The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-11-28
FARM AND GARDEN.

FEED THE STOCK A, LITTLE CORN
DAILY.-The importance of beginning
carly to feed stock on something more
nourishing than the decaying grass,
which begins to lose its nutritious quail
ties as soon as summer commences to
wane should not be overlooked. The
pastures in the fall are largely COM
posed of woody fiber, supplying little
more than distending material for the
animals stomach. A crop of pumpkins
for early fall feeding, as the grass fails,
is excellent for hogs and horned cattle.
There is nothing better at this season
for the dairy, for keeping up the flow OF
rich milk, admirably supplying the loss
of sweet, succulent grasses. Western
farmers must mainly depend upon Indi-
an corn for their winters supply OF
nutritious feed for stock, which is doubt
less superior to any other single article
of food grown in America. At this
season, before the cob becomes dry and
hard, corn in the ear makes an excel
lent concentrated food for all kinds of
farm stock, and they should have it sup
piled daily as part of their feed, to
prevent check in the growth of young
animals, falling off of the milk in the
dairy, and flesh of the fattening stock.
The present is the season for putting
flesh on hogs and preparing them for
market. One bushel of corn fed
to hogs during the mild weather
of autumn will increase the weight of
the animals rs much as two bushels
when the bitter cold of winter has set
in. Sheep at this season need the same
watchful care and full feeding rs do any
other stock on the farm, but are the
most liable to neglect. 1t will not mat
ter how good their pasture may seem,
the flock should have an ear a day to
each sheep, and they will repay the out
lay of grain in wool ut the next shear
ing hundred per cent. The best mar
ket for the western farmers corn IS in
Young cattle, sheep and early fed hogs,
If heavy fleeccs of wool arc expected
the sheep must be fed grain in the early
autumn, and the same practice must be
followed in the care of calves. 1t is
best to give mixed grain feed for stock
of all kinds, and winter pasture is a
most important adjunct in the system OF
wholesome winter feeding, but the west
ern farmers reliance will be found to be
corn. 1t is the basis of all feeding, and
occupies place in the economy of the
American farm that nothing else will
ever supply. TO have stock in order for
winter when it comes down in earnest,
therefore we say commence giving them
all little corn daily.-Kansas Farmer.
A PLUMP TURKEY.-The season is
drawing near when a plump turkey with
delicate, palatable flesh will command
good price in all markets and furnish
desirable dish for the home table.
There exists wide diversity of opinion
in regard to fattening turkeys. A very
common, but erroneous practice, being
to half starve them until about the time
they are required for market, and then
cram them with food to fatten them.
Experience has proven over and over
again that this is mistake, and intelli-
gent growers of these fowls understand
that the best way to obtain the greatest
number of pounds of well favored, juicy
flesh is to feed the birds literally from
the time they are Matched until they are
put on the market. The ratiOns of corn
and oatmeal which follow the primary
food of recently Matched turkeys should
be continued rs the staple food, with oc-
casiOnal changes, until it is time to lay
on increased flesh, when whole corn
ought to be plentifully given. Variety
of food is, to certain extent, always
beneficial and becomes positive neces-
sity when the fowls are confined. Then
different kinds of green food, rs fresh
grass and dandelions, chopped fine,
should be literally dispensed, the latter
being very acceptable to them. Tur-
keys are also quite fond of milk, cheese,
curds and the like, which with bread
crumbs, corn bread, chopped onion and
in fact almost any clean, sweet food will
insure health so far as feeding influences
it, and gain an excellent quantity of
flesh for the table. While turkeys
should be assisted to as much food as
they will eat, care ought to. be exercised
that no more is given, as food lying
about in reach of young birds, to be-
come stale and sour, results in feeble I'M
dersized fowls. Turkeys bear confine-
ment least best of any class of poultry,
hence the benefit of extended runs dur
ing the day. When they are regularly
fed near or in their Enclosures it has a
tendency to bring them home to roost.
This class of fowls require a higher
roosting-pla than hens, which fact
should be remembered in the construc-
ton of their coops or houses. The sew
eral varieties of turkeys differ widely in
size and weight. Quantities are in the
market every year weighing not over
eight pounds, and the average weight
of common sorts may be put down at
about twelve pounds. The economy of
securing good stock of the best vafie-
ty is apparent to every farmer who stops
to consider the matter at all, for by no
other means do the returns justify the
extra care demanded in raising this class
of poultry. 1t is generally conceded
that the bronze variety is superior one,
and it should be introduced as rapidly as
possible in every poultry yard where
turkeys form an element. At eight
months of age this variety produces
birds weighing from 20 to 30 pounds
N. Y. World.