Mexico weekly ledger., 1893-02-02
"GaTden,Farn and Field.
By JOHN j. GILL.
Poultry

must be carefully looked after il
winter. They need a warn roost
ing place and shelter from wind, rair
and snow. Evidently the CHECKER
was not intended for a house plant
The filth it makes and the yermin i
generates prove that it was designed
tor an open air bird. But in climates
like ours tight and comfortable
buildings and an abundant supply
of food and water are essential to
their welfare. The hen house need
be neither expensive nor ornamen.
tai. Ii it keeps the chickens com.
Portable it will be sufficient, what
eve may be the style of its archi-
lecture. Parties living in cities and
DESTROYS of having winter eggs have
kept their hen houses warm by in
Producing stoves into them and been
amply rewarded for their pains. We
do not, however, recommend them
for country memories. We make
mention Of their successful use to
show that hen houses should be as
tight and as free from draughts in
cold weather as possible. they
should be built facing the south and
have much sunshine admitted into
them through glass. They should
be thoroughly cleaned of all filth
regularly and a shed with a consid-
cradle slant under the roost will be
of great assistance to its removal
and keep the floor of the house
clean. By its means droppings will
be carried to one side from whence
they can be easily removed. A very
good nest for such a house in win
ter can be made by placing some
fresh horse manure in Il barrel and
covering it well with cat straw. In
cold weather chickens should be
fed abundantly twice a day-in the
morning a mash of bran and ship
stuff, at night they should have
corn. II the vegetable, milk and
meat offal of a family is given them
during the day it will furnish a suf-
ficient variety of food. Besides this
some persons advocate change of
grain, and if convenient no objec-
ton thereto need be made. In ad-
dition to this fowls should be sup
Pied with sand, gravel and lime.
To have early and large chickens
hens should be set as soon as posi-
BILE in the spring. Brahmas, Coehins,
Langshans and Wyandcttes are good
winter layers. Usually women are
most successful with poultry and
generally men interpose no objec-
tions to their wives taking charge of
the hennery.
CORNISH INDIAN GAMES.
The true Cornish Indian games
are stylish and attractive birds. The
.closeness and brilliancy of their
plumage are indicative of high breed
ing. As table fowls they are unex-
eelled. The broadness of their breasts
contributes greatly to their weight.
Their flesh is of the finest quality,
they mature quickly and are espec-
tally valuable for improving almost
all other varieties of chickens.
BLACK BREASTED RED GAMES.
This breed has fine symmetry of
form. 1t is in great favor with both
faneier and farmer, and has super
Tor advantages either as a pure breed
or for crossing. For farmers the
exhibition is superior to the pit
game. The show birds are larger
and lay larger eggs. They are true
to feather, excellent layers and as
mothers cannot be beaten. They
will face any danger to protect their
BRAHMAs.
Light Brahmas have grown in
favor ever since their introduction.
Their general appearance is a~ttrac-
tive. Their white plumage is set off
by their brilliant black markings.
They are large, healthy and thrifty,
splendid layers, producing abund-
anee of eggs, when other breeds
have ceased laying for the winter.
They are docile, bear confinement
and are easily kept inside of en-
closures.
L i
There are two varieties of cochins,
the Partridge and Buff. The former
are most popular; their plumage
is rich and elegant resembling that
of a partridge. This is a fine breed
crossing and increasing the
size, hardness and early maturing
Of barn yard fowls. Like all other
Asiatiics they are better winter than
summer layers. They stand both
summer and winter and make ex-
cellent mothers.
PLYMOUTH ROCKS.
Farmers keep more Barred Ply