Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-09-02
From he Farm and Garden.
Poultry q Branen ofEarm StOck.

an accidental branch oftheir general hus-
bandry. The high price which poultry
commands in our large markets, will con-
vince any man who gives himself the
trouble to think about ii, that poultry
department on his fnrm-it the farm be
properly adapted to it-may be made a
very profitable part Of his business.
The exclusively grass farmer who lives
in q thckIy settled neighboFhood, should
not think Of il because lis own and bis
neighbor's crops would be subject TO ma
terial injury fronlaTge iockE ofpoultry'-
Blu. any one who has a farm oFgood size,
devoted to grazing dairying, or mixed hus'
bandry, can usually raise five or ten times
the number Of poultry he now does and do
It prodIably. If stream Of water passes
through il, ducks and geese as well as hens
and turkcys may be added in great num-
berg for with abundance OF water, coarse
grass, and little rough grain, they will
setall the food they require.
Whereauy considerable range ofwoods,
composed of nut-bearing trees is q. hand,
turkeys can be reared and fed at little cost.
Fort first few weeks SITTER Matching they
require feeding at the house; aflet that
they take 10 the fields where they thrive
on grass-hoppers and other insects. The
grain stubbles will support them Tor some
weeks after harvest, when the falling
acorns and beech-nuts will fat them well
or in their absence little grain Of any
kind, does the same office. With hens
the same process of rearing will answer
with the exception Of nu.s which they do
not eat.
We haze always reared on our own
farm, large aocks Of poultry. We have a
cottage with the necessary poultry accom-
modatisns attached, located al some dis
lance from the farm Iaboger and bis tami-
ly.g We always look out that his wife be
good poultry woman, aud that there be
few or no children, as they sadly interfere
with chicken raising. In the spring Of
The year tho poultry is removed from the
homestead 10 this cottage which always
from the plowed lands, with plenty oftrees
around It, water, and close to the princi-
pal orchards. Here is alarge range where
the fowls can 60 and come at will. and be
out Of The way o! mischief TO the growing
crops. They can be Of grea; service tc
The pastures and moving grounds aud or
chsrds, in picking up incects; destroying
worms IN the fruit trees and eating the
windfalls among The apples, Of Which they
aretond. Here the fowls do up their spring
laying, hatch their young and grow up &c
maturity. We usually give poultry NO
man enc quarter Ofthe young fowls she
,esss, finding hcrin Their food she return
ing us all the eggs except what are appTo
pirate 10 Matching and We divide The s,ocl
in October before the time Of feeding FOL
market commences; or il tue poultry al
bo iet! together, she is charged with hel
due proportion Of food for faltening them
When the poultry is Divided the farm por'
lion ofitis taken 10 the homestead, where
lit i, disposed of in whatever way VIC
think proper; but We usually buy ouI
poultry womans share al a usual rate and
she is thus rid Other stock; to commence
anew the coming spring.
In this way the usual annoyance o.
poultry about the farm house, s'abIes
barn, and gaIden-and they are at times
a very great annoyance-s abate'l and the
constant attention they require frequently
to The prejudice OF the necessary indoor
duties Of the farm house is saved. The
poultry is ort Of the way while the crops
are in growth; their care while young
furnishes an agreeable employment fol
much idle time Of The laborst's wife OIL
daughter who attends 10 them, and fol
which she is well and contentcdIy pait
and in the fa!! Of the year we haze a no.
BILE flock Of eackliug, gobblins, quackine
and Cabling birds about US, worth gool
deal Of money five want to sell them, OIL
it not, a store of luxurious meats Of our Ia
bles aud toregaIe our friends with during
| the winter.
AspouI,ryis now usually reared, the re
.l,msrk "lhal they cost more thanthry CONT
.s|te" is often the ,hruth: hut as We practice
sIathey are adelightfuI branch Of our farm
I, stock and as profitable as any other part o
:. 1, ,,otLsr vinw which ShouId mn