The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1878-11-06
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUsEHOLD


I
and quickly fattened fowl has, wher
served on the table, compared 10 one
which has been forced TO scratch for ali
its living, and then is consigned to the
spit IN anything but a fit condition fol
food. Farmers realize the importance
OF fattening quickly when feeding beeves
Tor the butcher, yet many do not seem
TO realize the fact that what holds good
with that kind of meat is usually true
when applied to fowls. Tenderness and
iuiciness are results of fattening quickly,
while mere ordinary flavor and want Of
tenderness result from letting fowls run
until wanted for use on the table.
To enable Que to fatten fowls or chicks
quickly, it is absolutely necessary to
give such food as will accomplish the
purpose best, and to this end we unhesi-
tatingly recommend plenty of milk in
any state, from fresh to thick. This
should be fed in connection with grain
diet, for one counteracts any possible
deleterious influence of the other. If
kept in a darkened place, and fed un-
sparingly on milk, with grain in proper
proportions, you will soon have some
thing very choice to offer upon your
tables to your friends as we'll as to your
family. When milk is fed, no water is
required for fattening fowls.
EXAMINE THE COMBS.
1t is the easiest thing in the world
you know how tits done-to tell when
your fowls are in ill-health, even in the
incipient stages of any disease or all
ment, if you but examine your flock
carefully. The comb of each fowl is a
true index to the working of its system.
Ii they be in ill-health, the comb will
lose color and become far less firm in
texture as the malady increases the
color decreases, till a very sick bird
will show comb almost devoid of scar
let, being of hvid, dull crimson, or
else pale or ashy in appearance. If the
cholera, or any other disease should
come into the flock, carefully examine
the combs of each bird, morning and
night, and all those which are wanting
in that bright, rich color which denotes
perfect health, remove at once from the
flock to a place remote, where they
should at once be put under medical
treatment.
The comb of q fowl is an honest index
of the true inwardness, and should be
daily consulted by the fancier who
values the health and well-being of his
flock. Look at the comb of laying
hen or pullet She is in the height of
health and strength, and carries her un-
failing sign of healthfuiness on her
head, in the shape of a blood-red, bright
and full comb. A vigorous cock or
cockerel will carry the same sign,
though not, perhaps, in so eminent a
degree as his harem.
TO woULD-BE BUYERS
we would say, buy early in the season,
for you will then have larger and bet
ter lot of birds to select from than if you
left your purchase until the winter or
spring, by which time most breeders
have their surplus birds disposed of, or
at least the best of those they intend to
sell. Buyers save something in the feed
bill by buying their birds late in the
season, instead of early in the fall, for
they do not have to feed them so long
but this saving does not count for much.
as the prices of the birds are correspond
ingly higher, while the quality is gem
orally inferior. Breeders like to dispose
of their surplus stock early. so as to get
their focks in shape for the following
years breeding, and to do this they are
willing to make concession in prices,
and buyers should not be slow to see
and take advantage of this reduction.
Before viewing the thing carefully, we
thought we were making a considerable
thing of it by putting off our intended
purchases until late in the spring, but q
little experience soon taught us the fall
lacy of such a method. We therefore
advise our patrons and readers to adopt
the fall purchasing, for it is alike best
for buyer and breeder. The breeder
can then give better care and attention
to those birds which are left, which he
could not do when he had large fiocks of
young chicks of different sizes and ages
running around claiming his time and
attention.-American Poultry Yard.
Green corn. on the ear is not onlv a
very palatable food for growing chickens.
but it is highly nutritious and valuable
for change In their fare. If it needs to
be purchased, it is not an economical
provision. .-PouLtry World.
Young ducks should not be permitted
to go into cold water as soon as they are
Matched, as such course is liable to
produce cramps. A small pan of water
with the chill taken off can be set near
the coop.
Keep chickens in the orchard. They
will clean up the rotten fruit, hunt the
curculio and destroy the larva of the
codling moth.
Gravel, sand or some other similar
substance is almost as essential to the
fowls well-being as is food, and if fowls
are kept in confinement, and not sup
piled with this, no matter how much
grain You may supply, they will not
thrive, or even keep healthy, for any
length of time.
Uses of Stale Bread.
l. Make dressing for meat: Crumb it
fine, turn hot broth over it, season, add
butter and q well. .haaten egg or mora