The Spectator., 1915-03-16
estnut.
Prepared by the United States Depart

Ch Prepared by the United States Depart
 ment of Agrculture.)
 After snow has disappeared in the early spring an investigation among the leaves near fence or in thicket 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 single insect at this time. before it 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- tion 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 ly associated with catbird and brown thrasher, it lives in much the same places, though it is more given to fences.
 Some Common Birds Useful to the Farmer" is the title of Farmers Bulle- tin No 630 of the United States de- partment of agriculture, which de scribes other useful birds. The pamph- let may be had by appy'ing to the de partment.
 Management of the Sow During pree-
 nancy.
 The breeding season for spring lit ters has just passed and the time for the SOW to give birth to her young is atfhand
 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 farrowed. The sow's condition should be good nei- ther 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 hot 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 oircum- stances be overlooked. This may be provided by large lot or even driving the hogs slowly for a short distance each day
 In the second place, the main de- building of new tissue. Therefore, the kind of feed is important rhe nitro genous 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- larly 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 gestation. oil meal. or a small amount the ration.
 Corn should not be fed in large amounts to breeding stock, because 1t does not furnish enough bone-and- muscle-forming constituents to prop erly develop the unborn pigs. If 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 condi- tion 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 pulped and mixed with the grain or may be given whole as 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 ac- tion of the bowels. Some eastern farmers recommend the use of silage. clover. alfalfa. hay. sheaf oats or 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 . vermifuge and preventive of disease and meet