Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-14
Poullr1 Farming.

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The consumption of eggs and poultry
Increases witt civilization. As cities
multiply and become populous the de-
mand for these articles of food becomes
very great. Almest every country in
Europe contributes to the supply of
London and Paris. During the past
few years millions of eggs have been
imported into New York and other
Eastern cities. A large proportion Of
them have come from Canada, but tie
importation of eggs from the countries
OF Northern Europe is steadily incrcas-
ing. The pr.ce OF poultry and eggs in
creases much faster than that OF al
most any article produced on farms.
There Is no bettercountry in the world
for producing poultry and eggs than
the United States. The climate is very
favorable. The water is generally ex-
cellent. Materials for shelters are
cheap The fa .ilitics for Transports
ton are almost as good as could be de-
s'red. The natural vegetable produce
tons required for food are abundant.
They include grass, clover, wild fruits.
the seeds of numerous plants, and
some small nuts. As Il grain produc-
ing country Il has no superior. 1t is
somewhat strange. under these circum-
stances, that we should import eggs
or that they shoald be at high price.
st ii, during the present winter, large
quantities of foreign eggs have been
consumed in Eastern cities, while in
Western towns a dozen of eggs has
brought more money than Lushel of
potatoes or oats. Many farmers, who
keep few or no hens, have spent con
siderable time in denouncing foreipn
governments for exclu ing ourS rork
products. They could have EMPLOYED
their leisure to better advantage in con-
structing poultry-houses and in getting
ready to help supply Tie home market
with eggs, There il apparently no
danget of otefst6cking the market
with eggs.
Many failures have been reported of
the attempts TO raise poultry on large
scale in this country and in England.
AS a rule the experiments have been
very badly conducted. Attempts have
been made to keep several bundled
fowls in one building, and to supply
them with food bought in the market.
Turing the past few years reports OF
the success of several poultry farms
have been published Persons have sue
ceeded in keeping thousand hens, and
In Keeping them healthy. Their sue
cess has been mainly due to keeping
but small number of lens in one build
ing and allowing them a wide range.
One farmer in England tired the expert
ment of keeping ten hens on each acre
of land he occupied, and which was
chiefly devoted 10 grazing purposes.
He found that by enriching the ground
with the dr6ppiiigs5 Of ths fowls il wsmld
carry mere stock than before, and he
was able TO derive. two incomes from the
same land. The fowls were sheltered
at night and during storms in small
houses that where supplied with wheels
so that they could be easily moved. His
practice was 10 move each house the
distance of a rod each day. BY that
means lie brought them to fresh grass
and prevented the accumulation of
droppings. BY moving the chicken
houses but a short distance the fowls
returned 10 them as readily as il they
had remained continuously in the same
place. Ample provision vas made for
supplying watef as well SIS for ventila-
ton. The food, aside from the fresh
vegetables, was mostly obtained in the
market, and was largely produced in
this country. In add ton 10 grain and
vegetables the hens were supplied with
sersps of meat and cheap fish. The
eggSwere sent 20 mar5c. every day, and
as they could be warranted as ''stric,ly
fresh, they commanded a high price.
The male chickens were sold as broilers
as soon rs they were of a size for the
gr:diros
There are now some very successful
poultry-farms in New York and several
of the New England States. The own
ers have an advantage in being near
city markets. but they labor under the
disadvantage or deiiTer !C0d and more
costly land. The West is evidently the
best location for poultry-farm.ng, as it
Is for grain and meat produc ion. The
production of poultry and eggs can be
combined with stock raising aud grain
growing. The fowls can be kept id
small houses in pastures while the gran
s growing, and after it is cut they may
be removed 10 the grain fields. where
they VII pick up what is scattered on
the ground, Many kinds. of food that
are very valuable 10 fowl. are easily
iolSSu. hIuOlS Ii.Ciu uIG euuiOWcE
sasd. buek~heat, and sorghum seed. A
liberal amount Of VEGETABLES should al
SO lie provided. Cabbages, onions,
cress. and roots, should be raised for
feeding during the winter. There is no
occasion for ornamental or expensive
buildings for fowls. They should have
d tight FOOT aid be Will Lighted and
ventilated. The floor may be of clay or
cofnu6ni earth. 1t should be higher
than the SURROUNDING ground So that
dryness may be insured. If kept Gov
cred with dry sand it will lie clean and
the dIoppings can be readily removed.
They are as valuable for fertilizing as
guano. Fowls kept in the manner sug-
geste will require close attention, but
this is called for in any department of
basbahdry: Tie care of poultry may
be intrusted to persons Who can not do
hard work in the fell. There is tery
little hard labor connected with feed
ing fowls, raising chickens, or collect
ing eg ys.- Chicago Times.