The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-09-23
OUR RURAL TOPICS.
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
A GREAT POULTRY FARM.

A GREAT POULTRY FARM.
The Farm and Household publishes the follow
ing interesting account of chicken farm,
which the owner has made a great success
We think our readers would do we'll to carefully
read the account, even though they may
have no idea of going into the business so ex-
tensiveiy, it will be an aid to them in smaller
operations:
There is poultry farm Of 5000 Plymouth
Rocks at Lancaster, Mass Mr.. Hawkins, its
owner. calculates to- have about 5000 fowls
every Fall, and carries over $500 laying hens
through the Winter. His farm contains %
acres aud his poultry buildings occupy an acre
and a half These comprise six or seven sheds
200 feet in length. Each size is divided into
apartments Of l2x20 feet, aud about % hens
are kept in each division. A yard is made in
front of each apartment. Mr.. III. believes that
if confined poultry have their wants attended |
TO they will do as well as if allowed free range.
lie bases the belief on several actual tests. In |
Matching time he sets 2O0 hens in one day and |
puts 500 eggs in an incubator. which is due to |
hatch on the same day, the chickens from which |
will he distributed among 200 hens. His sales
/ of fowls and eggs for Matching at fancy prices
are large, about 80 per cent. being profit He
also has a standing order of for 10 to 80 dozens
OF eggs daily, for which he gets the biggest
market price. Mr.. Hawkins began at the age
| of u with 100 hens, aud by careful manage
ment and economy his business has enlarged so
| that at the age of % he has a very handsome
| income. rhe poultry manure is quite an item.
| lie sold last year 500 barrels at Sl.50 per bar
| rel"
CURE FOR BALRY HORSES.
The Hartford Times of recent date contained
| the following excellent method of curing "a
| balky horse. Ii will 40 doubt b. found far
| more elective than the usual cruel aud silly
means used to make the animal move under
| such circumstances:
"A Connecticut farmer drove a horse at
tached to "A rack wagon TO the wood lot for q
small load of wood. The animal would not
| pull a pound. He did not beat him. but tied
him 10 tree and let bIm stand. He went 10
| the lot at sunset and asked him to draw. but
| he would not straighten tug. / made up
| my mind. said the farmer, when that horse
went 10 the barn he would take that load OF
wood. / went 10 the barn, got blankets and
covered the horse warm. and he stood until
morning. Then he refused 10 draw. At noon
went dOwn. aud he was hungry aud lonesome.
| lie drew that load Of wood the first time 1
| asked him. | returned and got another load
tic ore / fed him. have drawn several loads
since Once he refused TO draw. but as soon as
he saw me start for the house he started alter
me with the load"
CLEANING HORSES
Few farm horses are cleaned aud cared for in
proper manner. The operation is generally
gone thruu-h with in "A few minutes, and little
more i, done than TO roughly remove any mud
| or manure that may adhere To the skin of the
an mails. Ii general eurrying is rcsorted 10
II IL seldom thorough, and the comb is harshly
| applied TO the belly aud legs ia way thai Is
| very disagTeeable 10 the horse NOmatter how
hard tue horse has been at work in the field,
: he must stand IN his sweaty and dust-hled
coat and sleep ia IL As we'll. The best thing he
gets Is roll upon the ground, which he Is
almost TO take If he can get a chance. lie
stands all Winter in a cold stall, his hair gets
long and shaggy, giving him a fOrlOrn and neg
| lertcd look, AMI as soon as warm weather comes
his hair begins Ia loosen, producing intense
itching. If the cnrrycnmb IS applied, il is only
10 remove the ioOsencd hairs that appear on
the surface aud aabsre To ewes ything they
touch. Such treatment is not humane com
mendable; II Il not even eXcusable. The horse
Is entitled TO "A thorough cleaning after work
ing In the sweat aud dust or being driven
through the mud. Such cleaning not only adds
10 the comfort of the horse or rather saves him
from discomfort. but is valuable "a piece OF
economy Tor it will DO more good than extra
, feed OF oats. Some one may say that ia "a state
of nature the horse would not get a cleaning.
{ We rep'y that IN "A stale OF nature lac would not
get 80 dirty. lie would not he work, d in the
field aud covered with sweat aud CRIME nor
covered with mud from being driven "A
muddy road. Neither the horse nor auy OF our
|, other animals il IA 4 state of na ur-, aud We
. must take OF them In accordance with the
! conditions that exist.
RAISING PEPPERMINT.
To THE EDITOR. Can any OF the readers tell
; what sort of climate. soil and care is needed "a
d raise peppermint Tor making the oil. and how
long it grow fore a crop can be- har-
yesled?-A. MORSE, Huron, o.
NoTELETs.
e - The backs of thin, III fed sheep seem e
afford good pasturage for Il, ks aud under then
g persecut Ons the animals will run down rapidly
aud cannot make any gain. The closest atten-
!. ton is required 10 get rid of them. aud shear
j. ing-eveu though il be late ia the SEASON.:
y % ten resOrted TO. followed by dipping oil each
=, sheep with "A decOctIOn of boiled to aecO stems
& carefully prepared, or into some OF the pateni
> dips advertised for that purpose.
# Orchard grass ranks next in Importance e
e the tall meadow cat grass for hay and Winter
!, pasture. Ii succeeds very well at the South oT
! drained aud dry bottom land rich up
n land. There is peculiarly about il. Th'
"a writer has never observed il To spread from TIA,
= scattering OF its own seeds. From some unac
., count-be reason the scattered seed does mo-
- vcgetae. H. therefore. II be sOwed too thin, Il
= does not fill the gap, presents All uusghtly APP
D. prarauce aud gives inferior grasses a chance I,
y, occupy the vacant space.
L. - Cabbage worms q dread, but they maN
;, be disguised OF by hand picking the first bToO,
. before they pass INFO their perfect state. Late
j. on dust the center oil the leaves thorough,
" with mixture made one part OF pyrethrun
. powder 10 i've parts ai plaster or dry earth.
az Whenever fowls can run at large withou
"a deirimcnt TO the garden they should be above,
<, To do 80 by all means. Nnetenths oil tin
d. trouble anu diseases among poultry are the re
~ suit of Keeping fowls too close.
n - Road dust may TIC gathered easily now AN,
r. stored Tor IN poultry houses, stables an,
ii, Oulhouses ia Winter, where 1t will be wort
q much more than IL cost
-, -. A community of small farms has man
IN advantages which are not known where larg
= farms are the rule. The farms are bett,
l., cultivated aud cared for, aud the whole sertio
IA bears a more thrifty appearance. Neighbor
a. are nearer and generally of the most iutelli
th gent class, while roads are better. and churches
10 schOOlhOuses, stores and other convenience
d. necessary To the most advanced civilization ar
re more numerous and their AL vantages can be til
IN more easily aud conveniently enjoyed.
all - IL is stated that III outside leaf of
o. cabbage plant which is infested with gree
d. worms is broken of and placed Hat over TIA
=, - | top OF such plant In the afternoon nearly a
X the worms in the cabbage will be found mex
m morning congregated ON this leaf, and c.,