The record-union., 1891-03-06
FARM And ORCHARD.
It Pays to Keep Good Fowls and
Care for Them.
Milkers-Sore Mouths in Pigs-How
General Farm Notes.

The fact that poultry is one OF the most
profitable adjuncts of the farm, and that
the raising of the same is growing in in
terest, cannot be denied, and only a short
time will elapse before it will receive the
attention that justice demands.
It may be one of the smallest income
items of the farm in some localities, yet it
should not be overlooked. When we con-
slider that for years it was looked upon as
the work of the women folks, we wonder
how the change came about to work its
way into being considered part of the
regular work of the men folks. The only
way we can account for this is, that when
the women take up any branch of indus
try and carry it to success, the men are
then ready to take hold and continue the
same. That it pays to keep good fowls
and care for them in proper manner,
there is no longer any doubt. 1t would
not do for every farmer to become a
fancier and raise high-scoring birds, yet
all can raise high grades, and by so doing
swell the items of eggs and fowls sold.
1t certainly is not, as once considered, a
small business, beneath the dignity OF the
farmer. but a noble and elevating calling.
If we are rightly constituted and possess
the desire to see around us well behaved
and beautiful plumaged birds, If we have
a love for the comforts and enjoyments of
our farm yard fowls, we are cultlvating a
refinement and respect for the animals,
and also for the children who live upon
the broad acres and who are demanding
our love and respect.
The basket of eggs and the dozen of
young and old fowls sent to market dur
ing the year form quite an item in the
keeping down of the inevitable and
never-to-be-accounte grocer's bill.
When we learn of the great number of
egg consumers in the United States and
of the really few egg producers, Of the
millions 'of dollars sent to foreign copn-
tries to pay for imported eggs; when We
read Secretary Rusk's report which says:
1.-The time has come when the lmpor-
tance of the poultry interest should be
recognized in this department. The
poultry products ofthe United States had
q farm value of at least S200, 600 900 last
year, and no less than 100000 dozen
eggs were imported at a first cost of over
Is cents per dozen, or nearly 5000, coo,
while the average annual value OF such
importation during the past four years
has been s., ,2l6,326. Such facts emphasize
the necessity for encouraging the increase
for domestic fowls of all kinds and they
further indicate beyond question that
this industry is important enough to de-
mand the special consideration of this
ments as this, we repeat, they plainly tell
us that an opening is at hand for some
one to step in and occupy, and why
should you not fill the field as well as
others? We should never be afraid to
enter so good an opening, and we on the
farm should be afraid of no competition,
for who can produce as cheaply as the
farmer? The scraps from the table, cheap
and wasting grain, grasses and insects, all
combine to make the cheapest and best of
egg food.
Of course, disease will sometimes come
and disaster will follow; our calculations
will be scattered to the winds just as we
are about to realize largely; yet we must
be on the lookout, the health of our flock
must be well looked after. There is moth
ing accomplished without labor, and labor
conquers all things, are established say
ingS trite and true.
If there is anything that gladdenS the
visitors heart, and especially if that visit
or is minister, it is plate of tender fried
chicken set before him at breakfast. The
reputation of many a housewife is either
made or lost just in proportion as this
dish is gotten up, and while so much is
dependent upon this, we should aim to
produce as many of these reputation
making creatures as we possibly can, so
as to supply those who cannot raise them
with the one great article, that the city
people may better serve those who visit
them.
If you raise hundreds of fowls each
year, you will scarcely miss their raising,
and many comforts you will be able to
add to your perhaps limited stock of
household necessities, with the income
they will bring.
1t pays to raise fowls for more reasons
than one, yet the greatest, perhaps, is that
of dollars and cents that will surely be
received in return; and when we say it
pays we mean it, and hundreds of farm
ers' wives throughout the nation will
testify to the truth of our statement
John c. Snyder IN the Prairie Farmer.
FRUIT-GRowING AS BUSINESS.
There is more business" in the grow
ing of fruit than receives attention. The
cultivation of the orchard and the harvest
ing of the crop are more methodical than
systematic, and the value of the orchard,
and also of the successive crops, is less
ened because the real business affairs
connected with fruit-growing are neg
lected. What is meant by business
methods does not apply to the simple
routine matters, but to the production of
the largest possible crops and selling the
same to advantage. There are hundreds
of splendid apple orchards in this State
from which dollar has never been de-
rived, the owners being content with the
cider therefrom, leaving the bulk of the
crop to be eaten by pigs and sheep, which
results from failing to recognize the or
chard as something from which to derive
a revenue. thereby neglecting it, and re-
ceiving therefore only inferior fruit.
Many farmers endeavor to secure two
crops from an orchard-fruit and grass
the result being that the grass robs the
trees, while the trees in turn, shade the
grass and draw upon the land for their
share.
Some fruit trees, such as the peach, will
perish in single wear if grass covers the
ground of the orchard, and, though such
is not the case with apples and pears, yet
the lesson from the condition of the peach
tree under such conditions teaches that
grass is at least a drawback. 1t may not
be proper to force the young trees too
rapidly at first, and it is true that an occa-
sional grass crop plowed. in has given
beneficial results, but TO keep an orchard
as a pasture is to occupy the ground with
improbable fruit trees. An orchard
should be kept neatly trimmed, well
fertiliZed OF manured and cultivated
thoroughly at least once year.
Experienced fruit-growers not only
cultivate and manure the orchard, but
pick off all inferior fruit, and some of
them are careful not to allow the trees to
overbear. They aim TO secure fruit of
good quality rather than large yields, and
they look ahead for the markets and
watch the quotations. In preparing fruit
they assort it, grading it in order to have
it uniform, and send it neatly packed. in
an attractive manner, in order to sell to
the best advantage. If farmers who have
orchards would pursue these business
methods and treat their orchards like
they do grain crops, by giving careful
attention, they will find fruit-growing
more profitable than they suppose
Philadelphia Record.
SORE MOUTH IN PIGS.