The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-23

A Fort Plain IN. " correspondent of the
Cultivstor writes: ALI kinds of grain may
be fed to fowls with benefit. Variety seems
TO be advantage, and probably from
habit. 1t is true, single grain with the
necessary animal and vegetable accompaui-
ments will secure profit, particularly IL that
grain be wheat, least so, probably, If corn;
but the almost universal testimony is in ia
vor OF variety of feed.
1t is in the nature of the hen, as OF the
mich COW, to do best when its treatment and
Surroundings contribute most to its content.
lent, making the proverbisl singing hen
that will lay. To afford it comfortable quar-.
tiers and q sufficient range, with variety OF
food and pure water satisfy it, and dispose
it to propagation, which, under such Group
stances, means the greatest amount OF
eggs. The hen is domestic fowl
and has domestic attachments, and unless
made to feel at home and uumolested,
ii will be 10th to respond to the demands Of
maternity. A hen that is disturbed or fright
ened will not lay any more than ii allowed
to suffer from neglect or a sufficiency of
food, even among the best laying breeds.
Treatment is of such Importance that the
old, improved fowl Ca poor layer can with
proper care be made to realize profit on the
cost, and In such case surpass the most noted
egg. producing breeds when neglected.
Among farmers, it is doubtful whether
much, If any, profit on the whole is obtained
from eggs; rather it is a loss from the damage
done by the fowls where free run IL al
lowed, as is more or less the case All kinds
of breed have been thried here with pretty
much the same result. They are damage
TO the grain, the garden, and are not q bene-
fit 10 the grass, to say nothing OF their foul
ing the walks. their uncertain Matching, and
bringing out broods in the fall, when not
wanted.
In the exceptional cases, where farmers
Keep up their fowls and have them properly
attended to- 1t is quite different; and it is on
the farm where they can be better taken care
| of usually than elsewhere on account OF
| their food, which, in its variety, is raised on
| the farm, and the abundance OF space for a
| range which the farm Affords besides, there
| ere usually members enough of the family
| TO zee to the fowls, which lessons the cost Of
| attendance. Not few farmers take adj
| vantage OF thjs-which more ought TO do,
| sin ce they sre bound to have the convenience
| of eggs (fresh eggs at that ans fowls for the
| tabie--and with their better means for keep
| Ing hens sometimes secure large income
ard larger profit than is realized By the pro
| fessiorai poultry keeper. II is their superior
advantages that Unable Them to do thle, and
| IL they keep hers at all let than keep the ~
| we'll in undis;Urbeu possession Of Clern,
| comfortable quarters with q variety OF food
| which the farm affords and sufficient ground
| and grass I'm Summer for green feed and ex.
| eIcise and il Is a plan that has proved to ba
excellent as well as more easy, to allow the
| henB to have access To their grain feed ut al
times. so a. 10 avoid over feeding keeping II
| where they can not waste or foul it, aud le,
| wheat or wheat sore enings bs not the leas
| portion OF the grain. The exchange OF grass
and intecis, which form part Of the food oil
fowls during the summer, Is more con
| veniently made on the farm 10 vegetable
and animal food for winter. La this way
poultry can be made o profitable annex &c
the farm.