davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

land will do nicely, though sandy
better sanitary conditions and drain
age. If n large plant is contemplated
it should lie located close to a railroad
or other means of direct commnuica-
ton with the city markets and the
buildings should be arranged as con
veniently as possible so as to reduce
labor to q minimum.
Houses for ducks are simple affairs.
They are LITTLE more than shelters and
require 10 furnishings. such as roosts
and nest boxes. Make no mistake
about building the house on well drain
ed ground and keeping it dry. Ducks
can withstand great deal OF cold
their feathers are almost impenetrallc
hut they must have their feet protect
ed. Scarcity Of bedding on the floor or
a low. damp floor will soon put whole
flock of ducks out of business. They
must have dry quarters. strange as thi,
may sound In view Of their being given
20 water.
If n stream or pond is available II IS
well TO allow the breeders the freedom
Of it. as the eggs will prove more fer
tile. If an artificial pool is used be
sure to clean ii out frequently. for IL is
quickly foulcd. Young ducks may be
given the freedom Of stream until
they are about eight weeks old. when
they should he penned and fattencd for
market Ducks are heavy drinkers
They must be provided with liberal
supply of drinking water at all times
II has been said that the only neglect
that will kill young ducks is failure to
furnish them with sufficient drinking
water.
The food must be largely Of soft
character. Too much hard food does
not agree with ducks, Moistened mash
as are best. and the simplest ingredi'
ents are to be preferred. Grit Is even
more essential to ducks than 1t Is TO
chickens, and they should have oyster
shells as well.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
UNIFORM Pig CROP
One of the First Considerations
In Selecting Original
Herd.
CONFORMATION OF GOOD SOW
Many Judges Of Swine Regard Good
Roomy Females as Being Especial.
Iy High in Fecundity--MaIe
Is Half the Herd.

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
In feeding hogs for the market, as
also with any other class of meat ami
mails, larger returns are obtained when
the stock Is as nearly uniform as pos
sible, and as II is very profitable for
each farmer to breed his own feeders,
particular attention should be given
to the selection of the original breed
ing stock. Uniformity Is of primary
importance, for to have a uniform
crop of pigs there must be uniformity
in the breeding herd, and TO obtain this
must be one of the first considerations
in selecting the original herd.
The Sows.
The females of the herd may be OBJ
tanned by purchasing bred sows or
gifts safely in pig to boar of rec
ognized worth. As it is often difficult
to obtain SOW which has shown her.
self to be good breeder by the prcvi-
Gus filters she has produced, IL Is adj
visablc for economy's sake to purchase
bred gifts. These should be about
twelve months old, being bred after
the age of eight months, and if possi-
BILE all should he in pig to the same
boar. Here Is the first opportunity to
practice selection for uniformity
whether pure-bred or not, the sows
should be similar in color, marking,
type and conformation. The type of
the sows selected should be the one
which the market demands. While
there Is some variation between the
different breeds, it is largely matter
of characteristics, as good individual,
no matter what breed 1t represents, if
properly fed and managed will make
economical gains.
Conformation.
In conformation brood sow should
show first of all femininity. This is
well marked In the hog if close OBJ
servation is made, and is characterized
by quality and refinement in ali parts
of the body. The bristles are finer and
less erect than those of the boar, CIV
ing the SOW smoother appearance.
The forehead Is smoother, the neck
much thinner, and n little longer in
proportion to the rest of the body. The
shoulders are not as heavy, although
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

