1200 
Jshe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
ai-<‘ (.•lujrlit Ikto, by the -authorities, 
that there must be a liner preparation of the soil 
In oi'der to sret a stand of Alfalfa, and of course we 
don’t want to set a lot of men crazy, or start them 
off on an entirely new track without having them 
clearly understand that the exjKu-inient is uj) to 
them, etc.” I hope you will enco\irage your reader.s 
to try this plan of saving hard, ustdess work, and 
one-half or two-thirds of the usual amount of see<l 
sown ]>er “acre, as Mr. Itonh-n of Virginia says. Of 
oours-e, Mr. liorden can l»reak his ground now, or In 
November, and swsl on ‘‘lioiieycomlMHi'’ ground 'in 
Januarj- or latei'; but he need not break it if it has 
been cultivabnl in s^uiuj crop the past Summer. 
T'nless it is sod ground I would i)r(‘fer disking it, 
instead of turning it under, and thou In-n'ing to do 
so much work to make a. “solid Heed-l>ed”; i)ut, why 
plow or disk, either, if you cultivated it all Sum¬ 
mer? Can you make it more clear of we<ds by 
bringing up fresh weed seeds? Or can you make it 
firmer hy rolling it? 
TAP-ROOTED ALFALFA BES'J'.—I like llie com¬ 
mon, or ••taj)-roote<l” .\lfalfa better than the Oiiinm, 
because it is a deep Reeder and doi*s not nHjuir<‘ sucli 
rlcli surface soil as tlie surface “ortoitus” requires. 
The common .\lfalfa g<x>s down '■'toward China” and 
brings up leached-dowu and lost fertility that the 
surface fee<b*r could uev<‘r get, ami it s<‘ldom winter¬ 
kill even the first ^^''i^ter, esrieeially if sown in tlie 
“.Tack Frost” method. Try it, hut don't use too 
jnucli seed per acm; sow the more acn*s. 
Indiana. -t. .x. siiiiu.kv. 
The Cost of Poultry Production 
The Price of a Laying Pullet 
T lliO question of how much it costs to jtroduce a 
<-hicken is an imjKU-tant om-' to every iioultry- 
keeper, and yet it has rec<;iv(Hl com))ar;itivoly little 
attention. It ds imix>rtai>t beeaus^^ the )irohlem is 
one of annual oceurreno>. The nect'ssity of renew¬ 
ing a oonsidemlilo part of the flock each year en¬ 
tails a large e.vjiense—imich larger than one might 
at first STisjiect. 
Another reason for attaching conside«il)le im]X)r- 
lance tx) the rearing problem is that Avell-grown pul¬ 
lets aix‘ absolutely essential to profitable egg produc¬ 
tion. The ability to grow good chickens Is an almost 
certain indication of a successful i»oultry business. 
It is well-nigh impossible for a man to be successful 
ill raising cliickens and at the same lime be so poor 
a manager or feeder that he cannot get eggs from 
the pullets. 
It is a well-esfciblished fact that nvost gi-owiiig 
animals make the cheaiiest gains in weiglit while 
young. According to Idetrich, iu iiis Ixxik on “Swine 
Husbandry,” it takes, on the av(M-age, four months 
for a pig to grow his first hundred pounds. He will 
consume during this time about 240 pounds of feed. 
To grow the second 'hundred ]x>unds takes only two 
months and .‘100 pounds of feed. The third hundred 
})ounds takes three months and 0.30 pounds of fefsl, 
while the fourth Imndred rixiuires nine montlis and 
about a ton of feed. 
Our data seems to iiullcate that ;i v<-ry similar 
condition exists mth chickens. 'J'abie 1, following, 
shows the average figures for Rho<l<‘ Island Jtisl 
rliickeiis: 
No. of weeks to Pounds of fet-d to 
m.-ikeeach pomul make each pound gain 
.'1.0 
.34 .3.2 
.'>4 fi-"' 
54 TO.O 
10 lX.O 
It is very e\’ldent that the fiftli pound is ji costly 
addition, as coD>pare<l to the second or third ))onnd. 
Tx‘t us consider for the moment a flock of Ibsl pul¬ 
lets averaging 2% pounds each. To put them uii to 
live pounds each "with feed at IlVi <‘euts a jiouinl will 
cost at least 7.5 cents per pullet for the ft*<3d alone. 
