Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-08-02
Farm and ORCHARD.
CARE REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE LOSS
OF MANURE IN SUMMER.
Keeping Poultry in Towns-Points OF
Poultry Raising -Incubators and
Hens-Farm Notes.

Farmers can form no estimate OF the
loss of manure during the warm season, as
the volatile matter. being invisible, gives
no indication of its disappearance, except
from the odor, which simply makes known
the fact that decomposition is occurring IN
the heap. The object of heaping manure
is not only a matter of economy of space,
but also to reduce the manure to a fine
condition, and to render it as available as
possible as plant food; but the degree of
decomposition of the manure depends
largely on the temperature of the atmo-
sphere, the amount of absorbent material
in the heap, the composition of the food
from which the manure was made and the
amount Of urine mixed with the solids.
MOISTURE IN THE HEAP.
Perfectly dry manure undergoes changes
but slowly, and chemical process occurs
more rapidly when moisture is present.
OF the stable manures, the greater portion
of the nitrogen is in the liquid, which re-
quires but slight elevation of tempera-
ture to hasten decomposition. When de-
composition occurs, heat is generated, due
TO the motion of the atoms, and a great
many changes and combinations take
place, resulting in the formation of COM
pounds that are soluble in water and which
are in proper condition to be taken up
by plants, but those compounds may again
be broken up to permit of other changes,
during which process some of the soluble
compounds enter into the composition of
those that are insoluble, while Others form
no compounds at all but seek an escape in
some manner The excessive heat that
may be present in the manure heap on
very warm days may cause the decomposi-
ton to be very brisk, and ammonia escapes
rapidly. To prevent which cold water
may be added TO the heap, to cool the
mass, or the heap may be spaded over and
absorbents mixed with it. Moisture hast
ems chemical action, or retards it, accord
ing to its temperature, but more SO when
the moisture consists largely of nitrogen
GUS matter, such as urine, which at all
times induces decomposition.
ADVANTAGES OF ABsoRBENTs.
Even solid manure requires care. If
very dry they will possess little value. but
can be preserved by the addition of abb
sorbents, which permit the mixture of both
the liquids and solids in a manner to i'm
part to the whole greater value than is
possessed by either singly, and no manure
can be complete fertilizer that does not
contain all the substances required as
plant food, hence absorbents add to the
manure as well as preserve it.
KEEPING POULTRY IN TOWNS.
Farming World tells how one of its town.
bred correspondents has eggs all the year
round, as follows:
First, l take very good care of my hens;
and second, l don't go in for fancy, but
have that mixture of all breeds called
'Barn-door.' When eggs are plentiful,
preserve them-not in lime-water, for
then | could not boil them-but in butter
and salt. To do this the egg must be laid
in a sweet and clean nest, for the smallest
spot on it would spoil it for preserving.
think good clean sawdust makes the clean
est nest for egg-laying.
"When | bring in the eggs | rub some
good fresh salt butter over them. Then l
place them in a jar with the thick end |
downwards, and cover them with dry salt |
/ do not let the eggs touch each other. As |
soon as / have gathered enough to fill the |
Jar, put about an inch of salt on the top |
and | have about two inches at the bot |
tom of the jar as foundation for the eggs
to rest on, and then close the jar with a
covering of thick paper, as if it were jar
of jam. / do not paste this cover on, but |
tie i. with strong Irvine Then on the |
cover write the date; and | have eaten
the June eggs at Christmas and found
them prime.
81 ike always to have some good fluffy |
CocAus among my dozen hens, or any
way some touch of Cochin in the breed |
for aen | am sure to have eggs before |
Christmas, after the hens have done moult- |
ing.
81 am very careful how | feed my hens;
and bake their food in the form of scenes. |
l dry the eggshells in the oven, and break
them up into very small pieces and mix |
from the greengrocer, and tie them up !
about two inches from the ground, so that
the hens have to jump when they bite the |
cabbage. This amuses them, and gives
them exercise.
"The dust-bath is a corner filled with |
dry coal ashes, and covered over to keep it |
dry. Sulphur ought to be put in this, so
that it may keep their feathers free from
vermin. Lastly, always give them clean
water or buttermilk to drink"
POULTRY RAISING.
Any legitimate occupation may be
crowned with success if those who are
engaged in it will be industrious, and it
may be truthfully said that all successful
persons are hustlers Successful poultry |
breeders and dealers are persons who work |
The intelligent Judgment of true poultry |
fancier will show him the importance of |
raising the standard of his fowls to the |
highest possible point of excellence, and
to dc this involves labor and patience |
One should have a natural taste for poultry |
culture, however, as in this lies, to great |
extent, the secret of success. There are |
many people who have no taste for any |
occupation that requires an expenditure of |
either mental or physical energy.
Poultry raising is popular and growing |
business aside from the pleasure it gives |
the man or woman who admire thorough |
bred stock. Let the fowls you sell the |
huckster or shipper be superior In quality |
and in fine condition, and there will be no |
trouble for you to keep up steady de-
mand. High-class poultry and eggs are
always profitable For this reason no one |
should allow his poultry to run down in
condition or become diseased.
The laws of health and life are no more
Imperative with the human organism than |
with the organism OF beasts and BIRDS |
Filth will befoul the atmosphere in a |
human dwelling and produce disease in
the human body-it viii do the same with |
the atmosphere in poultry-house. and a
careless person will soon discover that
from this cause valuable fowls will become
roupy, and have dozen other ills, which |
render them a nuisance.
Whether one is raising fowls for pleasure
or pecuniary profit. it is exceedingly i'm |