The hummer. (Houston, Miss.) 1914-19??, 1915-04-30

prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
After snow has disappeared in the
early spring an investigation among
the leaves near a fence OF in a thicket
will often disclose the little bird
known as the towhee, chewink, or
ground robin, scratching for his dinner
like a 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 a single insect at
this time. before it has had an oppor-
tunity to deposit its eggs, is equiva-
lent to the destruction OF a host later
in the year The towhee has also
been credited with visiting potato
fields and feeding upon the potato
beetle. It's 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, It
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
Primer" &c the title Of Farmers Bulle-
tin No $50 of the United States de-
partment Of agriculture, which de-
scribes other useful birds The pamnh-
let NAV be had by applying to the de-
partment.
Management Of Tire Sow During Preg-
nancy.
The breeding season for spring lit
ters 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-
tons, 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" nei-
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 will
either not do justice to her pigs, or
will become a mere wreck herself dur
ing the time she is nursing her litter
and the chances are that both these
things will happen. The necessity Of
exercise must not under any circum-
stances he overlooked. This may be
provided by a large lot or even driving
the hogs slowly for a 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
Eenous or protein bearing feeds are
needed at this time. These are bran,
oil meal peas, beans, oats and barley.
The clovers, alfalfa, peas, beans,
vetches etc, are also of much value
to the brood SOW. Special emphasis
should be laid on the condition of the
bowels during pregnancy and particu-
larry at farrowing, the special danger
to be avoided being constipation. The
grain ration should be given as slop
and toward the close Of the period Of
CESSATION, oil meal or a small amount
of fax meal should be introduced into
the ration
Corn should not be fed in large
amounts to breeding stock because it
does not furnish enough bone-and-
musole-forming constituents to prop
erly develop the unborn pigs. II pos
sible, corn should not be fed at all to
any but fattening animals.
Hog Graves Green Feed.
During the winter more care will be
needed to keep the SOW in good eondi-
ton on account Of the absence Of pas
ture Not only does the hogs system
crave green feed, but more or less
bulk is demanded. To Offset the lack
Of green feed, nothing surpasses roots.
These may be sliced or puiped and
mixed with the grain or may be given
whole as a noon feed. Care must be
used in feeding roots, as they are laxa-
tive in effect, and If fed in excessive
amounts, may bring about profuse &C
ton Of the bowels. Some eastern
farmers recommend the use Of silage,
clover, alfalfa, hay, sheaf oats OF corn
fodder to supply the bulky require
ment Of the ration. Charcoal, ashes,
lime, and salt should be accessible at
all times. These act as a vermifuge
and preventive of disease and meet
the hogs craving for mineral matter
IN the feed During the entire period
care should be taken to keep the sys-
tenn well toned The SOW should be-
come accustomed to being handled and