Gus In the New England states about
twenty-five years ago. II has now
spread to n greater or less extent
throughout the middle west and is Oc.
casionally found in the south and on
the Pacific coast. Blackhcad occasion
ally affects grown turkeys. but it most
~ occurs amOng young turkeys be-
tween the ages of six weeks and four
months. When n flock becomes In
fected aud nothing is done to prevent
its spread 30 per cent or more Of the
turkeys in HE dock usually die.
The symptoms of blackhead are such
that unless the bird Is killed and an
examination of the internal organs
made 1t is difficult to tell whether the
disease is blackhcad or some other all
ment. The bird drinks II great deal.
but refuses to cat and grows steadily
weaker untl it's death. which usually
occurs n few days or n week after the
weakness Is first noted. Iiarrhca
commonly occurs, and the drOppings
vary in color from white to brown, but
are usually bright yellow. The head
Of the TURKEY sometimes turns dark.
and it is from this symptom that the
name backhead originated. This Is an
unfortunate term. as the head often
does not turn dark, and even though
it does it merely indicates that the
bird IL sick from some ailment that
may or may not be blackhcad. On
opening turkey that has died of
blackhcad one or both of the coca. or
blind guts." are found to be enlarged
and plugged with cheesy material,
and the liver is more or less covered
with spots. varying in color from gray.
ish white to yellow.
No positive cure for blnCShead has
been found. As in the case of all 9th
or infectious diseases the sick bird
should Immediately he removed from
the flock 10 prevent further spread
of the disease. and If very sick it Is
best to kill it and burn the body. Clean
out the rocsting place and spread lime
In places most frequented 10y the tur-
keys. Keep disinfectant in the
drinking water. Potassium permanga-
nate is a good antiseptic, a sufficient
quantity OF the crystals being added to
give the water Il wine color, which for
every gallon of water will take about
as much IF the chemical as can be
placed on Il dime. If the turkeys are
being fed heavily their ration should
be reduced. as overlooking predisposes
to the disease The feeding OF sour
milk has been found of advantage In
keeping turkeys in good health and In
reducing the activities of the organism
causing blGckhcad.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
Pumpkins For Hogs.

A small crop of pumpkins is a great
aid to the hog raiser, in the opinion of
Ray Gatewo od Kansas State Agricul-
tural college. Pumpkins can be grown
at small cost and form valuable
addition to the rations Of hogs. They
may be grown In the cornfields, espe-
cially where there is poor stand. The
value does not lie entirely In their nu-
tritive composition. but is due largely
to the beneficial effects on the digestive
tract. as they tend to regulate the bow
els. 1t Is claimed that the seeds are
valuable an . vermifuge. helping to q.
- s'ormA
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

eight months old for the selection of
weanllng pig that will mature into
the kind of breeding animal demanded
in any particular case * very diff
cult and prcCarious undertaking. In
selecting the male, aim To correct any
faults which may be present in the
conformation of the sOws. These faults
may be discovered in the several
months between the first purchase of
the bred gifts and the time when it Is
necessary to breed again for the sec
Ond litter. 1t is seen here why uni
formity Is of such Importance in the
herd, for the common fault of the sows
may be corrected in the offspring by
the use of boar particularly strong
In that characteristic; but If the sOws
are not uniform-if, for example, one
has high quality with lack of scale,
while another has the opposite char
acters-it will be impossible to select
one boar that can correct the faults
of both.
The boar must show masculinity
first Of all. This is characterized by
strong head, thick well-crested
neck, well-developed shoulders, stiff
bristles, and little coarser hair than
Is found In sow of the same weight
and age. His visible reproductive or
gans should be well developed. BY
no means select boar having only one
testicle or one having two small, ill
defined ones. Constitution should be
strongly in evidence, for this indicates
the vitality necessary to get strong,
healthy pigs. The market type indl-
Gated for the sows should be found in
the boar, namely, long, strong, we'll
arched back, thickly covered with flesh
not fat; well-rounded, plump ham;
q deep, smooth side; and n trim under
line. He must have quality, but with
II strength of bone and scale. A small,
over-refined boar Is often lacking In
masculinity. Strength of bone Is shown
In the development of the feet and
legs, and the manner In which the ami
NAL carries himself upon his toes. AS
the hind pasterns are very prone to
become weak with age and may inter-
fere seriously with serviceability, Sc
lect young boar. one that stands well
up on his toes. THIS characteristic Is
found only In one having excellent
strength and quality of bone.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
Aua For Heifer BREEDING.

