The Portland daily press., 1878-12-03
AGRICULTURAL.
Eaffanfnx FoMIs.

II is useless to undertake to fatten poultry
before they have attained their full growth.
Fowls do not get their full growth until after
the second annual moult. 1t requires all the
strength Of the body to support the growing
feathers and afterwards to ripen them, and
not until then does the benefit Of the food 60
to the body In the shape of fat, although the
growth Of bone and musclestill continues.
Az soon as bird is in condition to fatten, it
may be done In an Incredibly short time.
Until this period arrives, it is better to allow
the birds to run at large, as they keep them
selves more cleanly and the growth Is mors
gradual and consequently, If not so rapid,
more certain, and to the purpose. Fowls,
while In pin feathery state, are more or less
taccordipg to the condition Of their roosting
plaees) infested with vermin, that leave the
body and disappear entirely when the feath-
ers are ripeDed. The juicy sheaths and en-
larged pustules that hold the embryo shafts,
afford support as we'll as hiding places
for vermin. The pustules are tender and
sore, and when in this undress state, the bird
does not care to wallow in the dust or dress
the plumage to any great extent When in
ehis abnormal condition It is better to allow
full freedom. Any injury to the unfolding
sheath causes the bird to show a white feath-
e. and loss Of appetite often cripples and de-
forms what otherwise would have been fine
chick. Therefore it is better to allow the
chicks to run at large until fully feathered,
Uhen they will have attained their maturity
for the season and are In q condition to take
On fat.
Cocks ahould not be herded together in
large numbers, as their pugnacious propensi-
fieS prove serious drawback to their i'm
Provement. They should be kept out of sight
and hearing OF the hens and fattened as rap
Idly as possible. In this manner cocks can be
made t0lerably fat Feed them on sifted corn
meal, well scalded, with q little salt and cay
enne pepper intermixed. The mush should
not be too thick. Fed In this manner, tur-
keys will fatten rapidly when in fit condi-
tlon, but turkeys are too large birds to con-
me. This method is to be preferred to the
feeding of whole grain, as it digests more
rapidly, and consequently does not draw on
the strength of the birds. A diet containing
oily matter fattens them rapidly. Scraps,
potatoes boiled and pulverized with suet
chopped and mingled throughout, furnish
food that confined birds will devour greedily.
Good sweet, fresh-ground corn meal should
b the staple; condiments serve to whet the
appotioe and render 1t more keen. Hard
yellow corn is preferable to other sorts for
lsttsning purposes.
Domestic fowls are attached to their homes
and impatient Of removal. They will often
pine in confinement, with loss of appetite,
especially Ii they have been well fed while at
large. do not like the idea of close confine-
nens for fsttening purposes and always find
my birds plump and With sufficient fat while
at large. Indeed the pnllets and hens are
ofsen teo fat for table use. It is the quiet,
composed condition, and the long run to-
gether with the right quality and quantity of
food administered ct the proper time and
place with clean roosts, that cause the poul-
try to look finely. Fine birds and good keep
Ing u the rule to govern the yards; badly fed
end ils-cared for poultry will never look well,
no matter how well or how true they be bred.
When the fowls become full-feathered, if well
kept they will soon rid themselves of vermin.
Wnen the feathers are grown and hard, the
birds ale continually dressing and arranging
them. They pick and dust off all the vermin
hunting them out of their lurking places and
relieving themselves. A bird that is infested
with veEmin seldom dresses the plumsge or
WalloWs, but mopes from morning till night,
and grows thinner every day.
When fowls are confined to fatten, the
business should be done in a week or ten
dsys at the farthsst. II allowed to remain
for longer time they lose appetite and con-
seQuently q loss of flesh follows. There is no
ingredient prepared and mixed with the food
OF fowls that Is more beneficial than the free
sse OF cayenne pepper. II gives strength and
ploy too much Of the ground mixture pre-
pared and put up in tin boxes, for sale at
stores and apothecary shops, but use that
&royn in the home gardens. 1t is the pure
article and contains nothing Injurious, where
as the purchased one includes more or less
Eed paint and other foreign matters that are
luxurious. The small cayenne pepper Is very
prolific, and one pod will season a quart of
drink,-Crr. Country Gentleman.