Evening star., 1917-09-09

During the summer months when the
| fowls have ample range they pick up
enough green food in the grass. weeds
and vegetable growth. But where they
i are confined to runs which lack desir-
! able green food 1t VIII pay to supply
succulent food for them. To supply
green food during the summer Is not
a difficult matter. as there are plenty
OF underripe or overripe fruits( or
vegetables available which are not
suitable for table use. Lettuce leaves,
beet tops cabbage leaves, tomatoes or
melons are relished by fowls, and will
form a large portion of the ration
during the warm weather when green
foods are most needed. Corn or corn
cobs are excellent, especially if the
cobs are cut into fine pieces. Corn
husks and corn silk of fresh sweet
corn are relished. Corn fodder may
be cured for use in winter and it is
valuable substitute for green food.
When the ears have been pulled the
corn stalks should be cut close to the
ground and stood up in shocks until
quite dry. when they are tied in bundles
and set aside until needed. If this is
too bulky, strip the leaves from the
corn stalk; when dried out thoroughly
they are put away for winter use.
Lawn clippings are valuable as a
substitute for green food during the
winter months. if they have been
properly cured. To cure them it is
best to rake the clippings into small
heaps. left in the sun for several
hours. when they may be stirred and
allowed to remain till evening. If
they are fairly dry by evening they
should be put in basket and hung
so that the air will blow through them.
Lawn clippings thus cured can be
stored away in barrels or boxes for
winter feeding, and when taken out
they Will have nice green appearance.
An excellent method of feeding lawn
clippings consists Of taking piece of
inch mesh poultry netting about four
feet long and two feet wide, laying 1t
fat and covering to depth of several
! inches with the clippings. This is rolled
very tightly, fastened up and hung in
side the poultry house within reach of
the fowls. thus providing green food
at all times without danger OF waste
or soiling.
Sugar beets or mangels make excel
lent green food and should be put away
in cool place where there is no dan
ger of freezing. In the fall when cab
bage plants are pulled the poorly
and deep enough to cover the cabbage
, head. Place the cabbage down in the
trench and cover with soil, leaving
about half of the roots sticking out
in the air. Cabbage put away in this
manner. If in well drained location,
will keep all winter.
Those who have vegetable gardens
can provide enough green food for the
fowls by preparing a part of the gar
den for fall planting. The land should
be spaded deep and made fine by rak-
ing. Then sow winter wheat. or winter
rye, to which may be added Gn cases
where it may be allowed to stand for
permanent pasture) white. or little
Butch clover. Kentucky blue grass and
red top grass. This will insure a pas
ture through the winter. early spring
and summer. Fall sowing should be
done as early in September as possible.
so that it will get a good start before
cold weather checks its growth, and
also to give the grasses an opportunity
Of getting well rooted.
Thus sown the plants will make
strong growth, and poultry can pasture
on them almost from the first. espe-
cially If they are covered with poultry
netting to prevent the fowls from
scratching up the roots. If the growth
ia luxuriant and there is sufficient other
green food available, the grasses may
Re cut of and cured in the same man.
ner suggested for clover or lawn clip
During tho winter when all other
veretation ts withered, winter wheat or
rye will be seen sticking above the
snow. ana there 10 nothing equal to
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