Table 2, following, shows the sjime datji for Leg¬ 
horns. Very few Iveghoi-ns reach four jiuunds in 
weight, and for this reason the figures an' oidy 
given to 3U pounds: 
Pound of No. of weeks to 
growth make each pound 
7V^ 
I’ound of 
growth 
1 st 
2nd 
.3rd 
1th 
.5 th 
Pounds of fH<‘d to 
make each pound 
,3.2 
4.0 
7.0 
o.O 
Lst 
2nd 
:ird C 
Ne.xt 1^' lb. 4 
Table 3 shows the iiounds of fe(*d consumed for 
(‘ach pound of gain in successive (‘ight-wi-ek jieriods, 
and the cost when figunsl at 3Vi cents iM*r i»ound. 
'Fhe fourth period is omitted in tlie case of D'g- 
liorns, as it (-xtends beyond the i>ci-iod of ordinary 
growth: 
--R. I. Reds- -Lcgliorns- 
I'ci-iod 
Ffssl consumed 
jxT lb of gain 
Co.st 
Fqi-d consumed 
per lb. of gain 
Cost 
1-8 wks. 
.3.5 
12c 
3.5 
12c 
9-10 wks. 
5.5 
19c 
6.5 
22c 
17-24 wks. 
8.0 
28c 
10.0 
. 36c 
25-.32 w'ks. 
23..3 
81c 
A verage 
30.0 
.3.5c 
7.0 
2.3c 
3'he last tatile. No 4, shows the average amount 
of fml consumed per week by each TO birds, at 
several dill’erent periods in their development- No¬ 
tice that the Reds keep in advance of the Leghorns 
from the vei-y first: 
Week 
Food consumed 
per Id chicks 
per week (Reds) 
Food consumed 
per 10 chicks per 
week (D'ghorns) 
1 
D/4 pouiid.s 
1 pound 
8 
10 pounds 
.8 pounds 
10 
15 pounds 
12 pounds 
24 
IS iioimds 
15 pounds 
32 
18 pounds 
10 pounds 
To grow a Rhode Island Red up to 24 weeks 
takes about 24 jionnds of fin'd. To groAV a I.eghorn 
to the .same age takes aliout 20 ]>ounds. After that 
age the consumption is from to Fvo ]>onnds per 
lilrd per week. When we add to the feed cost the 
cost of the hatching eggs, iiieiibation, eoal fur brood¬ 
ing, use of efpiipinent, labor, and inoitality, it j.s 
readily seen that the growing of ])ullots is an e.xpen- 
slve jtroi>osition. The cost of feeil increases ra]»idly 
as the birds grow older. 
With jiresent costs of feed and ]»riees paid for 
l>oultry meat, the gi’owing of lords for roasters, in 
New Eugland, is .a losing ]>roj>osition. .\11 cockeri'ls 
which cannot be used or sold for breeding purposes 
should, theri'tore. be sold as broilers. There is a))- 
I>arently no period hi the age of the birds w1h*u the 
returns from cockerels sold for meat will have iiaid 
in full the feinl cost of the pullets. i.i:si,iek. c.viu). 
Connecticut. 
Wheat Yield and Cost 
We have an editor on the sl.ifl' of the “Roche.ster 
Herald” who periodically has something to say about 
farmers and farming which indicates that bis ignorance 
of actual conditions is* unusually complete. In a recent 
issue he has about three-quarters of a column on the 
price of wheat, in which he says: “F''rom these reports 
we learn that the cost of raising wlieat in Clark County, 
Indiana, this year, was i^l.40 a bushel. This figure is 
absurd, of course, and on explanation of this absurdity 
is seen in the additional information furni.shed that the 
cost is based on an average yield of from 15 to 17 
bushels to tlie acre. Now, as a matter of fact, the In¬ 
diana farmer has not been, nor has he for a g<x>d many 
years, raising 17-bushel crops of wheat. The farmer 
whose crop falls short of 20 bushels is an exception, and 
a rare one, indeed. His success, bt'canse of intelligent 
cultivation and favorable weather conditions, has been 
such for several seasons that if hi.s crop does not run 
near 30 bu.shels he has serious cause for'complaint. The 
farmers wlio garner an avei'uge of 3.5 or 40 bushels are 
so many as to put any possiiiility of a 15 or 17-hnslieI 
average out of the reckoning.” 
This seems to me to be “important if true,” and I 
want to hear from wheat growers in regard to their 
yields. A. t’. W. 
