The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-04-22
FARM NEWS
AND VIEWS.

FARM NEWS
AND VIEWS.
The breed fowls are said to be di-
Fided into sitters and non-sitters. It
is true that certain breeds, such as
the Leghorns. never sit, while other
breeds, of which the Light Brahma
may be selected, hatch one or mose
broodS in year Can this sitting
propensity be controlled? 1t is posi-
BILE to a certain extent. Z: Try the fol
lowing experiment, which has been
tested by many who were successful;
Have a pen of Light Brahmas and one
OF brown Leghorns (separate);s using
pure breeds. Feed the Brahmas
wholly on heterogeneous food and keep
them in exercise by compelling them
to scratch for all they'get-s They will
probably lay from early in the year
until moulting. Feed the LeghornS
mostly on grain and give them very
little exercise; allow them to get fat,
and the result will be that they" will
probably sit. Reverse the experiment
and the result will be that the Brah-
mas will sit. The reason that some
AAoS
easily become fat and are less active.
The maternal, or sitting, instinct eX-
lists in all hens, but fat on the body is
natures provision for their support
and warmth while on the nest, and
until the hen is SO provided she sell
dom sits. The provision is wise one
for the sitting hen remains closely
to her nest, seldom coming off for
food.
The root crops ar among the most
important grown. So far as actual
food value is concerned they do not
srank high, but they are always rel
5ished by stock in winter because they
afford a change of food, thus promot-
ing the appetite and keeping the ami
mails in condition.
1t is mistake to plant field beets
in narrow rows, SO that all the work
has to be done by hand. There IS
a little hand labor needed while the
plants are small, but after that all the
work of cultivation can be best done
with the cultivator. If the horse IS
careful and steady, a width of two feet
between the rows is sufficient for all
the kinds of beets. But their tops
will grow so large as to completely
shade the soil between. The mangel
wurtzel grows still larger, and should
be planted in rows two feet SIX inches
or two feet ten inches apart, and
thinned to ten inches apart in the
rows Even at this distance the man
gel tops will completely shade the
ground, and the roots will grow SO
that they will nearly or quite touch
each other BY thus using horse labor
for cultivation the beet crop may
be very easily and cheaply grown.
1t is not looking for too much in
herd of COWS to have every animal
WELD $500 quarts in a year, but the
value of the milk will depend upon the
amount OF butter derived When the
herd is deficient in the production OIL
milk or butter there is but one rene
dy for the evil. and that is to breed>
for better COWS. The trough OF food
is very important, but the main point
that should be kept in view is the adj
vantage of breeding for the character
istics sought. When the capacity OF
the COW is increased the farmer can
convert a larger proportion of bulky
foods into beef, milk and butter.
Rape may be sown in April or May
Ii is not a hay or fodder plant, but
produces an abundance of green food.
The Essex variety is preferred. Sow
it in drills, so as to permit OF cult
walton. 1t should make a crop in SIX
weeks, but may be cut and fed at any
time earlier if desired. 1t remains
on the ground until late, like cab
bage, and COWS, sheep and hogs relish
it. Three pounds of seed per acre
may be drilled, or four pounds broad
cast.
The heat in a hive of bees when
the weather is very warm is lncreas-
ed by the animal heat given Off from
the bodies of the insects. This should
remind those who have bees that the
hive hust be in the shade or the col
ony will become reduced by disease
The most honey is only secured when
the colonies are large and healthy.