HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 1911 
the first of June, the plot is ready for sow¬ 
ing. The early sowing of alfalfa is not 
always necessary but it is safer where the 
summers are short, as the roots get down 
deeper before winter. In well prepared 
soil, alfalfa sown in June or July, general¬ 
ly winters well, and in latitudes south of 
New York, late sowing is quite safe. Sow 
at the rate of 30 pounds of seed per acre, if 
broadcasted, and with it a thin seeding of 
barley for nursecrop. 
For those who wish to grow alfalfa in 
weedy soil, or wish to study the plant, and 
learn its requirements, I advise the sowing 
of it in drills. Make the bed just as you 
would for onions. Rake off the surface 
finely, and sow quite thickly in drills eigh¬ 
teen inches apart, and cover the seed one- 
quarter of an inch deep. Work the space 
Alfalfa under netting, through which the hens 
may pick 
between the rows with a wheel hoe, and 
keep the bed clean. With this plan, all 
vacancies are filled easily by sowing more 
seed and extra fertilizers can be applied 
between the rows as needed. It is well to 
place a mulch of coarse manure between 
the rows early in winter. 
A small crop will be cut the first year, 
thereafter four crops a year for many 
years. The green alfalfa can be cut in 
short lengths with shears or a clover cut¬ 
ter and placed in slatted boxes, or if one 
has two or three plots, the hens can be 
turned out to eat one dowm while the 
others are growing, as shown above. 
When the fowls get accustomed to the 
alfalfa they will eat it as readily as grain. 
One method I have worked out is to 
sow a bed of alfalfa in the hen yard, 
cover the bed with wire netting, and let 
the hens pick the alfalfa through the wire 
netting. The bed needs some care to 
keep the alfalfa clipped, and two beds are 
better, so one can grow while the other is 
being eaten off. 
One fact I have demonstrated with 
both the cows and hens. After one has 
obtained the largest production possible 
with all other foods, the production can 
be much increased by supplementing them 
with alfalfa, and I have discovered that 
the cured alfalfa or alfalfa hay will take 
the place of alfalfa meal in winter for 
poultry. W. H. Jenkins 
Suggestions for the Poultry House 
We have built a hen-house at Oxford, 
N. Y., intending to start raising poultry in 
April. The house is made to be plastered— 
is lathed and ready for plaster. We have 
POULTRY DEPARTMENT 
The purpose of this department is to give advice to those interested in 
poultry. The manager will gladly answer any troublesome questions. 
Address “Poultry Department” and enclose a self-addressed envelope. 
Baby Chicks of Quality 
Shipped direct to you by express 
From the finest exhibition or utility matings of 
Fishel Strain White Plymouth Rocks 
Single Comb White Leghorns, Barred Plym¬ 
outh Rocks, Single Comb Rhode Island Reds. 
Each breed the product of a specialty breeder 
I absolutely guarantee the chicks to reach you 
in good condition. YOU take no chances. 
Prices moderate. 
Send six cents In stamps for my chick catalogue — the finest ever Issued 
R. C. CALDWELL. BOX 1030 , LYNDON, ROSS CO., O. 
WILSON FARM LEGHORNS 
Bred on commercial lines for the 
production of eggs and meat 
Eggs for hatching, - - $8 per 100; $70 per 1000 
Day-old chicks, - - - $15 “ 100; $145 “ 1000 
Hot water equipment. ’Phone 716 
Wilson Farm Poultry Co Morristown, N. J. 
G. D. TILLEY 
Naturalist 
Rare Land and 
Water Birds 
Swans, Geese, Ducks, Peafowl, Cranes, 
Pheasants, etc. I am the oldest established 
and largest exclusive dealer in ornamental 
birds in America. 
G. D. TILLEY, Naturalist 
DARIEN, CONNECTICUT 
45 VARIETIES 
LAND & WATER FOWLS 
Send for free illustrated catalog, which 
tells you much you should know. Stock 
and eggs at all times. 
S. A. Hummel, Box 92, Freeport, III. 
Rock 
Hill 
Poultry 
Farm 
OSSINING,NY. 
PHONE: 
243 W OSSINING 
We Have the Best 
Silver Plymouth Rocks, White Part¬ 
ridge and Columbian Wyandottes, 
S. C. W. Leghorns, Buff Cochin, 
Bantams and White Muscova Ducks. 
The Best Varieties for EGG and Table Poultry. 
Get What You Need Right at Home, 
save expresss and damage from long 
shipments. Eggs, Baby Chicks and Stock 
for sale. Catalogue, 28 pages, 4 cents. 
BUFF ORPINGTONS 
The “Joe-Pye Book” is 
an annual, ready to mail 
Feb. 1st. 
The cock bird that has 
won first and specials at 
Madison Square Garden, 
N. Y., last year and this* 
also first and specials at 
Boston, is but one of 
many fine birds in my 
pens. B t 10 settings 
will be sold from his 
mating at $3.00 per egg. 
Other matings $3.00, 
$5.00 and $10.00 per set¬ 
ting of 15 eggs. 
JOE=PYE 
South Norwalk, Conn., R.F.D.37 
Grelder’s Fine Catalogue 
of purebred poultry, for 1911, over 200 pages, 57 large 
colored pictures of fowls, calendar for each month, 
illustrations, descriptions, photos, incubators, 
brooders, information, and all details concerning the 
business, where and how to buy fine poultry, eggs 
for hatching, supplies, etc. at lowest cost, in fact the 
greatest poultry catalog ever published. Send 15c for 
tb ; s handsome book. B. H. Greioer, BOX 70, Rheems. Pa. 
that new hen-house or fix up the old one, but get our large 100 pp. catalog 1^ 
and circulars (over 120 illustrations, showing POTTER PORTABLE 
SANITARY POULTRY HOUSES, Roosting and Nesting Outfits, Perfection Feed Hoppers,Trap 
Nests, Feed and supplies of all kinds. Potter Fixtures have been on the market nearly 10 years. 
They are made in 3 styles and 12 sizes, and are complete, convenient and sanitary. Our Portable 
(K. D. made in sections) Hen-houses, Brood Coops, Pigeon Lofts, are made in 20 styles and sizes, 
from a coop 2 ft. square to a complete house 8x80 feet, or longer, at lowest prices. House shown is 
8x10 feet, complete with 8 ft. Potter Outfit for 30 hens, for $40. A fine house at a low price. If you 
need a house or coopof any kind do not fail to find out about the Potter line before buying or building. 
TIOIM’F Kill orse N y° ur laying hens, use the POTTER SYSTEM and pick out the layers 
UU1K 1 UlLiLi from the loafers and diseased hens. Keep only healthy laying hens. The POT¬ 
TER SYSTEM is a secret and the greatest discovery of the century in {the Poultry world on the sub¬ 
ject of Egg Producing Hens. Used by over 30,000 satisfied poultry keepers who are saving dollars 
every year. Our New 100 pp. Potter System book, “Don’t Kill the Laying Hen.” contains the sec¬ 
ret and knowledge about laying and non-laying hens. It’s a revelation to poultry keepers and you 
will learn how you can use the Potter System on your flock,keep less hens, get more eggs and make 
more money using it. Write to-day sending 2 RED STAMPS to cover postage on our large catalog 
and circulars telling all about Potter Poultry Products made for Particular PoultryPeople If you are 
particular and want to make more money on your flock you will write us today. _ _ «« ,, „ ,, .... . .to * 
T. F. POTTER & GO., Box 7 <, Downers Grove, Illinois, L. S. A. 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
