The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-03-26

ches
prepared by the United States Depart 1
ment Of AgricultureJ
After snow has disappeared In the
early spring an investigation among
the leaves near fence or in thicket /
will often disclose the little bird
known as the towhee, chewink, or /
ground robin, scratching for his dinner
like hen. This dinner will consist |
of beetles and larvae of insects harm |
full to crops, which have been spend |
ing the winter under old leaves.
The good which the towhee does in
this way can hardly be overestimated,
since the death of single insect at
this time, before 1t has had an oppor-
tunity to deposit its eggs, is equiva-
lent to the destruction of host later
In the year. The towhee has also
been credited with visiting potato
fields and feeding upon the potato
beetle. Its vegetable food consists OF
seeds and small wild fruits. but no
complaint on this score is known to
have been made. So far as observa-
ton goes, the bird never touches either
cultivated fruit or grain; in fact, 1t
is too shy and retiring even to stay
about gardens for any length Of time.
The towhee breeds from the middle
states northward and winters in the
southern half of the country. Natural
" associated with catbird and brown
thrasher, it lives in much the same
places, though it is more given to
! haunting hedgerows along roads and
! fences.
Some Common Birds Useful to the
! Farmer is the title of Farmers Bulle-
tin No $50 of the United States de
partment of agriculture, which de-
scribes other useful birds. The pamph-
let may be had by applying to the de-
partment.
Management Of the Sow During Preg-
nancy.
The breeding season for spring lit
tiers has just passed and the time for
the SOW to give birth to her young is
at hand.
During pregnancy two facts must be
borne in mind. The first is that the
SOW is doing double duty. Not only
is she keeping up her own bodily func-
tions. but the development of the litter
is an increasing drain on her system.
Feeding at this time should be liberal,
although it need not be so heavy as
after the pigs are narrowed. The
sow's condition should be good mel
Their too fat nor too lean A very fat
sow is apt to be clumsy with her pigs
and some times her pigs are lacking
in vitality. The very thin SOW VIII
either not do justice to her pigs, OF
will become a mere wreck herself dur
ing the time she is nursing her litteI
and the chances are that both THESE
things will happen. The necessity o.
exercise must not under any circum
stances be overlooked This may be
provided by a large lot or even driving
the hogs slowly for short distance
each day.
In the second place. the main de
mands upon the SOW are those for the
building Of new tissue. Therefore, the
kind of feed is important, The nitro
genous or protein bearing feeds ars
needed at this time. These are bran
oil meal. peas, beans, oats and barley
The clovers. alfalfa. peas, beans
yetches etc, are also OF much Valu'
10 the brood SOW Special emphasis
should be laid on the condition OF the
bowels during pregnancy and particu
larly at narrowing. the special DANCE
to be avoided being constipation h'
grain ration should be given as SOL
and toward the close of the period o
CESSATION. oil meal. or a small amour
of fax meal should be introduced int
the ration.
Corn should not be fed in larg'
amounts to breeding stock. because l
does not furnish enough bone-anu
notwithstanding constituents to prop
erly develop the unborn pigs II pcs
sible. corn should not be fed at all U
any but fattening animals.
Hog Graves Green Feed.
During the winter more care Will o.
needed to keep the SOW in GOOD conui
ton on account of the absence OF pas
ture. Not only does the hogs system
crave green feed. but more or les
bulk is demanded To offset the iacl
of green feed, nothing surpasses roots
These may be sliced or pulped AM
mixed with the grain or may be givei
whole as noon feed. Care must D.
used in feeding roots, as they are Taxa
tive in effect, and if fed in excessive
amounts, may bring about profuse ac
tion of the bowels. Some eastern
farmers recommend the use Of Stage
clover. alfalfa, hay. sheaf oats or cori
fodder to supply the bulky require
ment of the ration. Charcoal, ashes
lime. and salt should be accessible a
all times. These act as a vermifug
and preventive OF disease and NEE
the hogs craving for mineral matte
In the feed. During the entire perio'
care should be taken to keep the sys