The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-11

of two or three hundred fowls at two or
three dollars each and inferior stock.
And vet. even il it were to cost this
amount, we do not know but what it
would be profitable in time to make the
change" says ]. w. o. in Breeders
Guide. 1.-THE cost need not be a fiftieth
or hundredth part OF this sum. We
can take farm with one or two hun
bred fowls and in two seasons have
nothing but thoroughbreds upon it, and
all with direct outlay OF only lew
dollars. 1t will, however, require a
little work and care. 1t will not do to
buy trio or pair of fowls Of some good
and desirable breed, and, turning them
loose in the flock, expect in year or
two by some magical means to find the
whole flock like them in form and
feather. Plenty of outbuildings are
usually found on any farm in one corner
OF which nice little coop may be fit
ted up, with a small run attached to
it, at trif1ing outlay of time
Ind labor. Here the work of i'm
proving the farm fowls will really
begin. Some care should be exer-
cised in building this yard to make
it 30 that the mongrels, who usually fly
like pigeons and crawl through the
smallest opening, may not get in with
the stock and fight with or otherwise
disturb them. Wire netting for roof
and sides OF such a run is the most
effective way of keeping them out. The
fowls and such yard complete the fix
ings necessary to change the stock on
any place.
"Whether to start with fowls or eggs
is question which each one must settle
for himself. If we were doing it, and
in hurry to make the desired change,
we would start with fowls. gaining q
years time at least by go doing. One
man will never buy anything but fowls,
while another ie equally as positive that
eggs are at all times the cheapest way
of getting new fowls. But in either
caee we will suppose the farmer has
few hens or pullets ready to lay. The
best male and the hens or pullets should
now be placed in the yards, if not already
there, and all eggs carefully saved for
Matching. Soon some Of the common
hens will become broody they can then
be put to use, Matching the eggs of the
yarded fowls. Do not set an egg of the
common stock, and, if any of them
steal their nests, raise the chicks until
they are old enough for broilers, then
dispose of them, thus giving the good
chicks the whole range and attention.
Two or three hens of some non-sitting
breeds, or four to six OF those which
lose more or less time in waiting to
sit, will furnish the eggs necessary un-
der favorable circumstances to raise all
the fowls needed to replace the common
stock.
'The last and most important act of
the change comes in killing or selling off
every one of the old fowls. Right here
Is where many lose the results of all the
outlay of time and money. They have q
few pets among the superannuated old
cocks and hens. and, keeping them, in a
few years few traces remain OF the once
fine fowls which grsced the place. With
good fortune ducks, geese and turkeys
may be improved in the same way from
q single pair of birds or one or two set
tings of eggs. There is no excuse for
keeping poor fowls when good flock
can be had at such small outlay"
Peaches or Apricots-which to Plant 2
d. T. Taft in Orange News: 1t is not
the purpose of this article to disparage
either the apricot or peach, for both are
well recognized as being profitable in
sections adapted to them, but simply to
buCUf bnhb AnOWluk tuolT
merits we may better decide which,
or what proportion of each, it is best to
plant.
The apricot, ripening early in July,
comes at a right time to dry; for which
purpose it is often shaken from the tree,
thus saving something over the longer
method of manipulating. 1t is much de-
sired for canning, and both canned and
dried it is generally salable at fair prices.
Its bearing qualities are good, but hardly
srfect, as generally every other year is
an "of" year that ia, the trees aa q rule
bear less than q full crop. The fruit,
compared with the peach, is something
of q novelty as yet, being of rather recent
introduction ON large scale. During
the last four years the prices of apricots
at the opening of the season have been
about as follows in this locality: In 1898,
cents per pound; 1892, 10 cents; 1891,
cents; 1890 (boom year for fruit). ~
cents. In this respect the peaches show
somewhat better. In 1898 the opening
price was 7 cente; 1892, IL cents; 1891,
cents; 1890, 15 cents. In every season
except 1898 peaches opened with bet
ter price than the apricots. This past
year, owing to great shortage in the
apricot crop, the price of that article
which were good crop over the state as
whole and in the east, remained at
about cents for a long time and are
worth about cents today, with an up
ward tendency. Given q large crop of
both peaches and apricots, it has been
almost an invariable rule that peaches
have sold for higher price.
This is only one advantage for the
peach, Tor it is the more profitable for
chipping and more in demand for can
ming. Canneries generally use about
ten times as many peaches as any other
fruit, if they can be had. 1t is also
better for drying, for, being larger, it is
easier to pick and quicker to cut, as one
peach is equivalent on the average to
three apricots. An old peach tree will
bear full as many, if not more, pounds
per tree, and young tree will do pro-
portionately much better. and If judi
cious selection of varieties is made is not
80 likely to have off years. The peach
does not ripen as fast IS the apricot, and
will keep longer after ripening, thus pro-
ducing less waste and giving more time
& to handle. Apricots ripen mostly in
July, nor is ii yet possible to consider
ably extend the season by a succession
OF varieties. The peach season extends
from July to November. This is q
,osx< f.-.- a. r.. 4