The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-11-23
Common Sense in tho Poultry Yard.

Common Sense In the Poultry Yard.
Common sense is too often uncom-
mon sense, and there is more truth than
novelty in this sentiment in its applica-
ton to poultry keeping. 1t is not my
Intention to criticise nonsensical ways,
but to show ways sensible.
The ''poultry" that everybody keeps
are technically designated "fowls," or
''barn-door fowls" As rule they are
kept in small flocks, fed chiefly on what
no farmer misses. On most farms
flock of twelve to forty hens will pick
up living without receiving a particle
of grain from May to October, includ-
ing both months. Their food consists
OF insects, seeds and grass or weeds I;
they need fresh water besides. What
wonder is it that fowls thus kept are
demonstrably more profitable than any
class of stock, or any crop on the farm.
This is the best way to keep fowls,
provided they can he induced to lay
where their eggs can be found while
fresh. To accomplish this a house of
some kind is needed where the fowls
may be shut in occasionally for a few
days at time, so as to make them
roost and lay in convenient places. If
fowls can roost in the trees, lay all over
the farm and ''dust" themselves in the
road, they will almost surely be healthy,
lay great many eggs, and keep in
good condition. Besides, every now
and then hen will unexpectedly APP
pear with a brood of ten or dozen
chicks, Matched under some bush where
she had "stolen" her nest and done her
Matching. That is al very we'll so far
as the hen is conce ned, but no one
wants it to happen. We wish the
hens to lay and sit where we can
put what eggs we please under them
for hatching-and what is still more
important, we wish to be able to collect
the eggs for use or for sale daily. A
fresh egg is a Joy, delight, good gift
of heaven-a perfectly good" egg is
an abomination. An egg, to be fit to
eat, or for sale, must be fresh beyond a
peradventure, and utterly untainted
with q suspicion of having been brood
ed or weathered. For this Aeason it is
most untidy thing to use natural nest
eggs. The nest-egg after a while is
almost surely gathered, and of course
is not fright. ."-American Ag'icuhmlst.
Muck.
That muck may be Of its greatest
value-for it has valuable elements OF
plant food in its structure-it must be
treated or brought into proper con-
dition, SO that these important elements
may become available TO the plants that
arc to use them. The muck should he
dug IN the fall, and there is no Better
time than now, during this dry spell,
when the sWamps are dry and can be
worked to the greatest advantage. II
was, IN fact, the favorable condition fol
getting out muck that suggested the
writing OF this article and therefore ]
must dwell upon the leading point
The end to be gained now is to GET
the muck out of tie bed, and to a
place where it will be dry when the wet
weather comes. A scow or fiatboat with
heavy runners is one of the best vehi.
cles for draw 'ng the muck, being easily
loaded and readily drawn by yoke oi
oxen or span of horses. A tramway
may IN many cases be constructed from
the bed to the heap. The muck should
be left in the heap during the winter
that it may be acted upon by the frosts
thus bringing it to fine state, when 4
is ready for use in the stable as an alb
sorbent of liquid manure. In this way
the muck becomes incorporated W ii
the dung, and is improved by the chemi,
cal changes that are thereby induced
Muck needs fermentation, and il
II can play the part of a holder OF
absorbent of liquid manure
while undergoing the fermentation So
much the better. The natural course
Tor muck that the greatest good nay be
obtained from it is from the bed to the
heap; from the weathered heap to the
stable or compost heap, with ferment-
ing dung, or both, and finally to the
land. Muck treated in this way has
been known to pay good returns for het
labor expended upon it, especially upon
land whore there is q lack Of vegetable
matter OF humus. There are a great
many muck beds that il will not pay to
work even in this way from a sanitary
L L.