The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-06-02
Poultry i'm the CO wi

We have often advocated &-l Sta
our orchards-apple, pear, peach,
plum, orange. or any other variety
a poultry pasture and we do not ad-
vocate this so much for the advanta.
ges the poultry may derive from the
shady range, as from the actual and
apparent good which the fruit trees
derive from the presence and untir-
ing industry of the poultry.
Bugs, worms and insects, Of all
kinds, form the natural and most
profitable food for poultry. You
can put up your corn bucket and
mush pan if Biddy can spy an insect
She has no use for any such common
diet. She prefers to take hers
straight-no sugar or egg TODD, if
she knows herself, and Mr. Chanti-
cleer aids and abets her in this new
departure.
In making an orchard a fowl past,
ure, due regard should be had tor the
area of the orchard and the number
of hens to be kept therein. 1t will
be found advantageous to concen-
trate to a moderate extent, by divid.
ing the orchard into sections, by
light portable fences, changing the
fowls, from time TO time, to fresh
yards as convenience or necessity
may dictate.
We have tried this ourselves, and
know whereof we speak. One hun
dred fowls may be kept in two yards,
of fifty each, and these occupy one
acre of ground for three, six or twelve
months and the beneficial effect upon
the orchard will be immediate, pos;
tive and permanent.
We have had much experience in
the matter. We have tested it fully,
under variety OF circumstances and
always with the same results. The
orchard becomes thrifty if not so be-
fore. The truitage is increased to an
enormous extent, disease, if previously
existing, becomes thing of the past,
and the fruit is not only Increased in
quantity, but in size and( sweetness
also.
Sit IL the shade 81 - ot.sssas;.
trees and watch these teathered sen.
tinels making the grand rounds"
See how every tree, from root to
branch is carefully examined tor cat;
erpillars, curculic or any form OF in
sect life. The constant scratching
among and beside the roots keeps
them strong, clean and healthy. Dead
bark, moss or any fungus growth, if
within their reach, are speedily de-
stroyed.
Their droppings add wonderful fer
tility to the soil and, being evenly
distributed, require no labor or at
tention from tie owner 1t is best
to change from yard to yard occa
sionally and have the surface 0irt
turned under by a plow, hoe or
spade. pc
Treated i'll this manner, the value
OF any kind of fruit trees can be i'm.
mediately and largely Increased and
this value will be tangible and real.
Nor will the good results be wholly
monopolized by the orchard. The
poultry will do better liz such range
than in any other. There seems to
be natural affinity between fruit
tree and a chicken and they mutually
thrive by being thrown together.
We would not, of course, consider
it best to allow the fowls to acquire
the habit OF flying up into the limbs
in their search alter their insectiter-
Gus food. This might prove dan
gerous and expensive accomplish
ment when the fruit became ripe.
But there need be no trouble in the
matter, for fowls will rarely fly high
except from necessity or habit and if
roosts are properly provided for them
in. some convenient covered build.
ing and sufficient food given to sup
plemenL the natural supply, they will
leave the fruit on the trees untouched.
Should they, however, acquire bad
habits because OF neglect OF perver-
SHY Of character, sometimes found III
fowl character Rs well as III human, a |
curtailmenJ i'll their propensities to
"rlse i'll the world" may be effected
by clipping the feathers from single
wing.
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