The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-01-13

duct will not be turned out. For hen
to produce an egg daily she must be
well supplied with the raw material out
of which to make it. There must be al
luminous substances, such as are found
in meat and grain. out of which to form
the white of the egg, and oily or fatty
matters to form the yolk, and lime to
produce the shell. Various kinds of
grain contain these substances in differ
ent proportions, and this fact renders
some kinds better adapted for the food of
fowls than others. Wheat, mid
dleings, oats, barley, Indian corn, and
buckwheat are good articles of food for
hens, if they are used alternately. lin
dian corn were to compose the whole
diet of hens, they would be rendered too
fat for laying purposes. but as a regular
diet it is very valuable. About three
times per week the hens will need some
bits of meat, to furnish more abundantly
the albuminous element of the eggs.
Burned oyster shells pounded, old NOR
tar, hone meal, or something similar
should be kept by them at all times as
material for shells. There should also
be constant supply Of fresh, clean wa
ter. Hens should never be permitted to
eat snow. Snow water is highly injur-
ious to them. Many persons feed their
hens all they viii eat, and keep grain by
them all the time. This is bad prac-
tice. More hens are injured by over
feeding than in any other way. Ii a
man eats all that he can, he becomes to
some extent, incapacitated for exertion
and if he cont ues the practice his sys-
tenn will become deranged. So the hen,
when over-ted, becomes too fat and is
! good for nothing but to be marketed.
A simple rule in feeding heos isto give
them as much as thew will eat eagerly,
but no more. AS soon as they cease TO
eat with avidity, and Will not run for the
food, it should be removed. Fowls
should be fei in this way three times a
day-viz., morning, noon and night.
The mornings meal should consist OF
soft food IF some kind, for during the
night the crop and stomach have become
empty. If whole grain is fed. the fowl
is obliged to grind it before she gets any
nourishment, and delay is injurious
therefore it is best to have scalded meal
and bran with mashed potatoes pre-
| pdEcu. AZ uUOu, Il uluucI VI CLAIM VI
meal may be given. At night. grain
should be fed so that the hens will have
something substantial in their crops to
last them through the night. Ia winter
Indian corn is good to iced at night; in
summer. oats, wheat or barley may be
used. Wheat middlings are an excel
lent summer food, because of the flesh
forming elements contained in them, the
requisites for producing eggs. Soft food
should be mixed rather dry, SO that
when thrown upon the ground it will
fall in pieces. When soft it sticks TO the
beaks, to the annoyance of the fowls,
and is also liable to derange their diges-
ton. Fowls require also a daily supply
of green or fresh vegetables, both sum-
mer and winter. Chopped turnips, cab
bages or apples are suitable for winter
In summer access to green grass is the
best means OF gratifying their wants. In
order to be successful in keeping fowls
! their wants should be attended to with
the same care and regularity that is be,
slowed upon other animals; the increase
in number OF eggs will then be percepti'
BILE.