Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-08-30

forms around the egg after it Is perfect
ed in the oviduct The completed egg
consists of several component parts, each
one of which draws on the vital energy
and stamina Of the bird, which Is SO
formed that its body performs IL natur-
al functions in regular order when in
health. We must consider that they are
forced out of their natural order when
we feed them up for great egg produc-
ton. Did any one ever hear OF Il wild
bird that dropped a soft egg. or ever
see a shelless egg that was cropped by
a wild bird? We have produced poul-
try that do not sit. Nature intended
the hen to sit on her eggs for
three weeks, and afterwards 10 nurse
and run with her chicks for four
or five weeks longer. In this interval
the system gains tone and strength. II
i, an entire change: division Of labor.
and the fowl gathers strength and tone
for future egg-production. The regular
sitters seldom drop more than IL eggs
in clutch. and then comes broodiness.
Our non-sitters are the result Of success
full breeding from fowls which had mani
tested little desire to sit. L, was a great
achievement. They are manufactured
race, and must be cared for differently
from the old common breeds much given
to sitting and little laying. Many years
back perpetual layers We're unknown, as
well as the production of eggs in winter.
Among the birds of the air there is one
species known a. ..cow blackbird.' that
never sits. but perpetuates its kind by
dropping its eggs into the nests of other
birds, by which the young are broughtup.
Generally the nest of a smaller bird is
chosen, and in rearing the smaller birds
are frequently robbed of their food and
perish, the overgrown birds beak get
ting the larger share of food. The COW
blackhird can not be any great layer. or
their eggs are discarded by the other
birds thus imposed upon, for the species
is not very plentiful. Eggs dropped in
May and June keep much better than
those dropped later in the season. The
reason is that the fowls are in better
condition. After the middle of July.
the close summer heats and sultry nights
come on, and the birds are more or less
exhausted. The melting season is
close at hand, and the whole system is
preparing for a change, the recovery
from which is question of time and
care BY this time, if left unheeded,
their roosting-places have become foul
and infested with vermin: From this
time out, stimulants and mild
tonics should be given to the
perpetual layers rs required. To
be thoroughly profitable, these
fowls should not he kept over the second
winter. unless il he in exceptional cases.
There is no brood of fowls that accepts
management rs readily As the Brahmas.
They yield to confinement. in time, place
and food, without repining, Yet they are
tender, and require more care and fore
thought in feeding than any Of the other
races of sitters. Perfect eggs, after once
obtained, should be set up on end in
good, sweet, clean oats. and kept in a
cool place. and there will he found little
difficulty in saving them to obtain fair
price at the fab markets. They must
possess good, thick, perfect shells. or
they will not keep.--Cor. Country Gen
uenluR.