The National tribune., 1897-05-13

weighed 26 pounds. A good weight for .
breeding bird is 20 pounds.
The eggs of the Emblem geese are white
in color, very large, and rough in shell,
which is extremely thick.
Leg Weakness.
Leg weakness is most noticeable on ac-
count of the tendency of the bird to squat
on the ground instead of standing or walk
ing about. 1t is common with cockerels of
large breeds, and is evidently caused by
growing too fast, and arises from muscular
weakness or from deficiency of bony mat
ter. The complaint may be remedied by
feeding with foods that do not tend to pro-
duce fat. Some of the best are wheat, bar
ley and meat Use bonedust freely. A
pill of the following, given three times
day, will produce good results: Sulphate of
iron, one grain; strychnine, oue-sixteenth
grain; phosphate of lime, five grains; sui
plate of quinine, one-half grain. The cure
of leg weakness is not difficult in all cases,
and by prompt treatment you will in most
cases be successful.
Don't Condemn Her.
If hen is old and has given good rec
ord, do not condemn her too hastily, as
sometimes hen is serviceable until she is
four or five years old. The best guide is
the time at which the hens begin to molt.
If an old hen begins to molt in July, she
will, in all probability, lay as well next
Winter as she did last. In selling old hens,
select those that are overfat and have ceased
to lay, but which show no signs of molting.
Those that are active and lay well may be
better for next season than the pulleta
For Laying Hens.
IT. Hno -
you must feed for eggs. Feed them ON nj
trogenous feed, and give them all they will
eat mp clean. A good morning feed is bran,
shorts, and oats, ground; make into q crum-
bly, mass, not wet and sloppy. At noon feed
cut clover on which boiling water has been
poured, with bran sprinkled over it. At
night feed all the wheat they will eat mp
clean, with plenty of good, pure water.
Pin Feathers.
As the pullet is raised so will the hen be;
bear this in mind, and treat your growing
flock with kindness and care. They can be-
made used to driving like so many sheep.
1t is good plan to keep sitting hens sup
piled with both wheat and corn, for if they
don't care to eat one grain they may like
the other; be sure also that they have
gravel.
Take good care of the faithful hen and
she will repay you for your trouble many
times over every year.
Alfalfa will make hens lay almost as well
as will meat; not only that, but green food
produces fertile eggs.
The White and Black japanese Bantams
are the same in size and shape as the Black
Tailed variety. The beak, shank, and toes
of the White are bright yellow, while those
of the Black may be yellow, or yellow shad-
ed with black. The color of the White va
riety is pure white, and the Black has a
lustrous black plumage.
On most farms flock Of turkeys could
be kept with profit. In Summer they will
forage for living, and only need be fed
when fattening up for market. But few
need be wintered, just enough to lay eggs
for next years Matching. Turkeys always
bring a good price, and are ready for sale
from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Selection is the grand watchword of the
breeder of all species of domestic animals.
The unmethodical and half-conseious Sc
le ction practiced by the masses of farmers
and even semi-ciyilized hunters and herds
men during ages has modified all kinds Of
livestock wonderfully, but selection as
applied intelligently and methodicslly by
the skillful breeder brings quicker and more
certain returns.