The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-08-05
Tarna, Garden, Home.
Poultry for Farmers.

A lot of chicken ranging over the now
ing fields from July - November would be
worth more to the farmer than the appli-
cation of many dollars worth OF CONNER
cial fertilizer, besides the profit on the
chickens. | know OF moving lot that
has not been plowed for fifteen years, but
has had large broods OF chickens ranging
over 1t after the hay crops were harvested
and the .rass was so heavy on II last sea-
son that much of 1t became lodged before
1t was ready to cut, and on some parts OF
II there were harvested three tons oil hay
to The acre. When the chickens were first
allowed to run over this piece OF land, the
owner had to take rake to get enough
grass together 10 wi, his scythe. 1t was
poor, run out piece of land that had been
neglected and cropped for years without
fertilization.
In keeping poultry do not crowd over
thirty hens or pullets into each OF the
apartments In the ht nhouse, as you will
receive more eggs from twenty five to
thirty fowls than from forty to ffty In the
same roor. Neglect of this point has
caused more disastrous failures, and has
discouraged more poultrymen, than any
one thing excepting incubators. Many
people have an idea that 100 hens will give
four times as much profit as twenty-five.
1t Is true they will, but they must be kept
under as favorable conditions They must
have four times the room, be kept In four
fiocks, be given four times the care and
food, and then they will pay in the same
proportion as the SINAI :er number.
If it is desired to keep more fowls, the
acc ,mmodations must be extended, never
allowing less than eight square feet OF in
side room for each fowl. There is no rea
SON why thousand cannot be kept as well
as not, only do not start with thousand
until you know how to take care of hun.
dred. l have no doubt that you could give
the poultry the entire farm to run over,
and put your attention to them, so that
they would yield you more clean profit
than any other farm stock.
Some will say that everybody ie going
into raising pou try, but do not be afraid
of that. There Is always plenty of room
at the top for all Of Us who can get there.
Each should strive to raise better quality
OF goods than his competitor. II you can
Furnish hotel with 80 or 100 dozen eggs
pc. week vf uniform color, Of good size
ard clean, warrantipg every one laid with.
In two days Of shipment, you will find nc
lack Of customers for your products al
fancy prices.
Then when the times Of plenty come, hi
will take your produc: in preference to thai
of some other farmer who believes that al
egg is an egg, whether white or brown
large or snail, clean or dirty. Work up &
reputation for yourself for always having
the best, and your customers will come tt
you instead of your seeking q market fol
your eggs.
There is another crop on the farm which
Is benefited by keeping large number o
fowls. refer to the fruit crop. Fowl:
are very valuable in destr' ying the oorer.
and other insects injurious to fruit trees
A vigorous and healthy growth OF frui
trees will he induced around farm wheI
poultry is kept The manure seems espec
tally adapted to them. Fowls are NOR,
valuable In connection with the cultivation
| Of plums, as there are very few localitie
| where this frnit can be raised on accouD
of its destruction by the curculio. tn
| american Cultiua;or.