The record-union., 1892-12-21

If any Of the farm stock are little thin
during the winter they should receive
extra attention and food. If sheep, sepa-
rate those in poor flesh, or the old ones
from the young, and feed according to
their condition, for even if there is plenty
of rack and trough room, the strong will
crowd away the weak, and obtain the
lions share. If each is allowed only the
food actually needed, the results will be
different. 1t does not look well to see
flock of sheep in which some are SO feeble
as to be hardly able ito rise alone, while
others are plump and strong. Neither
does it indicate good management for
farmer to sell each year, during the
spring, a half dozen or more sheep pelts,
taken from animals that died from neg
lect. 1t is worse than neglect to take the
sheep from the pasture in the fail in good
condition, and in four or five months al
low them to gradually fall away in flesh,
and die. With old sheep that are allowed
to become thin, it viii require good man
agement to bring them through alive,
especially if they are to raise lambs. Those
IN this condition should have little
ground feed four or five times day, and
be so isolated that others will not crowd
or worry them. Give bright clover hay,
pure water. an occasional apple or potato,
and they viii soon be in good condition.
The cattle should have warm quarters
at night, and spring calves should not be
allowed with the older stock. Some cows
that are very gentle and kind in the sum-
mer season are very tyrannical in the
winter season. If there are no accOmmO-
dations to keep such ones isolated, they
should certainly be dehorned, or at least
have the tips of their horns provided
with knobs. In fact, all cattle that are
confined should either be dehorned or
have their horns thus protected. The
knobs prevent injury from hooking, i'm
prove their appearance ana cost but a few
cents. If you do not 90 this, remove the
tip end OF the horn with fine saw,
rounding up with a sharp knife, but
knobs should be attached il possible. If
the cattle are obliged to go to the creek or
pond for water, the approach should be
carefully shoveled out, and, if ice covers
the surface. it should be roughened so
that the cattle will not slip. This can be
done in cold day by throwing on snow
and dashing water on it, or cut in the
surface with an AK, as much stock IS seri-
Ouslv injured each winter by slipping
and straning while drinking. When
cattle are protected by an open shed,
there is occasionally one animal so lily
disposed that all the rest are driven out
from the shelter, and the others dare enter
only when the boss IS lying down. Either
cOnhne such one separately or tit for
market at the first opportunity. Nail up
q box somewhere under shelter, in which
TO keep salt at all times. This is better
than simply sailing them at odd times.
BY combining the cattle in Stanchions
during the night and allowing them to
run at large during the day in pleasant
vVpQtb nT a l-Crrnyfn no
kept in better condition on half a ton less
of hay, than by the old Out-ot-door rough
and tumble plan. OF course this makes
a little more work, but the manure, if
piled up under shelter or drawn to the
1ield during the winter, will well pay for
the extra time; besides, most farmers
have leisure time during the winter sea-
son, and may thus turn it into money.
If possible, never allow colts and
horses to run loose with cattle. Colts, if
they are kept in good condition, will GER
tainly have their play spells and race the
cattle about at a fearful rate. Unless cat
tie are dehorned, when penned up, they
will use their horns in disastrous man
ner, and especially seem to have grudge
against horses, and Will, if possible, in
jure them at the first opportunity. Colts
should be er-brokcn, led about and
tied up during the day; treat them kindly
so they viii come to you at the call. This
is easily taught them by giving a little
sugar. corn, or other food, when they APP
proach you. Use the curry-comb freely
on both colts and horses, whether they
arc at work or not. 1t keeps the skin in
good, healthy condition, and gives the
stock a neat, trim appearance. l.. D.
SHOOK of New \ ork in American Agri-
culturist.
a PETALUAIA POULTRY YARD.
Recently a rcpreS entative of the Peta-
luna, Cal, Courier happened to be pass
ing a model poultry farm IN the enVirons
OF that city, and being charmed by the
air of neatneSs and completeness Of
system and order about everything on
the premises, seized the opportunity to
converse with the Intelligent proprietor
concerning his methods and experience.
and, so far as he was willing to disclose
them, the results. in reference to these
matters, there was no desire for conceal
ment, and the CotTiei gives the following
description;
The premises are attractive Fronting
on the main road-perhaps 200 feet dis
tant from it's a neat modern cottage OF
good architectural design. Well-tnished
and commOdious. In front of it is a fine
flower garden, surrounded by a we'll
trimmed, quickest hedge. Here and
there are palms, cypress trees and a
couple of vine-clad arbors. Back Of the
house is a bright barn and other out
houses and windmill and tank of i'm
proved pattern. Adjoining the flower
garden is a plat Of few acres in veee-
tables, principally kale for poultry feed.
ON the knobs in the rear are cOops, hem
houses, breeders, etc., all kept freshly
whtewaShed and perfectly clean At
convenient intervals are watering-cans,
all connected with the Windmill tank
Snd constantly supplied with pure water;
automatic feed-boXes; abundance Of sand
gravel and pounded bones and oyster
shells (for which purpose small mining
rock breaker run by waterpower is used
and here and there are deposits OF wood
ashes, covered and sheltered from the
rain.
MIR. Burdick. the proprietor, is
widower with three children-two bows
aged l. and IA respectively, and a dauon-
ter of Il. He and his family. with The
assistance of one hired man, run the
ranch" He is a subscriber to several
standard poultry journals, is wideawake
10 every improvement, keeps a strict ac-
count OF receipts and expenditures, and
conducts his business on scientific prin-
ciples, not only as TO the selection of
stock, but also in the matter Of feeding.
tending and the utilization of waste. For
instance i'll the latter particular: Having
bought beef heads and other scraps from
the slaughter houses, to provide animal
food for his poultry, the surplus bones
are worked in around the roots of his
errapevines, OF which he has a goodly
number, and the effect on the crop they
bear, and the quality of the grapes, is
marvellous.
He has four Petaluma incubators of 800
egg capacity and a number Of smaller
ones. His stock averages about 600 hens.
He matches more or less eggs throughout
the year, but on the largest scale from
November to May
His receipts during the present year
have been as follows: In January he
anld - dozen hroilers. for which he real