The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-18
HOMEGROWN
 POULTRY FEEDS

The following brief suggestions are principally for those peultrymen who are interested in knowing some Of the most important factors regarding the raising of crops for poultry feed. NO attempt has been made te give com plete detailed Information about these crops and those people having further questions and wishing more specific information should get in touch with their county agent, or the Agronomy Department Of the Connecticut Agri- cultural College at Storrs. The fol- lowing will be found good this year;
 Oats.
 Oats are not exaeting in soil re- uuirement but don't grow on too rich CT heavily ,nanured land. as lodging is liable te occur. Corn stubble land may be sewn to oats without blowing; simply disk and harrow thoroughly. Don't use too much manure, especially hen manure, 500 to 1000 pounds per acre is ample and it should be supple lnented with acid phosphate, (1- to JA as much by weight as of hen ma- nurs). Spread all hen manure broad cast Use two or three bushels of seed per acre. Treatment with for rnalin for smut is worth while. Spring Wheat.
 This crop yields somewhat less than winter wheat as a rule, but Is possi- ble war rneasures' crop in New Eng land. Marquis and Red Fife are the most available varieties and as good yielders as any, Soils. preparation, and fertilization are similar to oats. Use at least ! E bushels seed per acre. Barley. Barley will yield better than spring wheat in New England. Oderbrucker, Chevalier and Franconian are satis- factory varieties, The bardless barley is very apt to lodge before the grain is ripe. Barley may bes afely sown for grain later than either oats or spring wheat, .but is questionable after the middle of June. Soils, preparation and fertilization are similar to oats, though barley will thrive better on poorer soils than spring wheat. Threshing and cleaning are more diff1- l cult than with oats. especially if the straw is not real dry.
 Mangels. Mange1s are very desirable green feed for winter. They require rich | loam soils and somewhat heavier ma nuring than for corn. and lime is de- sirable. They need careful. thorough cultivation and weeding to be success | full. Plant 28 to 80 inches apart in drills and thin to or 10 inches apart. Either Long Red or HalfSugar yar1e- l ties are good yielders. though hens eat the Half-Sugar and Globe varieties l better than the Long Reds. Get the l best seed obtainable. Do not harvest until late fall. Yields of 80 to 40 tons per acre can be secured.
 l Corn.
 Corn is the greatest single home l grown feed the poultrymen can raise both in yield and general usefulness. | There is no difference in feeding value, pound for pound, between flint and dent corn if equally mature. Flint corn will mature sooner than most | dents and the real small f1ints, like early Canada and Rhode Island White Cap, can be planted even to the mid I dle of June in southern New England l with good prospects of ripening the grain. Dent corn may grind or crack somewhat easier than flint. Almost any soil that is not wet or very sandy l will answerd for corn, though fertile loam soils well supplied with decay I ing organic matter give the best yields; 1000 to 2,000 pounds of hen manure can safely be used for corn. and even more on land not recently manured or fertilized. Supplement I with 400 to 500 pounds of acid phos- phate per acre. Do not plant until the weather warns up, usually from May 10 to June L. Plant in hills, three or
 four kernels each, and 3 to 3A feet apart each way. Seed needed for an
 acre varies from 10 to IA quarts, Gull ] tivate well as long as possible. Lei
 the ears harden well before cutting. l. Soy Beans.
 Soy beans are new crop for grain
 particularly for poultry, but very high
 in protein and hence worth trying q Plant the smaller varieties at corr
 planting time, in drills 30 inches
 apart, approximately F bushel seed
 broadcast. All fertilizer or manure Don't use as much hen manure as fol
 corn. Leave standing until most o1
 the leaves have dropped, if pods arc
 not shattering. Dry in small bundle.
 or piles with as little handling as pos
 sible. Thresh only when dry and Ie
 grain dry well before grinding.
 Buckwheat.
 Buckwheat is an easily raised cro1
 that can bes own until the middle O. July. Not exacting in soil require
 ment, but responds to fertilizer; 6Ot to 800 pounds hen manure is enough : and none is needed on land previousl, , manured. Seed with grain drill ol
 broadcast using two to three bushels 'i per acre. Buckwheat is easly thresh ed by poultry and the straw serves foI litter.
 Winter Wheat.
 -i Winter wheat can be sown until Oc : tober 10, but before Septhember 3Otl l is safer. Don't SOW on heavy, cIaye, f land that heaves badly over winter r nor on land having water standing o1 f it through the winter. Manure ant si fertilize the same as for oats, ant 3 gsow 2 F to bushels per acre. Winte, 3 wheat is an excellent crop in whicl t to seed clover in the spring. Daw 3 sons Golden Chaff, Klondyke, Jones 8 Red Weave, Fultz, Early Windsor : Poole and Gypsy are suggested varie ties.
 8 Rye.
 . Every corn field that is not seeded
 to grass or winter wheat should hay s rye sown on it during August, in tn : standing corn or after the corn i 5 harvested. Rye can safely be sow f later than winter wheat and shoul, = be fertilized about the same It cal ! be sown after buckwheat. Use 2 t.