New York. 
This is the right way to settle such things—call 
for a general (lise*ussion. We have sent pei’sonall.v 
to farmers in Clark Co., Ind., and call for testimony 
from any of our readers. Tell us the average wheat 
yield in yonr section, and, if possible, the cost of 
raising one bushel. Such infonnation is gre.'itly 
iH'cded. 
Prejudices About Food 
EOPLB engaged in Belgian relief work say that 
one of the hardest things they had to overcome 
was the fixed habit of eating certain kinds of food. 
'Phe Belgian peojile had to be taught to oat corn- 
meal flour. They objected to corn in any form. It 
was new to them, and they consider<*d it hog L'ml 
—unfit for human consumption. They would not 
eat it until driven by nece.ssit.v, and this feeling 
made it vei’y hard to fi'ed tlie liungry. The same 
thing has been observed in other countries, and in 
our own large cities. Beoide form the liabit of eat¬ 
ing certain foods, and will not cliange, even though 
if is easy to prove that the new ration is “balanced” 
and cheajier. In Cerniany the necessities of war 
and the stern national dLscipline have made it po.s- 
sihle to substitute new forms of food Imt, in gen- 
(‘ral, people will demand the kind of food they un¬ 
derstand and like. There are many families who 
consider such food as cornmeal, beans and rice as 
lit only for “Chinamen and slaves,” as one of them 
)»iit it. Most jieople eat with their mind and eyes, 
and “bread riots” start not so much from scarcity 
of nourishing food as because pt'Cide cannot get the 
kind of food they want. That man is happy and 
wise who knows the jirotein in linked beans will 
keeji him going as well as the similar .suhstanci* iu 
terrapin or roast duck. .\11 men will not ailmit 
that, and thus the food distributor lias bis problems. 
“Easy Money” on a Farm 
HE city papers are kept- tilled with claims that 
farming under present conditions is very prosper¬ 
ous, and that farmers are nuiking “ea.s 5 ' money,” 
That seems to be the general town opiuioii. A writer 
in the New York 8uu makes the following offer, 
which ought to call these iK'oi>le: - 
I own 140 acres in New York, located in one of th. 
most fertile valley.s in that State. It is run as a dairy 
. •« 
Oi tober 20, ItilT 
farm exclmsively, and the products of the dairy are the 
only source of income. It is stocked 'tvith a bunch of 
Cows whose .average production is about twice as high 
as rhe average production of all of the dair.y co'ws in 
New York, according to the best figures obtainable. It 
h.'us full equipment, farm machinery, tools, etc. 
I am willing to turn this farm over to any respon¬ 
sible person who is willing to pay me five i)er cent, on 
the value of the farm, stock ami tool.s and in aiklition 
five per cent, depreciation on buildings, fences, etc., the 
tenant to pay taxes and in.surance. Tenant to take the 
farm with its present crops and at the expiration of the 
lease turn the same back to me in the same condition, 
as far as crops, land, etc., arc concerned, as w-hen l>e 
takes it. As to the stoc he can .sell any of it he sees 
fit, provided at the end of the rental period he leaves 
the same «*la.ss and quantity of stock on the farm as 
when he takes it. 
All I want is a bond that these conditions will be car¬ 
ried out. Now then, hero is -a chaue<’ for some one who 
knows all about the dairy business to .step in without a 
cent outlay and get a lot of this "easy” money that the 
dairymen are .supimsed to be accumulating. 
The Cost of a Cow 
Right in connection with tlio above, i*ead the fol¬ 
lowing .statement by the County Farm Bureau Agent 
of Delatvare Co., N. Y.: 
The initial co.st of a dairy cow or value, if rai.sed 
now, would be about .$.S0, aud at the end of her produc¬ 
tive life with present beef jirice-s, one could probably get 
.S50. The pro<luctivc life of a cow averages about five 
or .six yeai-s. The difference then between the initial 
cost and the sidling price would lie .$.'{(>. Thus, for 
Maintimance of the herd : 
Dcjireciation p<T cow ))er year. 
