The record-union., 1893-02-22

dressing of manure will not answer the
purpose, as the plant food is not available
early enough in the spring. and we
specially want to avoid late growth. If
we do not get the greater part of the
growth before the middle of July we
rarely get good onion sets. The super
phosphate and nitrate furnish soluble
food for the plants as soon as they COM
mence to grow and push them forward
rapidly. The onions are so thick on the
land that when growth is fairly started
they have difficulty in getting sufficient
water and need very rich sap Of the
soll-in other words, the water that is in
the soil should be very rich in phos-
pilates and nitrates. Onions for sets
must be kept scrupulously free from
weeds. The hoe will do most of the
work, but weeds in the rows must be
pulled out as soon as they can be seen.
Hoe lightly, just deep enough to cut the
weeds and form a mulch OF loose earth
on the surface TO check evaporation and
thus conserve moisture.-J oseph Harris,
IN American Agriculturist.
TURKEYS AND HOW To RAISE THEM.
Turkeys are considered by many farm
ers as very delicate and hard to raise, and
Tor this reason they are not found on
many farms. But if farmers understood
their nature better turkeys would soon
become universally common, especially
on farms where they can have their free
dom and ample range. OF course they
cannot be raised in cities or towns or on
small lots, but every farmer or poultry
man that has farm of ten acres or more
can profltably raise turkeys to advantage,
and II the conditions are favorable this
can be made one of the most profitable
branches OF the farm industry. | do not
see why they are not raised on every
farm.
L will endeavor to give you my expert
ence in turkey raising, which has proved
grand success. 1t is based upon years
OF labor and experience. In selecting the
breeding stock care should be exercised,
Tor without good, strong, vigorous breed
Ing strock to start with all of your time
and trouble would be lost. Upon good
stock depends your future success. Get
some OF the large, pure-bred turkeys to
raise turkeys for market. Pure bred are
cheaper in the long run than scrubs. The
males should not be related to the hens.
One male is sufficient for ten hens. 1
have bred and raised all kinds of turkeys
and all things considered, have found
the White Holland the most profitable
for the poultryman and farmer. They
are the hardest turkeys we have. They
mature early, have fine bone, large
size, beautiful plumage, being a spotless
white.
The young are hardy, easily raised,
doclle in disposition, and not inclined to
stray off and fall victims to hawks and
skunks. Like the wilder varieties, in
quality of flesh they far surpass any
other breed, and have been justly styled
the king of table fowls, the Shorthorns of
the poultry yard, the farmers pride and
fancier's fayorite.
If turkey hen be allowed to sit on her
first sitting Of eggs and raise her brood,
she will lay no more that season; so I set
the first laying of eggs under chicken
hens and when they hatch l examine to
see that they have no vermin on them.
Right here, if you are not careful, you
VIII falh tor young turkeys will not live
with vermin on them. Dust them with
good Persian insect powder to free them
from lice, and keep close watch for
them. Give the mother hel good dust
ing. I coop them closely for three or
four days, so they get used to the call of
the hen. If allowed to run out they are
likely to stray after any hen that comes
along.
l feed often and very sparingly at first.
THERE'S no better feed the first week than
hard-boiled eggs chopped fine, with
American poultry food mix ed with milk.
After the first week more poultry feed
with onion tops and lettuce chopped fine
may be given them. Milk should be
given them as drink if you have it, as
it keeps them in healthy, growing condi-
ton. Corn meal dough should not be
given them unless it be baked in bread.
as they are liable to diarrhea and corn
meal dough increases that tendency.
Their food should be strictly fresh, as
old, sour dough or anything Of the kind
is unhealthy for them.
Keep them cooped In the morning until
the dew is off the grass, until they are six
weeks old, as cold spring rains and wet
grass are fatal to them. The second lay
ing of eggs i let the turkey hen sit on and
raise the brood. do not pay much at
tention to them, except to feed. The tur-
key hen is their natural protector, and as
it is later in the season and warmer, they
do not need much attention. l feed lit
tie each evening TO get them accustomed
to come up at night and to keep them
growing.
There is but little expense attending the
raising of turkeys, as they will pick up
most of their living, and when sold most
of the price realized will be found clear
profit. So far l have confined myself to
the commercial branch, which contributes
directly to the need of humanity in sup
plying food. The fancy" branch, though
more fascinating, has not so firm foun-
dation as the commercial, yet it is the
draft on thoroughbred that enables it to
keep up the necessary vigor and pro-
ductiveness. The one depends upon the
other, and if you breed thoroughbreds
breed only from the finest, and if you
succeed in raising good birds, let il be
known by exhibiting and advertising
them, for good, pure-bred stock COM
mands ready sales at paying prices.-Mrs.
S. Z. Ellars, in Ohio Farmer.
ISOLATION IN FARM.
Isolation is the curse of the farming
community; it makes people stupid,
ignorant and selfish. 1t has a ten
dency to harden and deaden all
of the natural affections and creates
morbidity, and destroys the high and
holy desire to aspire to better things
1t is said contentment is one of the
greatest Christian virtues, but con-
tentment that depends on isolation
is on a sandy foundation, and, sooner
or later, must come to grief. How many
farmers have we known who in their
younger days were generous, noble fell
lows, leaders in church, Sabbath-school
and literary societies, always ready to
help others up the rugged pathway of
| life, and when duty called were ready
to defend their country at the peril OF
their lives and we have seen these same
| farmers settle down in some backwoods
| r,Iaoa Sbnt off comma ratiyalV from intar-