The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-07-04
Alaska Not an Iceberg.


The climate Of Alaska, or such por-
ton of it as will ever, be made Of much
consequence, is far from being as arctic
as is popularity supposed or the latitude
would suggest. The Japan current,
the Kuro Siro, the great river. OF warm
water flowing northward from the
coast Of Japan, is divided by the Aleu-
tan Islands. A portion is detected
through Behring's Straits a fact which
accounts for the absence of floating ice
bergs at latitude where the Atlantic
is dotted with them-while the main
stream is diverted to the east and reach
es our coast near the head OF Queen
Charlotte Islands. Here it is again di-
yided, one branch flowing south to-
give us the magnificent climate we en-
Joy, and the other sweeping around the
Alaskan coast nortward and westward
to- modify the arctic severity Of the
temperature. Observations at Sitka
for thirteen years show that the mean
temperature ranged from 38. to AS
degrees, and the winter mean from 2T.7
to 34.8 degrees ia january, 1880, the
thermometer indicated q degrees below
zero, and the native Russians asserted
that for fifty years it had never Been SO
cold, as it had been below. zero but four
times, within that period During many
winters cattle have been able to obtain
food continually, and roses have been
gathered from outdoor gardens at
Christmas time. This, Of course, only
applies to the islands along the coast
and the adjacent mainland y In the IN
terror, beyond the wall of mountains
that oppose the passage inland Of warm
ocean winds, Old Boreas holds undis-
puted sway. Snow seldom falls at Sit
ka to a depth OF six inches, and gener-
ally disappears quickly before the melt-
ing rains. The atmosphere throughout
the year is extremely humid, the rain
fall much exceeding that which has
won for Oregon the title of g Webfoot.
To this is due the luxuriaIlt growth OF
native grasses and the dense forests
that fringe the coast and cover the
numberless islands. Portland cor. J
Vest Store.
OYer-Fat Fowls.
There are some breeds that do not
fatten as readily as others. while again
there are those that become too fat or
a small allowance of food. The Brah-
mas, Cochins, Plymouth Rocks and
Wyandottes are subject to excess of fat
when fed exclusively on corn. In the
winter the feed goes to heat, but in.
summerSthe extra quality of the feed is
liable to cause them to cease laying in
stead of promoting it. AS the fowls
must have some grain, the best for the
purpose at this season is oats, especially
if they are ground. Wheat is excellent,
but wheat IS also fatten'ng, though not
so much SO as corn. a method in use
by some is to give wheat at night,
ground oats in the morning, and plenty
OF green stuff during the day. OVer-fat
fowls are subject to apoplsxy. IF your
fowls are very fat you need not be sur
prised if occasionally there is
found q. dead hen under the roost in tie
morning. They osten fall off the roost,
dropping dead, without previously Civ
ing any indication of disease in any
shape. Oyer-fat cocks are useless, be-
cause clumsy and inactive. Chicks,
however, may be fed as much as yoI
desire, for while growing they convert
all food INTO fat, bone and tissue, there
by demanding more for sustenance in
proportion to age and size than adult
fowls. Keep the fat hens on light diet,
scan5y allowance, and give them plenty
of exercise. When a hen becomes too
heavy she will be good for nothing
afterwards, unless taken in hand and
put through system Of diet. The light
breeds, such as Leghorns and Ham
burgs, seldom become too fat, as their
active HABITS are in their favor in that
respect. The practice of keeping corn
always where fowls can get it is Il very
injurious one and hiss. done more mis-
chief than any other method Of feeding
known. Feed regularly, and endeasor
to give enough and no more Leave
nothing to be trampled or wasted. and
be as generous with water as With feed,
Farm. Field aud Fsresaae.