The record-union., 1894-10-02

IlaHtlHG 1feeS-IoW the horse
Sleeps Preserving Eggs Hedge
Professionalism yYool-Good Prices
for Sheep.
Hens are individuals. and the different
members of a flock may in no manner be
alike. When it is claimed that flock
does not lay, it must be considered that
some of the best hens to be found may be
in the flock and may be laying. but as
many in the flock may be on-producers,
the good hens fall under condemnation
simply for being in bad company.
One of the mistakes made is in not Gull
ing the flock so as to retain only the pro-
fitable hens. Many persons have become
disgusted with poultry as business be-
cause they kept, at an expense, a lot of
hens that were not worth the room they
occupied, and which served only as an
incumbrance to those that were pro-
ducers, and this mistake is a very COM
mon one with those who buy a large
number of hens with which to begin. as
they are sure to receive some that are
useless along with the best. Any system
of feeding is expensive if the hens do not
lay, and the greater the number of nom
productive hens the more cost Is added 10
the eggs received. The fact that there are
many Hocks from which no eggs at all
are received is well known, and this con-
dition is one that should receive atten-
ton. When a few hens prove their su-
periority as layers they should not be dis
carded, even II aged. The annual selling
OF the hens and keeping Untried puIlets
Is at the bottom of the difficulty. All
pullets that are to be used for replacing
old hens should be Matched from eggs
laid by the best hens, and the sire OF the
pullets should not only be male from a
prolific breed, but also from family of
good layers. Even with this precautIon
there will be worthless pullets, but they
should be gotten rid Of just as soon as
their characteristics are known. Delays
are dangerous in such cases.
Hens may fail to lay also because of
improper feeding. An egg is very COM
plete in its composition, as it will pro-
duce a chick, and the food must neceS-
sariiy correspond The safest way and
best course to pursue is to feed variety.
When this is done, and some of the hens
lay regularly and others not, it is time TO
save food by getting rid of those that are
Improbable.
Why is it that the hens will be in good
condition, have red combs, and as soon
as the first cold snap comes every one of
them will stop laying? That this hap
pens, and more frequently than is desired,
is deplorable fact only too we'll known
TO farmers. 1t Is a matter that IS worthy
of the attention of poultrymen or philos-
ophers. 1t is a serious thing, when
eggs are selling at three cents apiece to
have the hens suddenly cease laying,
when they should be filling the egg
baskets. 1t seems hard for the hens after
laying as regularly as clockwork during
w IN htIr
down the egg factory Just when there is
the heaviest demand.
But there is cause for it. That much
will be unanimously admitted. But what
is the cause? 1t is not because of lack of
food, as the cessation of egg production
may happen in a single day. 1t is not
due to disease, for the hens may be
healthy. The cause is lack of warmth.
While the heat of the body comes from
the food, yet the cold may be so intense
that digestion is not sufficient to create
that heat necessary to protect the bird
against the cold. Every breath of wind
that touches the body or air that is in
hailed is warmed by the bird, and that
warmth may be lost so rapidly as to
cause the hen 10 suffer from cold. Egg
production ceases because natures first
effort will be to protect the bird before it
is permitted to do extra work in produc-
ton.
Having theorized on the cause, what is
the remedy? 1t is simply to guard
against the loss of animal heat. This is
done by keeping the cold winds away,
by providing shelter and sunny places
for the hens, by feeding warm food and
giving warm water. No ventilators,
cracks or openings are to let in the cold
air. Ifyou wish the hens 10 lay as they
do in the summer, they must have sum
mer conditions. 1t is as necessary to
guard against cold snaps and sudden
changes of temperature as for the mariner
to watch for squalls in order to protect
his ship.-The Poultry Keeper.
MULCHING THE SOIL.
The management of the soil is at the
present day a subject as important as the
management of stock, and as the soil can
gain or lose in fertility according to its
treatment, the value OF a farm depends
upon the manner in which the soil has
been cultivated. And not only does culti-
vatlon affect the soil, but the kind of crop
grown influences it also, and changes its
quality and texture TO a certain extent.
Many soils have been brought to a high
degree OF fertility with the aid of but a
limited amount OF manure. by growing
certain crops, which not only cover the
soil and protect il, but which also deriy a
nitrogen from the air and add it to the
plant food already existing in the soil. 1t
is not only in the gain of fertility that the
farm is enriched, but also in the preven-
tion of loss by so managing the soil that
even after the crop is removed a protec-
ton is given against rains, heat and frost
While these agents are at times beneficial
and important, under certain conditions
of the soil it is necessary to guard against
losing that which was gained earlier in
the season of growth.
1t is advantage to plow some soils late
in the fail, but scientists are not unan-
imous In their opinions regarding this
subject. 1t Is advocated that there is too
much exposure of the soil, by which
large portions of soluble matter are lost.
Nature covers the soil always, and never
leaves it exposed. Under the fallow system
practlced in former years, when rest
ing" the land year or more by omitting
crops, the soil gained in fertility, yet the
plow was not used during the resting Pc
riod. The gain in fertility was attributed
to the seanty growth of heritage. which
covered the almost barren fields, but the
real gain was in the covering of the soil
and the additional plant food brought
down by the rains, and which was trans
formed into other substances by the in
digenous herbage covering the soil as a
mulch. and thus promoting the formation
of hunlus. Learning from experience, it
has occurred to many progressive farmers
that muiching the soil is TO protect il
against loss as well as TO add to its fer
tility.
Weeds are claimed to be Natures re-
Operative crops, which repair the losses
made by man. Weeds compel the indo-
lent farmer TO cultivate the soil to save
his crops and they at once cover the soil
with heavy graWth as soon as the farmer
ceases to have crops on the land. If the
crops of the farmer do not cover the soil
so as to afford complete protection, the
weeds make an attempt 10 gain the mas