large measure, to the tendency 
of maturing birds to gain rapidly in 
weight and incidentally to retain a ten¬ 
derness of flesh that creates a continu¬ 
ous demand for Reds for table purposes. 
WEIGHT REQUIREMENTS.—The 
Standard requirements as to weight 
are indicative of what to expect if 
proper methods of rearing are prac¬ 
ticed. The mature fowl should weigh 
about sy 2 pounds; the female 6 y 2 
pounds; the cockerel iy 2 pounds, and 
the pullet, five pounds. Variations ip 
these weights will necessarily ensue; 
therefore, it must be impressed that 
"excessive flesh means a corresponding 
decrease in the supply of eggs’’ and in 
this connection the importance of feed¬ 
ing a balanced ration cannot be over¬ 
emphasized. 
VARIETIES.—Formerly only the 
single-combed variety was prevalent. 
In later years, through the limited in¬ 
troduction of Wyandotte strains, the 
rose-combed Reds have been developed, 
and are now recognized by the Stand¬ 
ard. The popularity of “rose combs” 
is rapidly assuming greater proportions, yet it can¬ 
not be stated that either variety is superior to the 
other in utility value. 
UTILITY VERSUS FANCY.—Rhode Island Reds 
have offered an appealing problem for the student of 
heredity, because it has been difficult to secure color 
uniformity in the progeny, though at the present time 
the endeavor is meeting with immeasurable success, 
the number of these dark-colored birds exhibited at 
the leading shows during the past two years bears 
adequate testimony m their increased favor among 
the fanciers, induced by the approach to this breeding 
ideal. Fancy, however, must he subservient to utility. 
Let the Reds continue to afford a practicable means 
of enhancing the income of the general farmer. 
GEORGE W. IIERVEY. 
THE TENT CATERPILLAR. 
Its Life Habits and Control. 
R OADSIDE INFESTATION.—The neglected 
wayside apple and cherry trees will soon be¬ 
come adorned with the silky webs of the tent- 
caterpillar. The wild cherry and the apple trees 
seem to be the favorite food plants and these are 
often stripped of their foliage year after year. 
Quite often all of the common fruit trees are in¬ 
fested. and when very plenteous shrubbery and 
common shade trees are attacked. The eggs are 
laid in early Summer in a single ring-like cluster 
about a twig. Nearly three-fourths of the year is 
spent in the egg stage. This cluster of eggs is cov¬ 
ered with a frothy glue-like substance which pro- 
IIALF A DOZEN R. I. RED ROASTERS. Fig. 197. 
tects the eggs during the Winter. The eggs hatch 
just as the leaf buds are expanding in the Spring. 
Unfortunately these little larva: or caterpillars are 
hatched with an insatiable appetite. They begin at 
once to feed upon the unopened buds and the tender 
leaves. 
IIABITS OF YOUNG BROOD.—At this early per¬ 
iod of life, these little troublesome insects are very 
social in their habits. The entire brood from one 
cluster of eggs builds a tent of fine silk threads in 
the nearest crotch in the branches of the tree. The 
writer has found two friendly broods building and 
living in one tent. This home furnishes them a 
good shelter during cold or wet weather. The tent 
551 
erally found under loose bark, on stump or rail 
fences, in brush, etc. By the way, the old stump 
fence makes an ideal brooding place for nearly all 
kinds of destructive insects and an excellent seed 
bed for most of our noxious weeds. 
THE ADULT INSECT.—The adult moth emerges 
from the cocoon in about three weeks after tin* 
larva or caterpillar has draped itself in its silky co¬ 
coon. The moth is a dull yellowish brown or red¬ 
dish brown with two nearly parallel whitish or pale 
yellowish bands extending obliquely across the fore 
wings. The female is larger than the male. They 
soon mate and the females deposit their eggs. This 
completes the life cycle, there being but one gen¬ 
eration a year. 
CONTROL MEASURES.—The destructive in¬ 
sect may be controlled in several ways. 
