Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-13

work OF the season once over. when
only odd jobs await them, it is too fre.
quent a custom to dock them Of thei1
grain, and allow them to shift for them
selves on the pastures, often without
needed shelter from the bleak wind
and early frosts Of autumn nights.
After feeding awhile the poor animals
get chilled, and run about in the dark
in search of warmth which they often
find only at the cost of a stumble or
fall, resulting often in a sprain or cut
that INJURIES or disfgures them for life.
Then when warm and tired they lie
down to rest; what wonder if they rise
up stiff, spiritless, and not rarely suffer
ing from a severe cold after their heat
ed blood and relaxed sinews have been
exposed to the blasts and frosts of a
chilly night! When the days are not
stormy it is we'll enough to let horses
run III the pasture, but every autumn
night should find them comfortably
bedded and fed in the stable. Ingrati-
tude to our fellow men is Justly con-
sidered an odious vice, but is there not
often a strong faint of it also in the
treatment of these noble animals, to
whose faithful help in all kinds of
drudgery farmers are deeply indebted
for full barns and comfortable homes ?"
How TO BREAK UP" SITTING HENs.-
At this season of the year the sitting
hens-notably of the Asiatic varieties
have laid out their second or third lit
ers of eggs, and for the second time
this season they have become persist
emily "broody." Many devices for
breaking these fowls up have been
tried. And most Of the attempts to
do this prove failures with the
Cochins and Brahmas. We have in
late years found but one way
that this can be done effectuallv.
And this is by far the most humane
and certain method we can advise. A
watchful eye should be kept upon these
laying hens and pullets every day, as
they approach this term of natural
broodiness. And the first evening you
find one upon the nest when she should
be upon the roost) is the time when you
should commence to break her up.
Look out for the next one now. There
will be plenty Of them at this season.
And as soon as No. 2 shows the sitting
inclination remove as promptly. The
two hens may be put together. They
will help to "cure" each other of the
broody fever. Watch for No. now
and so on to the end. You will have
little trouble with them. Feed them
lightly. Give them plenty of fresh
water to drink. Keep them away en-
tirely out of sight of the nests, and they
will shortly get over their broody fit.
This is our plan for breaking up hens
that we do not wish to use as sitters.-
Poultry World.
FOREST LEAVES. i gathered forest
leaves last fall, writes a correspondent
to the Vermont Farmer, and used them
as bedding for stock. l selected damp,
misty day in which to gather them,
and found that [ could pack very
good load in the wagon. | gathered
principally from a part of my woods
where the trees were scattering, raked
them together in piles, and two of US
hauled in and stored ten loads in day.
[ had what | thought was an
abundance and [ bedded my hogs
altogether with them. They are the
best thing for this purpose I
ever tried. The hogs would 1oot
and work them over, mixing them
thoroughly with their manure. and the
consequences were-the best lot of hog
manure | ever had. | also bedded
horses and cattle until the leaves were
used up. 1 believe gained fully ten
loads of manure altogether, by using
ten loads Of leaves; not that much in
bulk, but in increased value by absorb
ing the liquids which would have es-
capped. But another advantage | want
to mention. The open woods, cleared
Of leaves, were raked and scratched
over with an iron rake, and red top,
blue grass and orchard grass sown. 1t
happened to catch we'll, and afforded a
good deal Of pasture this summer"
Upon this the Green Mountain Freeman
comments as follows: eve have found
it very easy and rapid way to gather
leaves, to fasten the hay-rack on the
frame sled, where, of course, it will pro-
ject some distance behind it. Then
driving into the woods we can easily
set the sled where the rear-end of the
hay-rack will rest on or nearly on the
ground, where the leaves can be raked
in from the ground with no handling in
q basket. We gather ours as dry as
possible, and with plenty Of side boards
and four end boards we can draw a
heap of them at once"