The farmer and mechanic. [volume], May 04, 1915, Page 5, Image 5

About The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??

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THE FARMER AND MECHANIC.
1-
FARM NEWS
bOMK SAY IT PAYS TO "nOf. OH-
CORX.
TIIK COW. MUST 11AVK V ATI III.
tiii: "Ui'-sT' breed or poultry
(By F. O. WELLCOME.)
Which is the best breed of fowls?"
Is one of the popular and continually
reiterated queries. If we look to ex
perienced poultry keepers for our en
ivpr we often find them so prejudiced
against breeds that thtey do not han
dle and so biased in favor of those
they prefer that their evidence only
makes our confusion more com
plete. If we examine the matter in the
light of pure logic we find that most
popular breeds and varieties of chick
ens are so universally bred by all
types of poultry keepsr . that ever
were one sort better than another it
would require a wiser expert than
the world has yet produced to point
it out and prove his case.
I saw the other day this statement:
Leghorns are universally admitted
t, be better layers than any other
breed." Even if that statement be
true it proves nothing as to the rela
tive laying abilities of Leghorns and
other breeds. Sometimes Leghorns
do not lay well. "When that is the
ease tne reason ior tneir rauure is
liktly to be the same as those that
i ause specimens of other breeds to lay
poorly ana mere are many reasons
for poor laying that have nothing at
all to do with the breed as such.
I have no prejudice against any
breed, but during the past ten years
1 have examined a great many reports
of egg production, in private letters
and in our poultry periodicals, and I
have yet to find any evidence that any
onr breed or variety, as individuals
..r as docks, surpass another in in-ltr-rmt
egg-producing capacity.
The largest authentic individual
e---record that I know of 318 eggs
brown eggs, are
are usually very
They are quiet
canot fly over a
large in size and
persistent sitters,
and slow-motioned.
low ience ana are
in
a
eu
1 ss than one year was made by
r.i-ahma. The next largest 310
's in one year by a Plymouth
neaviiy feathered, including lees and
feet. This last feature is objection
able on heavy soil that becomes mud
dy in wet weather Aside from that,
that are less affected bv
changes than are the more thinlv
feathered, larger combed breeds.
n m - -
j-nese neavy creeds easily become too
tat to lay well, if carelessly fed, but
care in feeding, forced exercise in lit
ter and skillful breeding will produce
individuals and stocks that will lay
as many egrjrs Der hen in a a winter
or a year as will any other breeds
When marketed for meat each bird
brings an appreciable return
In the American class we find the
Plymouth Rocks, several varieties;
HNnnn4n 1 Jil CI! 1 -
. a,iiuom-n, ocvcicii varieties, cmiikic
and Rose Comb Rhode Island Reds;
American Dominique; Javas, and sev
erai nuie Known Dreects tnat l am
unable td describe.
The breeds in this class are inter
mediate between the Mediterraneans
and the Asiatics. They are know as
the "general purpose' breeds. As
breeds they are hardy, good foragers,
bear confinement well, are the right
size, when well grown, to just suit
the average meat-market demand
They have clean legs and produce
eggs tnat vary in color rrom very
light tinted to dark brown and in
size from medium to large. While
they are known as sitting breeds,
many individual hens, especially in
.fiymoutn hocks, are practicaiy non-
sitters, lhey are as proline as any
breed or as poor layers as any, ac
cording to the particular stocK or
strain in hand and the care and skill
applied to them.
I have not mentioned the English
Orpingtons. There are several varie
ties, i nave no doubt tnat thev are
re-
lj
g& a s
V SB i
f p
A Paying Flock of Chickens on a Western Farm.
Tock. The largest flock records that
I have seen reported by apparently
dependable people were made by
Asiatic and American breeds as well
as Mediterraneans.
If we divide chickens into three
great classes Mediterraneans, Asia
tics and Americans and then exam
ine the difference in those classes we
will much simplify the matter. Hav
ing selected the class that seems best
suited to our temperament, circum
stances, location and market, the
choice of the breed and variety is
mainly a matter of whim and fancy.
In the Mediterranean class we have
several varieties of Leghorne, black
and white Minarcas, black Spanish
several varieties of Hamburgs, sever
al varieties of Polish, blue Andalus
ia ns.
The Leghorns are hardy, small, ex
ceedingly nervous and active but
tamable; forage widely when at lib
erty, high flyers when confined to
amall yards or parks. They are non
Bitters and not so likely to become
overfat on full and careless feeding
in confinment as are the larger and
less active breeds. When marketed
their small size limits the returns.
