The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-05
Forcing the EGG Supply.

NuiuS.
|: Forcing the EGG Supply.
Forcing the hens to lay eggs IS Sud
ply assisting nature to perform IL
work in the highest degree. we sup
ply them with the needed elements u
make eggs. All the so-called tones
and stimulants do little or DO good ull'
less food of the right kind Is supplled
The tonics may increase the appetite
and the stimulants may force the svs'
tenn to more active work, but the gam
is only temporary, and in the end o
reaction is more than likely to follow
If the right foods are given the tones
and stimulants may on occasions. 90
good, but as q rule healthy hen needs
neither. 1t is only when she Is run
down an MT in good condition that
she requires either tonic or stimu'
liant.
All this being taken for granted, the
work Of forcing the egg yield resolves
itself into careful methods in feeding
the hens. They must be given food
that will not al. go to fat, and II IN
Rspite of the selection Of the food the
birds show n tendency to fatten up too
rapidly they must be forced to take
smore exercise. Keep the laying hens
busy in scratching good part OF the
day, and they will eat more and lay
more. Feed them plenty Of ground,
green bone, pulverized shells, grit and
green things All of these, including
scraps of meat, contain the elements
needed by the laying hens. Be more
careful in feeding corn, which is sure
to produce more fat than eggs, and the
bread, meal and similar fattening ar
ticles. After one has fed the birds lib
orally, forced them to take plenty OF
exercise, and attended to their gen
eral uealth, there is little more that
can be done. That is about oil the
forcing that will pay. There. are
other artificial methods, but their util.
ity is rather doubtful.-Anne c. Webs
ter, in American Cultivator.
Reasons For Unproductive Orchards.
.. Observations and studies lead the
Illinois experiment station to offer the
following rs some of the many reasons
why orchards are often unproductive:3
First-Too many growers are expect
ing a crop to be given them without
putting forth any efforts themselves
after the trees have been set. The ap-
pie require the same careful attention
as do other farm crops. Il
Second-Lack of moisture Is a com.
mon cause of failure to the apple
grower in Illinois. This Is because
grass and other crops are allowed to
compete with the trees for the mois-
ture supplied by rains. Water is just
as essential to the apple tree on hot
summers day as it is to the laborer in
the harvest field.
Third-Injuries resulting from at
tacks of insects or of fungous dis
eases are a very common cause Of
failure These depredators. will prob
ably always consider that they have
rs much right to the products Of the
farm as does the farmer himself. For
this reason he must get his artillery
and ammunition and fight the enemy.
Fourth-Lack of fertility is q very
common cause of failure in southern,
western and some sections of northern
Illinois. The apple orchard cannot
produce a profitable crop unless pro-
vided with an ample supply Of nitro
gen, potash and phosphoric acid.
Fifth Some orchards in the State
which have come to the notice Of this
station are improbable because Of
improper pruning or lack Of pruning.
Light and air are essential for the
development and ripening ofthe apple.
Sixth-Many varieties of apple trees
have been planted without any
thought given to their adaptability to
the particular soil or climate. Loss
in apple growing is often wholly q
matter Of varieties. =. = :,
ScvcntL-Trees propagated from IN
productive stock have been responsi-
ble for many failures. Scions should
he selected from bearing trees, or
those which have demonstrated their
ability for productiveness.
Eighth - Sterility as result of
planting an orchard Of only one vari-
ETY. is common cause Of failure, in
part at least. Cross fertilization il
desirable with all fruits.
Ninth - Excessive climatic condi'
tions, as the February freeze Of 1899,
or the killing Of the blossoms by
frost, are oftentimes responsible fol
unproductireness.
Poultry Notes.
Boiling tie milk that is fed to fowls
lessons the risk of disease.
Warm washed boiled potatoes, with
kitchen scraps, make very good com