The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-21
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
A Model Poultry Yard.

Looking at the yard of poultry fan
cier a few days ago, was pleased with
his hen-house, not because it was the
finest ever saw, but because of its per-
feet simplicity. As he was q man of
abundant means, and his place is near a
fashionable resort, there was tempta-
ton for nicer building than other peo-
pie, but he preferred to set good ex-
ample for his poorer neighbors. This
building was framed, of convenient size
for two focks of about twenty fowls
each; boarded outside and inside of the
frame with matched boards, and with o
large window on the south side. 1t was
very warm inside, even when the air
outside was nearly at freezing point.
On the inside of the sill plank was
spiked over to go down foot into the
ground, all around the building, which
prevented the outside moisture from
coming under the building, and as the
building inside was raised some inches
with earth and dry loan, it was at all
times dry place to wallow in. As the
house was for large fowls, the roosts
were low, and space was left where the
hens could stand on the ground all
night, instead of roosting if they pre-
| ferred, which some did. 1 noticed the
fence between the poultry yards was
boarded up some three feet high, with
| short pickets above that. This prevent
ed the cocks from fighting through the
fence. The whole arrangements of build.
ing and yards were neat enough for q
gentleman's country place, and yet not
too extravagant for any farmer to copy.
| The yards were set with plum and beach
froou opI tho orvv IL ba ho1 M l;A;
Guilty Ill getting abundant crops of the
finest fruits every year, which was q
handsome profit in itself upon the cost
of keeping the fowl. .--Boston Journal
Household Hints.
To MAKE Doors WATERPROOF. .-Yel-
low beeswax, Burgundy pitch and tur-
pentine, of each two ounces boiled lin
seed oil, one pint. Apply to the boot
with the hands before the fire till well
saturated.
MILK.-Milk absolutely supplies every
requisite for the body, and enables
young calf to grow into heifer and
baby into a thriving child. 1t is a
model food-in fact, it is the most per-
feet that exists in nature. Let parents
realize this, and encourage its use in the
family.
POULTRY AS FooD.-For table use,
fowls that are killed directly from free
range, where they have been well fed
for some time previously, and, having
taken plenty of exercise, are in perfect
health, are to be preferred to those which
have been kept in close coop, in con-
nection with their own excrements and O
polluted atmosphere.
To DIsrINaU1sH BUTTER FROM OLEo.
MARGARINE. Artificial butter now so
nearly resembles the genuine article that
it is difficult to distinguish one from the
other. NJ. Jaillard submits the follow
ing plan When the butter is placed be-
tween two slips Of glass the animal fats
appear under the microscope rs abores-
cent crystallizations. Pure butter is seen
only as fatty globules.
JELIIEs. In making iellies of apples,
plums, peaches or apricots, peel, remove
the stones or cores, cut in pieces, cover
with water, and boil gently till we'll
cooked; then strain the Juice gently
through jelly bag and add half pint
OF sugar to a pint of juice, boil until it
ropes from the spoon, OF from fifteen to
twenty minutes. In making raspberry
ie ly use one-thirl currants and two
thirds raspber1ies.
Deniiiion OF Cattle.
P. H., Raymonlville, writes: ct
would like to ask through the columns
Of your paper if cattle shed their teeth
the same as the lorse;if so, at what age 2"
Reply. Cattle, MS we'll as well as other
animals with teeth, shed their first teeth
before they reach maturity. The matu.
rity Of an animal is frequently considered
to be complete when the dentition be-
comes permanent. In horned cattle the
first two central permanent incsors ap-
pear at the age of twenty months OF two
years; the next two appear at three years;
the next two at four, and the last two,
which are the corner ones, at about five
years old. The first and second perma-
nent molar teeth appear at the age of
two years, an additional one on each Jaw
appears every year after up to the sixth
year, when the month is full. As the
permanent teeth appear, the milk or de-
ciduous teeth drop out, or are forced out
by the new ones. After the sixth year
the teeth begin to wear down, and the
amount of wear, in ordinary cases, is a
guide to the age of the animal. When
sneep or cattle are pastuIed upon sandy
land this test is deceptive, as the teeth
wear down faster than they would other
wise do.-Nei0 York Times.
The Soil for Flowers and Plants.
The best soil for most flowers, and
principally for young plants and the
seed bed, is a mellow loan containing
enough sand to prevent its baking after
watering it. A good many have the idea
that seed will grow most anywhere and
with any treatment. Mostly the seeds
are planted too deep, so they either rot
in the cold, damp soil for the want of
warmth necessary to their termination,
or after termination, perish before the
tender shoots can reach the surface. To
prevent this, SOW your flower. seeds in a
cold-frame, box, or pot, and transplant
as soon as the young plants attain their
proper size. Transplant when the wealth
er becomes warm and settled.