Neglected apple and wild cherry trees 
should be destroyed. A tree that is not 
worth taking care of is not worth hav¬ 
ing on the farm. The wood in a tree of 
this kind is worth more than the stand¬ 
ing tree in which to breed insects to 
infest valuable trees. Furthermore, 
trees stripped of their foliage are not 
ornamental, nor make much growth 
during that season. In pruning trees 
in the Spring, it is advisable to cut off 
all egg clusters and burn them with 
the brush. The caterpillars may be 
destroyed by spraying with four 
pounds of arsenate of lead to 50 gal¬ 
lons of water just after the foliage 
comes out, before the trees blossom. 
The arsenate of lead may be added to 
lime-sulphur or Bordeaux mixture. If 
there are only a few nests the cater¬ 
pillars may be destroyed by spraying 
the nest on si cool cloudy day. or early 
or late in the day with pure kerosene. 
An extension rod and a fine, nozzle will 
aid in getting the spray on the nest 
without spraying the surrounding foliage. The 
caterpillars also may be destroyed by burning the 
nest or tent with a torch. The work can be done 
more effectively and more easily as soon as the tents 
begin to appear. w. m. peacock. 
A BEEKEEPER AT WORK IN IIIS SHOP. Fig.R 
is gradually enlarged as the individuals of the brood 
grow in size. During the clear warm days the 
caterpillars leave the tent to feast upon the foliage 
and return (o the nest each night for shelter. 
PROGRESS OF GROWTH.—The caterpillar be¬ 
comes full grown about the middle of June. The 
length of this period depends greatly upon the cli¬ 
matic conditions. The full-grown larva is about 
two inches long, deep black in color, covered with 
a few yellowish hairs, and with a white stripe down 
the middle of the back. At this stage, they become 
exceedingly restless and wander away from the 
tent in search of suitable places for spinning their 
cocoons. The caterpillars encase themselves in thin 
cocoons of tough white silk, in which they are trans¬ 
formed to the pupal stage. These cocoons are gen- 
TREES FOR PROFITABLE APPLE ORCHARD. 
The Root Growth. 
I BELIEVE no work connected with my orchards 
has paid me better than that spent in selecting 
the trees I was to set, and were I to set another 
orchard I would spend even more time and money 
in getting trees that suited me. I would no more 
set a tree which had an inferior root 
growth than one that had a top-growth 
that could not easily be made to grow a 
strong and well-balanced top. Of the two 
I believe that a strong well-balanced 
thrifty root growth is the most import¬ 
ant part in choosing trees for a future 
orchard. 
My own plan has been to buy the 
best grade of trees and grow a year or 
two in nursery rows. An orchard can 
be grown to bearing age cheaper by this 
method than setting small trees in per¬ 
manent position, unless one can grow 
crops which will pay cost of cultiva¬ 
tion. Such trees cannot be bought 
easily from the nursery when they 
must be packed and shipped by freight, 
as the root growth would be largely 
cut off and the limbs broken, but can be 
taken up in the Fall or early Spring 
and immediately set without seriously 
checking their growth. Then by setting 
only such trees as have a well-balanced 
thrifty root growth, throwing out all 
)S. trees with a small, weak or fibrous 
root growth and those where the body 
of tree outgrows the stock upon which it was bud¬ 
ded. I never set a tree which does not make a good 
thrifty growth in the nursery row, and dispose of 
such trees for what I can get out of them. 
I would much prefer the best grade of one-year- 
old trees to a two-year-old No. 2 grade even if the 
last were the cheaper. When the land is suitable for 
deep setting I would set all thrifty growers so they 
would form roots upon their own wood. This would 
not apply to fillers if such were set in the orchard. 
I would prefer a tree like the Spy grown on whip- 
grafts with scion long enough so they will form 
roots on their own wood. When I read of 
pedigreed trees from trees that bear superior fruit 
I cannot but believe that much of that superior 
fruit is caused not by bud variation, but bv a 
