The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1902-06-04
Eec,linr Ont lsnme.

Feeding cut Bone.
The element so much needed in the
production of eggs is protein. A great
many will ask what protein is, its
composition, and what IL does. but
n uch of this is unnecessary. Few of
us understand what electricity is. and
yet so many are familiar with what it
does. We know it furnishes light
power, is used IN teicgraphy and for
telephones, but for Ill that We do not
know ohw. Protein is an element
found quite predominant in some sub
stances and it is the element so much
in need when hen is producing
flesh. feathers and the albumon of the
egg. In the summer time the hens
have a free range and can get large
proportion of protein matter, but In
winter they are Obliged to rely largely
on what is fed to them. Some sub
stances are more abundant in protein
than others.
Green cut bone contains n large per-
centage of protein matter. Several
brands of meat meal will furnish the
be found more palatable, more whole
some and cheaper than some other
kinds of food in which may be found
this protein. All hens we have had
experience with have to acquire a
taste for most brands of meal but they
seem to have desire to eat fresh cut
bone on sight Cut bone is so easy to
feed. since it does not have to be
mixed with other feeds in order to get
the hens to consume it.
Old and stale bones should not be
used for feeding hens. The bones
should he cut in cutter that Will cut
them up fine When the ration has
per hen fed three times week, do not
be persuaded into the practice of in
creasing this amount with the hope
that a little more bone will improve the
leying qualities of the hens If too
much bone is fed there will be trouble
in the flock. Too much bone will lead
to liver troubles. continued moultinS
and some bowel disorders.-Poultry
Farmer.
Preparing skins for Market.
Many valuable skins are ruined by
poor preparation aud handling. Below
| give few points that may help farm
crs and others in preparing and grad
ing skins. AS soon as skin has been
taken off skunk it should be placed
in as cold a place as possible. Each
skin should be separate and not one
on top of another. If possible thin
boards about the shape of the skin
can be used. Stretch the skin over
the board with the pelt side out, but
see that one does nor overlap the 9TH
er When shipping remove skins from
the boards and put them in bags If
possible. If the express company does
not receive bags of skunk, use light
box or barrel. The fat can be taken
off with a special knife and the skin
stretched on boards.
Raccoon and opossum skins can be
treated the same as The skunk skins
except that they need not be stretched
Oil boards. Mink and fox skins are not
very fat and dry quickly and can be
punched together. Boards can be used
of the same shape but only for stretch.
ing purposes. Muskrat should be
stretched on boards for a short time.
Bear should be kept in cold place
and stretched out aud all other skins
having the same characteristic should
be treated the same way.
Every dealer has different method
Of sorting, but my ideas of a liberal
assortment are as follows. Skunk,
east of the Mississippi river, and south
of the great lakes, except Wisconsin.
A No. I should be a prime skin caught
in full winter season. 1t may be an
all black one or a thin stripe can run
one-quarter of the length If it is a
slightly blue pelt it must be good fur.
A No. has the stripe run half way
down and is a blue pelt with slightly
thin fur A No has thin stripe run
all the way down and medium
growth blue pelt. A No. is full
wide stripe and rather poor blue pelt
and scabs are blue pelts without fur,
or very little fur and are worthless.
Mink is rather difficult to explain as
the assort depends on the color, size
and quality of fur Blue pelts must be
sorted as to quality and size. Some
times a mink is singed. that is, the
top of hair is curled probably from the
sun or the top hair may be rubbed
and they must be sorted down. Cot
ton minks,are those with white ground
and are not worth much.
Raccoon assort depends on the quail
iiy and size and not so much on the
cclor as formerly, as these skins are
mostly dyed. Southern coons are us
ed for coat Innings and are sorted by
color and sizes and not so very much
as to the quality. Red fox assort de-
pends on the size and quality and not
much on the color as they are dyed.
Opossum must have fur on to be worth
anything. Those with little or no fur
are trash and are not worth cent
Muskrat depends on what season of
the year they are caught. Those
caught in the fall are worth the least.
Skins from winter caught animals are