There is difference of opinion as to
the age at which heifer should drop
her first calf, writes correspondent Of
the Rural New Yorker believe, how
'ver, that most practical dairymen IRE
er to have their heifers calve for the
irst time Mt between two and two aud
half yeats of age. The advantage in
this Is that the heifer begins early to
make soma return for her food and
care and 70 develop the milk making
function. The disadvantage. II any. is
that the Young animal is asked to as
sumo the burden of maternity before
reaching hrr own full development.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
Making the
Farm Pay
ALFALFA ADVANTAGES.
Valuable as an Enriehor Of the Soil For
Corn and Other Crops,

Valuable as an Enriehcr Of the Soil For
Corn and Other Crops.
Prepared Ivy United States department of
agricultural
On land where 1t will succeed, alfalfa
is one of the best crops for a perma-
nent meadow, and it is also valuable
as a pasture plant, especially west Of
the Mississippi river. 1t needs rich,
well drained land with a permeable
subsoil and good supply of lime. In
general the loans are better adapted
to alfalfa than sandy soils and dry
clay uplands. Wherever the soil con-
tains a high percentage of lime alfalfa
Is nearly certain to succeed. In the
east, however, many Of the limestone
soils are acid and require lining Tor
alfalfa.
The advantages Of alfalfa have lei to
special treatment of many soils not
naturally adapted to this crop. For OK
ample. sonlc wet areas can be put into
condition for alfalfa by thorough
drainage. Such lands commonly need
an application Of lime, which should be
applied at the rate of from one to two
tons of burnt lime per acre or two to
three tons Of slaked lime or three to
four tons If finely ground limestone.
II the soil is not fertile it is always
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
at Regi-

In the field, officers eat the same
food as the men. If they want to pur-
chase some extra dainties that is their
affair. Any man can do the same. The
government issues sugar for the coffee,
and jam or preserves or dried fruit. At
mess time, the men, each carrying his
kit, line up In front of the kitchen. AS
the line passes along, the sergeant
dishes up the stew and beans or other
vegetables, one Of the cooks doles out
the bread, another fills the coffee mugs
and the third Is sweltering over the
fire. After all the men have been
served. the sergeant fills the officers
tin dishes and carries them to where
they are waiting. That is all the extra
service they get. 1t Is the same with
the marines. II Is wise government
regulation. The oficer knows what
food the men are getting. for he has
the same.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

sible combinations. In ,her words, a
sow may not produce offspring similar
in type to herself, unless her ancestors
were Of the same type. BY selecting
the sows from one herd. It is not only
possible to choose animals similar In
visible type, but they are apt to be
similar In dormant characteristics as
well. In buying such animals the farm
er is not purchasing separate individu-
ais to form so many breeding units,
but rather kindred individuals, all
parts of single established line. or
type which will blend together to form
a single breeding unit.
At best, 1t Is impossible to choose
sows that will produce true to type,
for as yet no line of breeding Is abso-
lutely pure, but by selecting the sows
in this manner, the chances for uni
formity are UNNECESSARILY increased.
Some mistakes are bound to be made,
and their correction will be difficult,
but by keeping records of the breeding
stock and their produce, 1t will be pos
sible to dispose of undesirable individ-
uals as their poor reproductive abil-
ity becomes known. One ideal must
always be uppermost In the breeders
mind, and the stock must constantly
approach nearer to that one ideal in
order to make any real progress. 1t Is
relatively easy to produce hogs, but to
produce uniform hogs, hogs that will
build up and advance the breed, re-
quires time and constant effort.
The Boar.
The farmer who lives in commune
ty where it is possible to obtain the
only few sows, will not find it prof
table to keep male simply for use In
his own herd. However, If he has six
or more sows, or if it is impossible to
get the use of his neighbours boar when
necessary. it will be well to purchase
one of his own. 1t is often desirable
to delay the purchase of the boar until
some time after the original female
stock has been selected. If the gifts
were bred at the time Of their pur-
chase, the service of boar will not be
needed until several months later,
when it is necessary to breed for the
second lot of pigs. This Is not only
saving of money at the time of start
ing the herd, when expenses are apt to
be very heavy, but it also gives the
breeder time to study the original sows
along with their offspring and select a
boar that will correct their faults.
There is hackneyed but ncverthe-
less true expression that the male is
half the herd" He really does repre-
sent so per cent of the breeding stock,
and therefore Is the most important
individual in the whole herd, but
granting that he forms half, the sows
most certainly constitute the other
half. even though their influence Is d.
vided into several parts. Certainly
both halves are equally important and
neither can well be neglected at the
expense Of the other.
1t is well to select boar at least
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

