The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-10-19

Profitable poultry raising depends
mainly upon liberal supply of eggs
in winter. Among the desirable or
really essential foods for producing
eggs in winter are "greens" A daily
supply of some kind of green food in
winter, in connection with the regular
allowance of other food, adds the
proper material for the so-called bal
anced ration. 1t is not generally un-
derstood what an important relation
pasturage bears to success in poultry
raising, says G. o. Brown, in the
Baltimore Sun. 1t may be noticed
how quickly flock of hens confined
to yard will completely denude it of
all herbage. Though many notice
this, they afterward wonder why the
hens cease to be productive on the
bare yards. Hens will pasture as
close as sheep. The very best natural
pasture for poultry is a well-estab-
lished sod, where native grasses
abound, interspersed freely with
white clover. A first-class COW pas
ture is an ideal place for poultry pas
ture.
On farms where business attention
is given to poultry it will pay well to
put in crops for both summer pas
ture and winter use. Good Judgment
will enable the farmer to readily sup
ply the demands of his flock, and in
doing 30 to greatly increase the ready
money income of the farm. Alfalfa
is destined soon to be one of the lead
ing crops for poultry pasture. Its
wonderful recuperative powers proves
it to be Just the plant for the purpose.
1t can be cut several times during a
season for hay making. Poultry can
be turned on it, and when it has been
eaten down pretty close they may be
removed and the alfalfa will soon be
growing again with its usual vigor.
This may be repeated the entire sea-
son.
Another crop which will become a
favorite for poultry pasture is rape.
The immense quantity that can be
grown on an acre will make rape
great favorite. especially where there
are bare poultry yards. The large rape
leaves are just the "greens" to supply
yarded fowls with, and they seem to
relish it just as much as they usually
do the early cabbage heads they had
growing in the gardens. Where it can
be had convenient to the poultry yard
crimson clover should be seeded in
August or during the last working of
the corn. This will afford n most ex-
cellent pasture during the winter,
when there is no snow on the ground.
The crop will also be highly beneficial
to turn under in the spring, to be fol-
lowed with any crop.
Among the crops desirable for win
ter feeding when nothing outside is
available are ruta bagas, mangel wur-
zels and turnips. Any OF these are
good to feed for green's, and can also
be boiled, mashed and mixed with the
regular allowance OF morning mixed
food.
Perhaps in the near future there
will be regular silos for preserving
green cut clover for poultry feedin @.
1t is doubtful, however, whether en-
silage, if it has to be fed in the fer
menting stage, would prove a safe or
desirable food for poultry. Properly
cured, cut quite green, clover cut fine
and packed dry in bags, will in time
become standard product ON the
markets for poultry.
The sooner that farmers recognize
the fact that poultry raising should be
followed on the same line that dairy
ing is-giving food and care to secure
results-the sooner they will begin to
reap their share of profits and be-
come competitors with practical poul-
try raisers. The idea that Anything
is gDod-enough for hogs or chickens"
is mistaken one that has anchored
many farmer ON the wrong side of
the road to profitable farming. Moth
ing eau be attained without effort,
and the more practical and intelligent
the efforts the greater the success. p.