The Monorcas are considerably
larger than Leghorns and lay a very
large white egg. They are not so
nervous and "flighty" and are good
market fowls whenever their white
skin and dark legs are not objection
able. They are non-sitters.
The Black Spanish, once deserved
ly popular, no longer possess any par
ticular desirable qualities, as a rule.
The Hamburgs are non-sitters, lay
a white egg. are small and not con
sidered to be sufficiently hardy for
general ntilitv nurooses. They and
the Polish (a crested head) are fan
clers' rather than farmers breeds.
The Blue Andalusians are non-sit
ters, lay a large white egg, are larger
than Lesrhorns and smaller than the
Minorcas and have slate-colored legs.
Tn the Asiatic class we have the
Light and Dark Brahmas; several
colors of Cochins; Black and White
Langshans. These breeds lay large
an excellent oreea out wnerein tney
excell or even differ from our leading
American breeds in any practical par
ticulars I db not known; except that
their white skin is more favored in
the English markets than the yellow
skin that our discriminating market
prefers.
Space limits smopell the brevity or
their descriptions and the ommission
of several breeds that have not yet
impressed many practical utility poul
try keepers by their merits.
In these times when hired heln is
often not to be had and corn must
stand in the field. the
can brinsr his hnes to hi aiH in tru-.
u K V t 4 I I Ik
ing care of it.
Many farmer yearly practice hog
ging off the corn and some of them
Say it UaS. An O Vi i r. rimer- InmaH
1-1 spring pigs and older hogs into a
10-acre corn field in September. The
spring pigs averaged S' i.onmk nnd
the older hosrs irf. nnnrc nA
' - " - tuutiu, atiu iiir
total weiuht of all -ic i co-i
The corn would vield a hom fin
bushels an acre, and "in it there were
a KOOd mailV mimnlrinc TU fc..,-
had access also to a 5-aere clover eTd
m .
irorn wnicn the seed had been
moved.
Water was hauled to them and innv
had the shade of the w.iorU nr
In twenty-eight days the hoirs liai
gained 6,522 pounds. At this nmp
head, averaging 245 pounds, were sola
at $5.15 ner hunrirpr. -r-no t-
mainder were not sold, but the far
mer Was Offered S5 ier hnr.drP.l fir
them.
Counting the entire train of 6.522
pounds at $5 would make $32 6.10. or
$32.61 per acre for the field. This paid
52 cents a bushel for the corn which,
on the market, was worth 40 cents.
The whole herd made an average
daily gain of 1.91 wounds ner head.
A man in southern Kansas, who
makes a practice of "hogging down'"
corn, uses a portable fence and fences
off 5 to 10 acres at a time.Ntaking in
more as needed. He turns thp hoys
in the corn in August.
On 12 acres of corn one year he
fattened 50 head of hogs, the corn
being estimated at aoout 600 bushels.
Of the bunch, 42 head were sold, aver
aging 240 pounds, netting $600.
Allowing 100 pounds gain for each
hog on the corn thus fed, the corn
brought 41 1-2 cents a bushel, with
out the expense of gathering.
A farmer in Neoraska ha been
"hogging down" corn for a numncr
of years. About 500 head of hogs
are turned off his farm every year.
By gathering atd feeding corn, be.
sides that which was gathered by the
hogs, it was found that a bushel of
corn "hoggea down" will make as
much pork as tne same quantity husk
ed and fed, wnile the expense of har
vesting is sved.
An Iowa farmer says that in his
I first year's experience he snapped 20
acres of corn beside the field "hogged
down." The next spring both fields
were sown to small grain under the
same conditions and writh the same
preparation. On the land where corn
was "hogged down" the wheat made
5 and the oats 7 bushels more to the
acre than did the other. The differ
ence is just as noticeable in a suc
ceeding corn crop. The husks, cobs,
stalks and leaves all remain on the
land, and these, with the manure
from the hogs, enrich the soil and in
crease its humus content.
The health of the hog is an impoor
tant consideration. Hogs that have
plenty of range and exercise are not
nearly so susceptible to disease as
those confined in a small pen. A hog
that goes out after his feed wrill be !
well grown and thrifty, accustomed to
exposure, and not liable to be injured
by a sudden change of -weather.
It is difficult, however, to put a
good finish on hogs while running in
a large field or pasture. If they are
allowed to run until three weeks or
a month before sending to market,
and are then shut up and given all
the corn thejk want, with plenty of
pure water, they will make very
rapid gains.
This man allows his pigs to run
in the corn as soon as it is cultivated
the last time, but does not let the
older hogs into the field until the corn
is in good condition to feed in the
fall. He says he has also had good
results from letting cattle into the.
corn first and following these witn
hogs.
