El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-07-06

ROBABLY the most important
~ season of the year to the poul-
4 tryman is now at hand with the
advent of the month of July, and
strange as it may seem as the season
grows IS importance, his interest
vvanes. Up to this time his work has
been diversified and greatly PIea pleasure:
He has had his incubators and brooders
running, his old stock have been IN
full feather and Smelling out eggs by
the basketful and the season has Deen
most favorable to the living growth
of the little fellows.
Now the work has become\ drudgery
and his interest has materially weak
ened and yet the work to be done at
this time is the most important prop
ably of the year. He has set his IN
cubators aside, has but little further
use for brooders, his old stock is be
coming rugged and ugly from mounting
and are seriously considering walking
out on a strike as to egg production.
Mites, fleas and lice are trying to as
Sert their supremacy, sore head IS on
the verge of putting in its appearance
and altogether the outlook is for
busy time with the pOultryman with
not much to encourage him for the
next so days.
Young stock must be kept growing
through this hot season regardless OF
labor or cost or they will never reach
standard weight. As a matter of fact
it is known by all breeders Of the
heavy varieties of fowls in this sec
ton that the question of weight must
be looked after especially, and this is
the season in which that question is
usually determined. The hot sun and
dry. rarified atmosphere almost dry
them up and add to these influences an
average of even one louise to the grow
ing bird and 1t is easily understood
why our poultry association should at
one time have eliminated the question
OF weight of young stock at one of its
shows. They had neglected July and
August work and the growth of their
birds had been checked and as young
stock were not up to standard and
pretty safe to say that as old birds
Z they were still a little light.
What Must be Done.
Now, you ask what you must do to
keep them growing. Well, in the first
| place they must have plenty Of shade
and there is no shade quite equal to
growing brush, which serves both as
a shade and windbreak, sunflOwers
and castor beans do very well, but are
too slow in making shade and then
they are not quite so good protection
from wind as some Of our hedge
plants
In the second place, feed and water
/ should be adjacent to these shade re-
sorts, where the little fellows can be
/ supplied with each without being much
! exposed to the hot sunshine and dry
I ing winds One who does not know
/ would be surprised at the frequency
with which poultry Will visit a water
/. ing place in hot weather. They need
/ and must have it, and plenty of it II
! you expect them to grow and thrive
I and all vessels should be cleansed and
/ supplied with fresh water every day
| And right here I will incidentally re-
mark that a thin scum of coal oil OF
| the surface of the water will have q
| tendency to cure colds and to keep of
| roup and sorehead. Better give it
! trial. Certainly it viii do no harm.
Another thing. A rOosting place
I large enough for 80 little chicks
! month ago is too small for them now
! They are crowded to death and smOth'
/ ering for a breath of fresh air. En-
large their quarters or divide the flOcI
! Knock off one or two sides OF the box