Smyrna times., 1898-03-09
THOUGHTS ON POULTRY RAISING.
Samuel Cushman. of Rhode Island Lectures
TO Our Farmers.

The Farmers Institute held an in
teresting session here on Wednesday
last and were given interesting adj
dresses by Samuel Cushman, of Rhode
Island. The attendance was good
ana the instruction was liberal. r.
NJ. Cooper, of Cheswold, was chair
man OF the meeting and Prof. Wesley
NeOD, OF Dover, was secretary.
Prof. Cushman held the undivided
attention of his audience as for an
hour or more he gave his experience
upon the best and successful methods
OF poultry raising. His subject was
Eggs and Poultry" In speaking of
the egg industry he gave some verv
interesting statistics, and followed
them up with some excellent thoughts
as to the best means and the time for
shipping eggs to the markets of the
world. For egg producers he thought
the white LeghOrn was the best.
although he spoke in high terms of
the Black MinOrcas. For the ordi-
nary farmer Wyandotts and Plymouth
Rocks were preferable and could
always he depended upon as excel
lent egg producers.
He impressed the necessity of good
breed among fowls. The better the
breed the better the egg producer, and
1t costs no more to keep. He had
much to say of goslins and their high
marketable value, and closed with a
free discussion of the poultry indus
try.
Wednesday evening the weather was
so uncertain that but few gathered to
hear the address of Mr.. Samuel Cush-
man, of Rhode Island, who entertained
those present with discussion on poultry
growing and how to get good prices.
and probably as much depends upon
preparing them for market as ANYTHING
else. He related very interestingly
how they were raised and prepared for
market IN the northern districts. after
which free parliamentary discussion
was opened and lasted for the rest of
the evening.
The feeding and caring of fowls
called forth the most discussion. When
asked if fermented dough was good to
feed fowls on, Mr.. Cushman said the
theory was all right but it was apt to
make them sick, causing in many cases
diarrh@a. Contrary to the opinion
that it helps digestion, it is very likely
to have i'll results. Scalded cracked
corn was good for turkeys, but don't
feed them too heavily. He advised
poultry raisers to watch their fowls
during feeding time, and if anv have
the appearance of being sickly, take
them away from the rest and attend to
its individual case, whatever it NAV be.
AssOciating with well fowls will often
spread contagious diseases. Cholera.
he said, IS caused by indigestion. This
is why the fattest of the fowls are at
tackled. Feeding to excess is a dan
gerous experiment. ROup is nothing
more than symptom of cold, aud can
be cured by cleaning the nostril of the |
affected with warm water and treating
1t with a solution of carbOlic acid &c. |
If poultry raisers would manage their |
hOcks Alright, one thousand fowls could |
be cared for with as little trouble as |
two hundred. Hardness is one of the |
most important things in the breed of |
fowls. He advised the killing of every |
hen over three years old, and put them |
with through bred males, averaging |
one rooster to about thirty hens. |
Feed them moderately, never to excess. |
In this vicinity, he said, chickens are |
Ted with two much corn. More harm |
is done by this overlooking than any
thing else. He believed in turning |
them out and allowing them to feed on |
clover, grass &c. He also believed in |
giving fatty food to that of nitrogen
Dus substances. Mineral salts was
also good if given in moderate guam
titles.