Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-03-20
Our Poultry Department.
It should be the aim of every persoI

1t should be the aim OF every person
who expects to make poultry keeping
pay,fiom dollar and cent pom: OF view,
to keep his expenses at the minimum
il he expects maximum profit. One
of the most essential things to do, in
order TO reach this coveted end, is for
the poultersr to raise, if he is SO situa-
ed that he can, all or nearly all the feed
consumed by his fowls. There are
several kinds of seed especially adap-
ted for feeding fowls. that are not gen.
orally grown by our farmers, that should
be cultivated by all who have focks of
fowls that they expect to keep for the
money there is i'll them. One OF these
is golden or German millet, most ex-
cellent fodder or hay for stock, and at
the same time yields vast amount Of
small seeds, easily cleaned, that makes
the eeyy best feed for small chicks dur
ing the first few weeks oftheir existence.
Notice flock Of young chickens and
see how industriously they search for
every minute grass seed within their
reach. Nature is the best teacher, and
proves that small whole seeds are bene-
fetal to them.
Sow millet at the rate of one-half
bushel to the acre. think 1t will pay
every farmer to SOW an acre or two
this spring or summer on trial. |
am convinced he will repeat it another
season. The yield in seeds from an
acre will be about that of oats.
As chicks become larger they should
be fed larger grains, but before they
are large enough to eat field corn-and
corn is the great standby, others to the
contrary Notwithstanding consider
able time must elapse. during which
something must be used to fill the bill.
Craeked corn will answer, but by the
farmer living at distance from mill,
is not always easily attainable, yet he
may have ample facilities tor raising
corn.
There are several varieties OF pop
corn having small kernels that Just fill
the bill, and as they bear several ears
on stalk the yield is very fair. The
Mammoth Russian sunhower is most
excellent feed for fowls, and as it needs
mo cultivation and can be grown in
corners and out of the way places, it
makes very cheap feed.
An early crop of potatoes can be
grown and dug, and the ground plan
ted with sunhowers any time up to the
middle of July, and two crops secured
In one year from the same piece of
ground.
Every poultryman should lay in a
good supply of green food for thu use
of his fowls during the winter months
if he expects many eggs. Cabbage IS
the standby.
There are two other plants that
should be grown by every fowl raiser
"a few tobacco plants and few nest
egg gourds. Tobacco as is well
known, is an excellent 1nsecticide, and
is one of the best insect powders"
huOWu W lIcS Hell vi d lOWi llouSS
from lice.
Sow the seed in seed bed early in
the spring and, when the plants ar few
inches high. transplant into rows four
or FIVE feet apart each way. and culti-
vate as you would corn. Dry the
leaves, and when you set hen place
few of them under her and keep a
. few leaves scattered around in the fowl
/ house. The nest egg gourd makes a
, very pretty display as running vine,
, its white egg-shaped fruit contrasting
! beautifully with the rich green foliage
The gourds answer the purpose of nest
eggs as well as the most expensive
, glass or medicated ones-besides being
very pretty vine for the good house
wife to train up In the way it should
, grow" Where tobacco leaves are
+ used freely meditated nest eggs are no
needed.-POult,y Keeper.