Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-09-11
In the Poultry Yard

accompl shed, though, until the farm
ers wives take the matter in hand.
rink what a happy day that would
De! Bill put in the field fixing for
cotton, tugging at the bell rope with
which he was gee-hawing old Balaam
end Mary in the poultry yard singing
to the sweet music furnished as an ac-
compan'm ent by the cackle of the
nens, and thinking of the happy time
when she will market them, and have
tie dollars roll into her pockets.
In 1908 the western and the New
england states awoke, as from a
dream, to the Importance of the egg
business in the United States. Previ-
Gus to 1903 the papers, poultry jour
mails, farm papers and the dailies
commenced writing up it's Importance
as a money-making business. New
England was the first to give the bus
mess much attention; the west-more
particularly the far west-opened their
eyes and went after the dollars that
they have since gathered. Then there
was an awakening that travelled south
along the Mississippi. valley. The bus
iress increased with wonderful rapid
ity. -
0"01 LII AONOS p4OOuSOu YOSHOOJOCO
worth of eggs, and in 1907 the output
was $~1O,3OO,082. Today the bulk of
our eggs comes from the farms in the
Mississippi valley. Unfortunately, It
has not spread farther over the south
There is, however, a marked increase
in the interest that the cotton belt
states are taking in the production OF
eggs and poultry. There is a matter,
however, that should attract the at
tCntion of the wives of the farmers,
and that is the quaTty of the eggs
produced on southern farms, and also
the great loss that they sustain in the
careless manner in which they handle
them. The eggs produced by the
common or dunghill hens that are
bred all over the south weigh Is IL
ounces (average) to the dozen; the
average Tennessee weight is Fl IL
ounce to the dozen; western eggs,
from "a to % IL n to the dozen.
Now, the above facts show, even
without the application OF the up-tO-
date methods of handling imp owed
poultry, their great super Ority over
the common stock in the matter of
producing heavier eggs. In the east
err states and largely in the west the
cOmmOn hens is a thing of the past.
In the eastern and western states and
largely in the Mississippi valley the
farmers avoid letting their hens. lay
around the barn or m the fence cor
ners or in the weeds, because they
cannot ship soiled or stained eggs. In
rlany localities they are unstable, so
they provide nice clean nests, and,
when necessary force their hens 10
lay in them. A soiled or stained egg
is frequently unfit for food, for eggs
gu ckly absorb dampness and with its
Cdors and uncleanliness that affect the
taste and quality.
Pack a few eggs in pine sawdust.
In two hours break m of them ami
you small turpentine.
The following six breeds of fowls
are, in the opinion of the majority of
the poultry breeders of the south, best
adapted to our climate: ~Orpingtons.
Rhode Island Reds, Barred Plymouth
Rocks, W~yandottes, Leghorns and
M%inorcas. The first four named have
more or less 'Asiat-c blood in their
veins. The two latter are of Mediter-
ranean origin. The four first named
generally lay dark colored eggs. The
two latter lay clear white eggs. The
Minorcas lay perhaps a larger egg
than any other breed. The Leghorns
and Minorrcas require warm, comfort
able winter quarters, and if we'll cared
for they will lay fairly we'll in the
winter. The other varieties should
not be kept too closely housed, but
they must be kept where the cold
north winds cannot reach them in
their roosting house. The following
suggestions as to the general treat
ment of fowls in order to increase the
winter production of eggs may help
you:
Provide comfortable winter quar-
tiers, facing south. Do not let them
coost in the barn or out on trees. Do
not house the first four breeds n
quarters that are too warm. The two
last named must be kept comfortable
| at night thar the others. Feed them
at night tina nthe others. Feed them
| regularly, and let them go to bed with
full crops. Keep clean, fresh water
before them at all times. Gather the
| eggs once a day, and i'm warm weather
twice a day. Never take an 1mper-
feet or soiled egg to market. In the
summer place the eggs in a cool, dry
Mace, where there are no
doors. Avoid straw or hay for nests;
thew produce mites. Use excelsior II
obtainable; if not, use clean, dry, N
! sand or earth that has never been fer
tiIized-Uncle Duley in Atlanta on
ctitutiOn