Interest on paid for new cow more than 
was received for old. 1..S0 
Buildings (.3(1 feet by 50 fi'ct by 9 feet, 
.$2,(X)0 cost: accommodating 25 cowx at 
$.S0 per cow) : 
Depreciation, interest, etc., at 10 per ci'ut.... 8.00 
Fse of utensils, milk room, ice, etc. 1.40 
Labor: 
One man for 20 cows at .$40 per month aud 
boai'd and room at .$.30 i>er mouth—.$.S40 per 
year for 20 cows—pei* cow. 42.00 
i'eed : 
20 p'liiiHis liay or equivalent (silage, etc.), for 
TSO days—,3,000 pounds at .$10 per ton. 18.00 
10 pouiid.s grain for 200 days—2,(KM) pounds .at 
$50 per ton.. .50.00 
25 weeks pasturi; at .‘iO cents. 7.50 
Total cost. .$1.3-1.70 
Value of calf. 4.00 
Net total co.st. .$130.70 
No creilit TOuld be giveu for manure, as tin* co.st of 
liandling is about equal to its value. 
These charges are all vei*y conservative aud there is 
no doubt that if everything was cou.sidered one could 
not keej) a cow at the pre.si'iit time ou imiob le.ss than 
$150 p<*r year. 
33ie League jirices from December 1, l!>10, to Decem¬ 
ber 1, 15)17, jiveragcd by the mouth ivould be as fol¬ 
lows : .$2.20 for .3 per cent, milk ; $2.00 for 4 i>i*r cent, 
milk ; $2.77 for 4.5 per cent. milk. 'This is not a fail- 
average, for when the milk flow was largest the price 
was the lowest, aud so more milk was sold below the 
average than above. But considering these pnci'S a.s 
fair, a cow, to pay her expeu.se of $l.‘i0.70. would have 
to give .5,7.SO iiourids of 3 [ler cent, milk, .5,027 ixmnds 
of 4 per <*ent. milk, or 4,718 pounds of 4..5 per cent milk. 
The average for the State, as .S’hown hy tl e censnis, is a 
lit lie l(‘ss than 4.500 pounds, aud the State over tlie 
test ci'itainly does not average over 4 i>er cent., if it 
does that. 
It can bo seen, tlien, that unless the farmer has cows 
quite a lot better than the av<‘rage he is not going to 
break even, let alone make a jirolit. From these figures 
it would ajipcar that the farmer is not trying to take 
advantage of war times*, but is conservative in his do- 
iiiands and working ou a closer margin lliun any other 
business man. 
Winter Seeding Sweet Clover on Sand 
On page 1132 is- an article on Swtiet clover for pas¬ 
ture, in which I am interested. Mr. Blooiuingdale ad¬ 
vises, if we sow on sod, to plow before November 1, 
then disk and sow in November, rolling it in. flowing 
so late, here iu Gloucester County, t^outh .Jersey, would 
the clover make sufficient growth to prevent the laud 
lilowing during Winter? My experience 'has been that 
rolling this liglit sandy soil late iu the season leaves the 
laud iu the bi'st possible condition for blowing all Win¬ 
ter, and the pructicii is becoming more common ca<.*h 
year to sow our land iu rye, even if we plow and farm 
the same ground next year. <*• K. 
Bridgeport, N. .T. 
8 to wlii'ther it would lie advisaldo to sow'Sweet 
clover iu our saiuly soil in November, I would jtn.s- 
wer no. Mr. Blooiulngdale’s method of sowdng the uu- 
hulled seed ou lieavy or clay soil iu November is all 
rigid. 'Pile seeil will come up iu early Spring, and 
make a good groAvth during the Summer mouths, 
l.ast y('ar I tried tlie same method on a sandy plot 
in our garden. Tlie plot was sheltered, no Siind 
could blow, and it worked iu the sand just as well 
as ou lieavy soil. But lien' is the iioint: An ojien field 
(-annotfhe ])i*otected from the high Winter and early 
Spring winds. 'I'o soav Sweet clover seed in our open 
sandy field in November and then roll the ground 
would- be almost a sure failure. By Spring the top 
soil, s( 3 ed and all, would he piled up several feet 
dia'p against tlie first obstruction that might lie to 
the south of that field. To be succi'ssful here the 
huUrd, aud, if jiossilile, s<*arilied Sweet clover seed 
should he sown about August 20 to SeidemtK'i* 10, 
just as we do i-lover or .Vlfalfa. If mdliiug lias been 
sown until after Seiitember 20 it is then far better 
to sow rye. This makes a tiiio cover for sandy soils, 
helps to hold the fertility and is almost always sue- 
COS.sful* TKCCKEK, JU, 
