Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-01-29
FARM AND GARDEN.

fATTEMINu 1URkE1S.--IC lS &OOuly
sight, as the summer days wane, to
see the flocks of Turkeys coming home
from the woods and pastures at night
fall with full crops. If the farm has
not been overstocked with these birds,
they have very largely made their liv-
ing upon grasshoppers, crtckets, worms,
and other small fry The regular food
they have had has been rather to keep
them wonted than to supply any lack
OF forage. AS the cool nights come on,
and the supply of insects declines, the
business of tattening properly COM
mences. 1t should be remembered that
plump, well-dressed turkeys not only
bring higher price In market, but en-
hance the reputation of the producer,
and make his market sure for future
years. The turkey is one of the finish
ed products Of the farm, and one of the
greatest luXuries in the market. The
farmer should do his best in preparing
his flock for the shambles. The main
business now is to lay on fat. and the
birds should have every night and
morning 3 tull supply of nutritious
and fattening food. lnstinctively the
turkey follows his feed, and if the sup
ply is abundant at the farm-yard, he
will not stroll far from home. Boiled
potatoes, mashed and mixed with meal ,
and fed moderately warm, is very
excellent feed, both to promote growth
and to fatten. If the pigs c II be rob-
bed of part of their milk, and it be
mixed with u part OF the hot potatoes
and meal, it will very much improve
che dish. 1t is very desirable Io sup
ply the place of insects with some kind
Gof animal food, and butchers scraps Is
one of the cheapest and most desirable
forms of food for poultry. Grain should
be given at least once day with the
soft and warm feed. Nothing is better
than sound corn The Northern corn
is thought TO contain more oil than that
of Southern growth. Old corn should
always be used for this purpose. The
new. corn keeps them too loose. In
feeding only so much corn should be
thrown out, as the birds will eat up
clean. Take little time to feed them,
and study aesthetics as you watch the
iridescent hues upon the glossy plum
age. There Is nothing more charming
upon the farm in the whole circle OF
the year than hundred or two of these
richly-bronzed turkeys feeding near
the cOrn-crib. You can afford to enjoy
the disappearance of corn while the
turkeys are increasing in weight.
HINTS ON HORSE kEEPING.-The
wide stall is luxury, and ought to be
six, or even ten feet wide, if room can
be spareG. Loose boxes are impo rtant
for horses OF great value; in such stalls
they can get perfect repoSe by changing
their position, recover from the fatigue
of hard days drive, and be ready for
their task the next day. The best food
adapted to the horse is oats and hay of
the best quality, occasionally varied
with bran mash, with turnipS or car
rots as an alternative. The growth
and development of bone and muscle
depend greatly on the food they eat.
1t is important to select such as contains
all the elements needed TO form the
bone aud muscle of the horse. It is
self-evident that the nutritive matter
supplied by the food must be equal To
the exhaustion or natural waste of the
body, TO keep up condition. The horse
that is about TO be driven on journey
needs hardening by xercise-prepar-
ing by sweating out the body to purify
and increase the circulation OF the blood
and also by hand-rubbing the legs TO
make them firm and elastic-a prepar-
alton in some degree corresponding
with that attained by a horse that is
daily driven on the road for ordinary
work. For one week from the start
they need daily exercise, commencing
with eight or ten miles, and gradually
increasing TO twenty per day. This
exercise, with appropriate TODD, will
harden their muscles, strengthen their
limbs, and prepare them TO perform
their tasks without giving out on the
road, materially declining in flesh, or
seriously eXhausting their physical
powers. If We perform long drives
with horses accustomed to short work
only, the sudden transition from IndO-
lence TO great exertion will relax their
muscles, weaken their joints. depress
their spirits 9nd break down their con-
stitutien. The leading cause OF SO
many valuable horses being spoiled by
long drives is being short of work.
They are not prepared for such severe
exertions. q Condition will prepare
their work cheerfully, last out with
sound limbs, and prepare their consti-
Sutlonal vigor Tor future usefulness.
DRY EARTH AS BEDDING FOR SToCK.
There is nothing more useful IN pro-
motiRg the health and comfort of stock
during the winter season, when ami
mails have to be housed and fed, than
dry earth. While it is the most abun-
dant, cheapest and easily acquired of
all absorbents and disinfectants, it is
almost entirely neglected. Straw makes
a very Imperfect bedding. 1t serves
no purpose whatever, as an absorbent
and only inditferently well for keeping
the animals clean. Farmers who have
comfortable barns and stables for their
stock should, during the dry season in
hefall and before freezing commences,
gather from roads and sources of supply
That are convenient, and store under
cover, enough pulverized dry earth to
keep the stalls and sleeping apartments
of fttheir stock well supplied through
the winner. a good bed of dry earth is
far more comfortable for hogs than one
of straw, but both should be used. |
For keeping the stables where milch |
cows are sheltered and fed, clean and
sweet, fine dry earth is superior to any
thing else. The liquid voiding of the |
animals is absorbed and all smells pre-
vented from peryading the premises.
A dusting OF dry earth banishes ver-