The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-26
AGRICULTURAL.
BOO Production in Autumn,

Give the Leghorns the best food o be OBJ
tanned, and there will be little complaint
about eggs. The quantity, quality and size
are satisfactory. Not one person in ten
knows how to feed fowls, or to give the
treatment they deserve. Farmers in gener-
al do not get the full benefi' OF the fowls
they keep about them. Too often they toll
crate them instead of Keeping them. For
the money invested, hen pays as large
profit as cow Farmers do not stop to in
auire into the matter thoroughly. Needing
only the larger things, the little ones are al
lowed to escape They are satisfied if their
hens produce fair quantity of eggs during
the first months of the year, while in the
ninth, tenth and eleventh months fowls
may be made to give the golden profit.
Fresh eggs are priced at this season. Fowls,
in fact, have been left to shift for them
selves. Purity of breed also tells on this
propitious time, the purely bred fowls re-
sDonding more readily to the demand than
the mongrel.
Give The Leghorns the best food that the
earth affords, and there will be no COM
plant whe" the usual autumn deartb comes
on. There must be no stinting OF the birds,
and their allowance must he given the Year
around. The Brown Leghorns are then in
almost continued profit. There is much in
management. The same treatment will not
do for all breeds alike. Too much fault is
put upon the fowls, when in reality the
keeper is to blame. The grain is stngily
doled out with a grudging hand, and is
quickly consumed, and, / might add,
beyond supporting the meager life of
the fowl, it is wasted, when as much
more added would bring hand
some profit. Autumn laying of fowls is
much to be desired, and many have belief
that it is peculiar to a few breeds, when it
lies in a great measure with the keeper.
There are, however, many breeds that put
off laying until late in the season, leaving a
blank during the ninth, tenth and eleventh
months. This may in measure be obvi-
ated by care and generous feeding. Sepa-
rate the sexes at moulting time. Indeed
this should be done as soon as all the eggs
have been obtained for Matching purposes.
1t is better for the welfare of both, and
where cocks are not required for another
season it is better to fatten them. No bene-
fit arises from keeping cock when there is
no use for him. A brood of Autumn chicks
is worth nothing. The ere of poultry is
entrusted too much to children and indif-
ferent members of the family, being consid-
cred of little account. This is wrong.
The fowls should be fed every morning,
and due notice taken if there be any cluck-
ing or setting hens among them. If So the
nest should be hunted w and the eggs de-
stroyed. Weed out the old fowls, and thus
the appearance of the flock is improved,
and the feed consumed yields larger re-
turn. Pullets will lay early if well fed.
R .gular and ample food stimulates them and
brings them into reproduction before cold
weather comes on. There is little difficulty
with Leghorn pullets if special care be TAX
en-. Fowls should never be allowed to run
through neglect, especially when young and
growing. They seldom recover. Pullets
should not be kept in confinement with old
er fowls, but have separate apartments.