Smyrna times., 1908-02-05
FARMERS HOLD PROFITABLE
TWO DAYS. INSTITUTE HERE
SESSIONS WERE ONLY FAIRLY ATTEND Ed
But FULL OF INTERESTING DISCUSSION
". q. Anthony of Bannlslsr Hall Fruit Farm
Near Smyrna, Makes a Hit on His ''POuI-
try Ialk"-Number Of Fine Speakers.

II Is agreed by all who know anV-
tnlng about it that there are no more
intelligent nor progressive farmers in
the State than those right about Smvr.
ma, and nowhere in the State are good
institute speakers and instructors bet
Ter appreciated than here, and nowhere
nave the best men at our experiment
station found spoken more often than
at Smyrna. The Institute held in the
Opera House last Thursday and Friday
was a further illustration of these
things. The meetings were fairly
we'll attended, all the discussions were
spirited and every farmer came awav
with keener appreciation of the pos
siblilties of modern farming. One of
the surprises of the meeting was the
practical talk on certain lines of poul.
try growing by one of Smyrna's most
intelligent young farmers, Mr.. VIM.
u. Anthony, who has very successfully
been engaged in producing capons.
Mr.. Anthony said that success depends
upon a number of essential things.
and among them, the selection of one
breed suited to the purpose intended
and then sticking to that breed. Do
not attempt to cross breeds, for there
are now good breeds adapted to eyerv
purpose. The Leghorns cannot be
crossed with any other breed to i'm
prove the laying qualities, and thew
are also good for broilers. Other
breeds are admirably suited to meat
production and still others are general
purpose fowls.
VIC. Anthony Speaks on Producing Cap ons"
Having selected the breed desired
build proper houses, waterproof and
draught proof, but not too warm. Use
canvass or cloth windows or fronts in
stead of glass. In this way a more
uniform temperature is secured and
this is essential. If there are draughts
the birds will have colds and roup.
Give plenty of room. If the build.
ings are kept perfectly clean, 80 cuff.
OF air space and to so. #. of floor
space may be allowed to each fowl. II
Is absolutely necessary for the house
10 be dry. -Four necessary things NAV
be named, as grain, grass, grasshop.
pers and grit as feeding materials.
grasshoppers representing all kinds of
meat or animal food, and grass the
green vegetable food. For eggs in
winter the grasshoppers and grass
should be fed abundantly, but Mr..
Anthony said that he was engaged IN
the production of capons and, there.
fore, wanted spring eggs rather than
winter eggs. For his purpose he
wants an egg that will hatch out a
strong, vigorous chicken and to get it
he must have a strong, vigorous par
ent Often the trouble with dying or
weak chickens can be traced back to
the parents, especially if they have
been overfed with rich feeds for ex-
cessive egg production.
Plymouth Rock One of the Best Breeds.
For capOns the Plymouth Rock are
one of the best breeds. The birds are
caponsized when they weigh about
pound and a-half. Get the best DOS
sible set of instruments to do this
work. Starve the birds for 36 hours
before performing the operation. A
man should not do more than % to 40
birds at one time as he will not do
them so well if be continues longer.
If carefully.done not more than one
per cent will die. After the operation
give moderate feed, not more than
half as much as a chicken will eat of
some soft, wet food with plenty of
grit. A good time to sell is from
Thanksgiving to Christmas. If the
birds are light weight, dress clean,
that is to say pick off all the feathers
and sell for roasters. The heaviest
birds are dressed as capons and should
bring about $3.50 apiece, or 24c per
pound. Capon meat is better than
turkey. The last three weeks they
NAS SAaAnn4Cu ny tnO use VI mdCulu6
on a specially prepared feed.
Number Of Important Subjects Discussed.
The subjects discussed were those of
everyday use in diversified farming,
snch as the growing of potatoes and
tomatoes, corn, forage crops, orchard
managing, spraying the prevention of
plant diseases, animal husbandry, dis
eases of animals, soil fertility and kin
dred subjects. One of the most inter
esting addresses was on the building
of good roads by Benjamin f. Heidel,
of the Office of Good Roads, Washing
ton, ID. @, The other speakers were
Professors Hayward, Cook, McCue
CONTINUED ON EIGHTH PAGE.