The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-12-14
FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.

FARM AND dAhbE NOTESs
The consumption of mutton is largely
en- the increase.
Poultry are early risers and need their
morning meal early.
The comb of a fowl may be consid-
cred as its health indicator.
Good stock deserves good care, aud
good care deserves good stock.
One advantage with ducks is that if
properly fed they are rarely sick,
Get the guineas to roost in or near the
poultry house; they will act as guards.
Ducks raised especially for market
thrive better without a pond than with
one.
Mix a littl e laxseed or oil meal with
their ration in feeding the moulting
hens.
When fowls are kept in large numbers
the risks Of contagious diseases are in-
creased.
Poultry must have everyday care,
and judgment must be used in the man
agement.
Turnips and potatoes are best fed to
poultry by boiling aud mixing with
wheat bran.
Better do a little and do it we'll rather
than undertake to do too much and fail
to do anything well.
Steady, continuous growth is what
tells nowadays. "Storing" periods play
the mischief with profits.
Popcorn contains more nitrogen and
phosphstes than Indian corn, and is
therefore more valuable as food.
A thousand pounds of capon meat can
be grown much cheaper than you can
grow the same weight of beef or pork.
Ducks are hardy animals, aud are not
so liable to disease as are fowls. The
percentage of deaths in a large flock is
usually quite small.
If growing stock is carried through the
winter only to come out next spring
weighing less than now, wintering will be
a proftless operation.
Some breeders think that a cross of a
single-comb brown Leghorn upon Ply
mouth Rocks, Brahmas, or Wyaudottes,
for early broilers is unsurpassed.
There is no profit in keeping cattle
and half starving them. Profit lies al
together in growth, hence the greater
the growth the greater the profit.
While milk may be very beneficial to
hogs, yet we see it stated that the re.
turns do not equal one-half of those OBJ
tanned by giving it to the poultry.
While it is more convenient, at least
on the farm, to allow poultry a good
range, yet because this is given they
should not be expected to make their
own living.
Those who have not given their hens
an evening feed of corn during the sum-
mer had better do so when the effect of
the cool nights is overbalanced by the
heating qualities of the corn.
Brahmas, Cochins, Plymouth Rocks
and Langshans fatten more readily than
some of the other breeds; hence care
must be taken IN feeding or the hens
will become too fat to lay we'll.
1t is not the large hens that lay the
largest eggs by any means. As a breed
the Black Spanish lay the largest eggs,
which are of q beautiful white color.
All the nonsetting breeds lay white eggs.
Old hens that are too fat to lay will
make elegant roasters, and will pay bet
ter disposed as such, than to keep for
the few eggs they will lay this winter;
at least our experience has taught us
that.
II you did not give a general cleaning
to the hen house before the cold of win
ter set in, then kerosene the roosts and
all nitches carefully. This is the lazy
mans way, and the best plan would be
to thoroughly clean the house.
If you have any little chicks that are
peeping around frosty mornings because
they need stockings TO make them COM
Portable, it will be humane and money
in your pocket if you take their heads
off at a single blow with a sharp Ratchet.
If any farmers contemplate adding
new blood to their stock they should by
all means purchase the birds in the fall.
The fowls are in the best condition at
that time of the year, and if they are put
with the rest of the flock the best results
will be obtained.
Ducks and geese are naturally hardy
aud are easily managed if they can be
given a good range with a good supply
of water. Ducks are usually good layers
and will, if properly fed and made com.
Portable, lay 100 eggs in a season. They
begin laying the latter part of January
or early in February.