Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-01-01

aow many farmers can you find in Mary.
land who can truly admit that they are get
Ting as much out of this vast sum as their
iavoraole circumstances should entitle them
How few farmers there are who realize
tnaO there is really scientific vsy, so to
speak, or as some might look upou 1t, a
Common sense method OF feeding TO secure
&C AIN resultss The poultry breeder, how
ever, who thoroughly understands his bust.
ness, knows the Importance of we'll bal.
anced ration, as we'll as does the expert
dalryman. He knows from experience that
tne iood required Tor egg making is essen
ually Inherent from that necessary for fatten
ing. lie also knows that proper feeding for
eggs will not only increase the production,
but improve the size oil the eggs.
The important inquiry then for the ambi-
tious farmer should be, how must | treat
my poultry t1ocks to make them source of
prontf In order TO accomplish this, the first
consideration should be snug poultry
mouse, located where it cannot, from any
cause, become damp. The house need not
be elaborate. The cracks should all be bat
tened, the roosts all on one level, and not
over two feet from the floor.
shed should be provided as large as the
house for the hens to scratch and dust In
during cold and stormy days. Crushed oys-
ter shells or other suitable grit material
should always be accessible, and the flock
be kept tame by humane treatment.
Poultry to become profitable must not be
inbred as farmers flocks usually are. Prop.
/ .y raised focks will need no new blood
iHrH long time. Let me illustrate by show
! l.n igs Inference between the farmers
/ methods nd the poultry fancier's. A farmer
we 1914 say, has flock of pure bred Ply
nCl.h kGcks. When spring comes eggs
arc sNt and Matched. In due time the chicks
ogF'u TO show size enough to make the
farmer thiuk Of selling. He has noticed that
IN e1rh or cd there were some that outgrew
. INC These are the ones selected to
81 % mats st-because they will bring lit
he bni,el urice. This plan the farmer will
.1Ituw season after season. What then, does
he saya for The next seasons breeding-why
.-e sluH gF wing or runts of all the broods.
is IL men any wonder that from year to
year the rmer's fowls are growing less
vigorous, IS productive as egg layers, and
finally any wonder they do not pay?
''. n a method, and the scant atten-
ton the farmers tiocks receive, is it not more
of a wonder they keep up as long as they do ?
The poultry iancier's method is quite
different. Every chick in brood that shows
unusual or rapid development and vgor
are the ones he marks and SdpeS for the next
years breeding stock.
The farmers plan runs down the flock.
The iancier's method builds up.
One of the finest focks OF Light Brahmas
ever saw was in South Carolina, and no
new blood had been introduced in 10 years.
The stock was of standard size, and the
plumage markings as excellent as that on
exhibition specimens could be. Enquiry
elected the fact that the stamina, size and
egg production of this flock had actu ally
been improved, and by simply marking and
saving the two or three in each brood, that
outgrew the others every year. This is a
| good illustration OF what can b. accom-
| plIshed by careful intelligent selection.
| The second consideration is the methods
of feeding. The idea that cheap or dam
aged foods are suitable to give to pc ultry is
great mistake, and one that will cause
endless trouble if followed.
1t will always pay to feed the best of
grain to poultry. The more varied the diet
can be made the better. The morning feed
should be OF mixed food-so called from the
fact that it is composed of different ingredi
ents mixed with scalding water.
The ingredients can be, aud should be
varied from day to day. Corn meal, or
what is known 10 the Baltimore market as
hominy chop, should be the basis Of the
morning meal. One morning use three
| quarts OF corn meal and two of wheat bran,
mix with boiling water. There Is mack in
mixing the food. Use only water enough
to mix so it will be of a crumbly nature
Tree from sickness. Another morning add
I ftslud oats at the rate of two quarts 10 the
Quantities already specified. Then another
Jay hOminy chop should replace the corn
meal. Vegetables, such as turnips, beeta,
rutabagas, uaugels, small potatoes, etc, may
! be boled until they are thoroughly done,
/ linen mashed we'll and thIgKgng1 DV adam %
the ingredients I have named. The grain
! food at night may be corn, oats, wheat, buck
| wheat or cracked corn. The grain feeding
should be changed from day to day. This
| plan will keep the hens always eager for
| their food. During the middle of the day
in winter, light feed of screenings, little
millet feed, or even wheat may be scattered
among litter In their scratching shed. An
| ounce of raw green bone cut should be al
| lowed each hen every other day-or still
better, half an ounce day. Occasionally
boiled oats, fed while warm, can take the
place of the morning or evening feeds. This
method OF feeding should bring liberal
supply OF eggs during winter.
10 iatten Tor market, corn meal alone,
| scalded, that is mixed with boiling water,
boiled corn and whole corn should be pro
vided. Green food OF some kind should al
ways be on hand for the flock. Never feed
more than the hens will partake of with
keen relish. Remove what they leave If
you have been unwise enough to throw
them too liberal a quantity. The farmer
should aim TO keep good stock. 1t will not
pay to keep scrubs. They will only yield
they may possess they have inherited from
some remote pure bred ancestors. The idea
that pure bred poultry is delicate is mis-
take Every poultry show as well as the
agricultural fairs afford ample evidence OF
this error of judgment The size of the
poultry specimens are a wonder TO the farm
or. They do not understand why they can
not raise such Plymouth Rocks and other
breeds as they see at the fairs. The reasons
| have already stated-the farmers methods
OF housing, feeding, and selecting for breed
ing are all wrong.
Indifferent methods yield Indifferent re-
suits In all pursuits. 1t is all well enough
for the farmer 10 call poultry men, who give
their hocks strictly business attention, poul-
try cranks.
It. would be much more to their own in
terest, however, il they paid their own
focks enough attention To be recognized as
poultry cranks themselves.
Farmers have superior advantages for
raising poltry that far surpasses many poul-
trymen, who are making the occupation ex.
ceedingly successful and profitable. Why
then should not the farmer give more time
and attention TO the poultry industry, in
stead of allowing it to be the worst neg
lected industry on the farm.
The land that is so rough that II ca mot
we'll be cultivated is specially suitable for a
poultry run-why not then turn 1t TO profit
with the hens2
The multitude Of insects destroyed by the
locks, not only lessen the depredations, on
the farm crops, but increase the egg yield,
thus serving doubly beneficial purpose.
On some farms the poultry are actually
considered a nuisance. Perhaps if their
side could be heard from they might ex-
press similar opinion about the farmer
that owns them. Ii the poultry does not
pay they are not TO blame. Give them