The independent-reporter., 1910-11-17

kind must be supplied, and green
bones for this purpose, when the
farmer has a bone grinder, are very
desirable, and rank among the best
They are rich in protein and mineral
matter, and contain all the elements
that enter into the formation of the
egg.
For poultry, as we'll as other stock,
the food should be raised largely on
the farm. The farmer should plan to
raise not only the grain for his hens
but vegetables enough so that in his
hen houes in the winter he can hang
within the reach of the hens fresh
supply every few days.
1he closed house for poultry, well
lighted and ventilated and with
proper scratching shed, was once
thought to be the ideal place. Breed
ers are now coming to the conclu-
sion that if the house is closed 1t
should have a curtain front, and some
are OF the opinion that the open front
house will be the coming hen house. If
special attention is given TO the sani-
tary condition of the quarters for
poultry, and a suitable busting box is
VIII pC ~ AiOhDAN
with lice or mites.
When the business Is made a spe-
cialty, the incubator and brooder
should be used, but with small flock
generally the most economical way is
to allow the hen to hatch her chicks.
If the poultryman has a warm place
and can look after them carefully, he
should plan for early chicks. Six or
seven months are usually required to
grow a pullet to the age when she
begins to lay This will vary some
what, however, according TO the feed
and care. The modern methods of
growing chickens call for rapid
growth and necessitate a great deal
of care. They must be kept in a
perfectly sanitary condition. 1t was
formerly the custom to feed them soft
feed but in recent years the dry sys-
TEN of feeding has been found to be
more satisfactory. The dry mash is
substituted for the wet mash. Plenty
of grit should be furnished and green
food Is as essential for chickens as
for laying hens.
Henry Van Dresser, while lecturing
at the farmers Institutes in Maine a
few years since, described his meth
cd of securing large number of eggs
at the time when they brought the
highest price. He took the hens at a
much earlier period than they usually
moulted, shut them up, and gave them
light ration, thus reducing them in
flesh. Then he largely increased their
ration and they began to thrive rapid
ly and In a short time would moult.
Moulting early they would commence
to lay early and in this way they pro-
duced eggs when they were worth the
most.
This Bulletin is mainly the product
of the pen of Prof. W. A. Brown of
the University of Maine, and is de-
voted principally to a phase of the in
dustry which should receive much
more attention from our farmers than
ii does at present Professor Brown
Is an expert in poultry breeding. He
has been giving this subject a great
deal of attention and has issued some
leaflets and pamphlets of much value
on poultry production. We are glad
to be able to present to our readers
the results of his experience and in
vestigations.
The late Prof. G. NJ. Gowell of
Orono, gave a large portion Of his life
work to the poultry industry of Maine.
and the State Is much indebted to him
for the progress that we have made
in this branch of our agriculture.