It is foolish to opct cows to Riv
milk in quantity ub ss they have an
abundance of p i re drinklnc water.
Milk is largely compost-il of w.tter and
we may as well try making bricks
without straw as to suppS thi in
scant quantity You want a drink
you want It. Does not the do
animal h.ive the same crav
If placed where she can set it
times she will drir.k more and
do better than when it in only acceM
ble at stated intervals, perhaps so far
apart that there is a tendency to drink
too much.
when
mestiv
ing ?
at all
Kxhibic Your Poultry.
If you have sorr.e bird
that you think will line
the winners
vou are in
i your fl'Hk
. well with
at the poultry show when
the Luainess for selling
for sevting, do not hesitate t
exhibit them, but it will be wise to
have some eipcri poultry man jude
them first. He may save you some dis
appointment and then he may find
birds which are more likely to be
prize winners than thos ymj h.wu
vourself, ielecied.
Watering House lMant.
I am often asked if warm or cold
water should be used. I would let
cold water wtand In the room until It
Is about the temperature of th air
about tbo plants. On no Account
would 1 Us warm water. It 1 too
stimulating. In other woil. it ex
cites the plants to which you apply it
to an unnatural degree and the re
sult It R ruphl development which i
nver health v. M. F.
Dark ilarns a Menace.
WMI lighted hore or dairy fctall
are even more imperative during th
wilder months than in the summer,
since th? absence of light lower thrt
temperature. Then, leading the ani
mals forth into the glare of day after
their long confinement in the gloomy
stalls is liable to bring on defective
eyesight while the poriy lighted
stalls alo contribute to the advance
ment of almost every known ailment
of live stock.
Give The Fowl Oyster Shells.
Home say
suitable for
will not do
fact nearly
that oyster shell is only
egg-shell material and
for grit. As a matter of
all kinds of poultry will
eat oyster shell at all fteasons of the
year. (Irowing chick. irosling.
and ducklings have no use for egg
shell material, consequently their lik
ing for it argues that they need it to
grind their food.
Care of The Meadow.
Where the gophers have worked up
the meadow sod, take a common gar
den rake, smooth down the dirt
mounds, sprinkle seeds over them,
brush lightly again with the rake
and you will not only avoid running
your sickles through the dirt and
dulling them, but a good set of grass
will spring up and cover the ground.
If a considerable area is worked up.
hitch to the harrow and level down
the gopher mounds, seed them and
harrow again after seeding.
The mule is easily broken, as all
farmers who have handled them will
testify, but it is a good thing to aet
them used to being handled before
they get too old; then they are ready
for the regular work when you need
them.
If the most extensive use is to L
made of corn silage in fattening cat
tle it is desirable to feed some hlh
protein concentrate in the ration-
KTLLING THE TOBACCO HORN-
WORM.
In using poisoned bait it is neces
sary to nrst keep tne held as clean
as possible of weeds, two of three
weeks preceding transplanting in or
der to reduce the food supply of the
worms ana render tnem Hungry, a.
couple of days previous to transplant
ing, spray a small patch of clover with
Paris green at the rate of one ounce
to six gallons of water. Cut the clover
up into small bits and scatter in small
handfuls about the field, preferably
on a ciouay aay ana in xne evening
when the cut worms are out for food
and the clover will not dry out too
rapidly. If these poisoned baits are
not more than six to eight feet apart
the hungry worms will have no trouble
in finding them. In place of the pois
oned clover bait, a poisoned bran mash
bait may be used. This is made by
mixing one pound of dry Paris green,
with forty pounds of bran. To this
is added sweetened water, or a cheap
syruD. stirring it thoroughly to get it
all moist. This is scattered about the
field in the same way as the clover bait
and has the advantage in that it ap
pears to attract the worm more than
the clover bait. Poultry should be ex
cluded from the treated area for some
time, at least until the rain has wash
ed the poison away.
.
To be perfect in form, quality and
size fruit trees need an open soil sur
face, at least every other season.
mm
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Many of Tliis Bunch of "Mortgage Lifters" Weigh 375 Pound-
Whole corn is the best ration for
sitting hens. Give them all they will
eat of it once a day. Don't feed the
sitters with the rest of the flock.
They should have some grass, also
clean, fresh water to drink, some grit
and charcoal. Large hens axe best
for hatching eggs.
The United States of America is by
far the greatest steel producing coun
try on earth. Germany comes next,
with Great Britain third. The figures
for 1910 (the latest at hand for the
moment) show this country to be
equal in steel products to both Ger
many and the I'nited Kingdom.
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