The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-07-05
With the Poultry.
Correspondence Home and Farm

he question ol tut btSb DTteu pl
fouls for the farm is still open for dis
cussion. but the Plymouth Rock is
generally conceded to be the best all
purpose fowl. 1t is of goodly size and
produces a fair quantity of eggs, and
the flesh is delicate and rich Not far
behind in points of excellence are the
Langshans and Wyandottes. There is no
breed that will compare with the Leg
horn family in the production Of eggs,
but the mature fowl is of small size
A plymouth Rock and Leghorn cross
is very desirable, being of good size,
producing many eggs and maturing
quickly.
The guinea is not the least among
desirable fowls, but should have place
on every farm. Aside from their
beautiful plumage they lay quantities
Of eggs and make very fair roast, but
they are not really desirable for the
table, as the flesh is dark. They are
of 4 wild, rowing nature and should
have large range, as they live prin-
cipally on insects and herbage. They
begin to lay eggs about the time that
dogwood begins to bloom and continue
until frost. They do not have individ-
ual nests, but all try to lay in the same
nest, and even when one begins to sit
the Others lay to her so the hatch is
poor. The better plan is to put the
eggs under chicken hen SO that when
the young matches it will be no trouble
to coniine them near the house and
protect from dew and heavy rains.
When they become full feathered they
will leave the hen and follow the
guineas. The old guineas make a
peculiar, shrill noise when alarmed,
which serves to scare off hawks and
hurtful vermin; and at night when
there is 4 prowler about they are first
to give the alarm. They are not sub
,iect to any disease that l am aware of
except cholera, which they take from
contact with infected chickens. The
pearl and the white guineas are about
alike in hardness and egg production.
The turkey is one of the most desir-
able fowls that can be raised on the
farm, as it is great forager, destroy
ing many hurtful insects and getting
its living from the fields; and there
is always demand for the surplus on
Thanksgiving and Christmas at pay
ing prices. 1t is the largest among
domestic fowls, (some weighing as high
as forty-two pounds) and its flesh is of
Il peculiar richness and flavor that is
highly esteemed. 1t is of rowing
nature and does best when allowed
Unlimited range. Eggs for Matching
ha
year-old hens when one wants to sit
give her about fourteen eggs and set
one or mere chicken hens at the same
time and give all the young to the
turkey hcn. If the young have lice Oh
them, which is apt to be the case, dust
them with insect powder or put two or
three drops of carbOlic acid in tea
spoonful Of sweet oil or lard and rub
on the head and throat. Feed four or
five times daily, giving plenty of fresh
water to drink. The first feed is con-
sdered very important. Hard boiled
eggs mixed with bread crumbs is eX-
cel!ent; cla5ber milk heated little
and the whey drained off is good, and
tender onion tops chopped fine with
curd is recommended. After a few
days corn meal may be mixed with
the curd after a week chopped corn
and oats may be fed to them. Keep
the turkey hen confined in a Slated
coop or covered rail pen for two or
three weeks then let her out after the
dew is off and contine again at night.
Like all young fowls they should be
kept dry and not allowed to become
chilled. The mammoth bronze and
the white Holland are both desirable
breeds the bronze is the larger.
Ducks should have a place on every
farm, for they are incompatible as a
roast, and the eggs and feathers are
valuable. No, do not recommend
the little puddle ducks or the mis-
chievous Muscoveys, the Pekin stands
at the head. They are pure white,
very large, yield nice feathers, lay a
large number Of eggs and are very
desirable every way. Ducks are nat
ural scavengers. This breed rarely
ever sits, so the eggs must be put under
chicken hens to hatch. Keep the duck
lings dry and don't allow them to play
in water till well feathered. Feed on
corn bread moistened with milk and
give them all the flies caught in traps.
Never give the grown ducks whole
corn; it should be crushed and fed
sparingly even then. Any kind OF
boiled vegetables with scraps OF meat
thickened with corn meal makes good
feed, made rather soft. Just enough
water to drink is all they require and
the ducklings will get into that If they
are not watched.
Geese are profitable on the farm
mainly for the feathers they yield.
They may be picked every six weeks
except during the laying season, when
only the ganders should be picked. A
roast goose is regarded as a great treat
bv many people, but it is treat that
the farmer cares nothing for, because
there are so many other fowls that sur
mass il in flavor to his taste. Geese
! should be confined in grass lots near
the house during the laying season so
il will be convenient to feed and water
them while sitting. Let the goslings
run with the mother goose, but notice
them after hard rains, they will get
chilled and drown when half-feathered.
Corn bread soaked in butter-milk ls
good for their food, but give lettuce
and green stuff from the garden with
plenty of grass, and water enough tt
drink but not to swim in. Are no
subject TO disease. but will eat poison
Gus weeds when ailing in this wal
: oive them salty butter.
. PATSY SHAMBERGEE.