well TO improve it by the use of barn
yard manure or green manure before
sowing it to alfalfa.
The seed bed should lie thorough
prepared before sowing. Well cultir at
ed fields OF early varieties of soy beans.
early pota toes or similar crops wi ich
mature early may be easily prepared
for alfalfa after harvesting without
blowing tie ground. a thorough SIX
ing with sufficient narrowing and roll
ing is all that is required. From tv en-
ty-fivc TO thirty pounds CT alfalfa Der
acre should be sown and lightly 'ov-
cred. Fall seeding, when practica Die.
is best because it avoids the worst in
jury from crab grass and other sum-
mer weeds. 1t is necessary. however,
that the seeding should be done silli-
GENTLY early to permit good growth
before winter sets in, and for this rea-
son in the northern tier of states sCed-
ing in the spring or early. summer Is
usually better than in the fall. since 1t
is necessary to get a good growth be-
fore winter sets in. When practica ole,
however. fall seeding avoids the worst
injury from crab grass and other sum-
mer weeds.
There is no better hay, say the sre-
.cialists, than alfalfa for dairy or reef
cattle, Sheep and young growing stock
of all kinds. 1t Is also a valuable feed
for working animals. but care Should
be taken not to feed 1t to them ex'lu-
sively. Fer hogs it is splendid PAS
turage If /. is not graZed too closely or
too late in the season. In the north
central and northeastern states, how
ever, pastllring alfalfa is not in gen.
eral to be recommended, as the stand
is frequently injured, permitting weeds
to invade The field. When cut for hay
fall sown alfalfa should yield from two
to four cuttings the season after plant
ing, and each cutting should average
about one ton Of cured hay per acre,
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
liv,r Trouble In Poultry.

Unless II postmortem examination is
made tie symptoms of this ailment
are misleading. 4 bird so afflicted Is
Enthusiastically sick, but 1t is difficult to
distinguish this trouble from other
forms of disease When examined
after death the liver is found to be
greatly enlarged and filed with blood
aud so tender that II is easily torn. II
is caused by overlooking, too rich a
diet or ration unsuited to conditions,
IL It is SUSPECTED that the other birds
In the nock are similarly affected COR
rect the ration. give plenty of green
food and encourage exercise In the
open air
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
DON'T Crowd Poultry.

Many fine chicks are materially In
iured by crowding. They are growing
rapidly and are greedy, caring more to
get all they can. regardless of the
wants of the others They crowd and
tread on and pick each other until we
find our once promising flock looking
decidedly ragged. Separate them nc
cording to size and give the weaker
ones chance. We may find our best
fowls among them. The coops should
he enlarged as they grow older The
c0ckerels should be separated from the
pullcts when they are three months
old. But If you don't wish to keep
them for breeders II would be better
10 sell them.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

Chicken manure Is the richest Of all
farm manures In fertillzing elements.
md 1t should DO so cared for that none
If its excellent elements be wasted or
leached away. 1t should be preserved
under shelter and have mixed with II
such material as kainit or dry earth or
acid phosphate or land plaster or muck.
DO not lime II or add lime to It since II
would drive or the nitrogen. II should
not be mixed with sawdust or sand, as
they are without value. To compost
with loan or leaf would be all right.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
POULTRY PiCkiNGS.

Keep the summer chicks grow !
. ing. Provide shade. Give the
youngsters all the range posi-
! bic. Exercise Is the best tonic !
: growing stock can have.
. Boiled oats. after draining Off
. the water. can be mixed with
. bran and cornmeal to make a
. valuable egg food.
Cow peas are rellshed by poul-
. try and should be added to the
: diet Mt least twice week.
) Buttermilk and sour milk are
: not only rclishcd. but are valu-
. able additions to the poultry rn-
. ton. Kaillr corn Is fairly good
substitute for wheat.
. The trouble with so many farm
hens is that they do not get
. enough grain during the summer
. months to make them produce
! profitable number of eggs to pay
for their Keep.
= 4 4 4. 4 4 4 4 L 4 L 4 L 4 L 4 4. .
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

they must not be narrow, for such &
condition Is an Indication of lack Of
constitution. BY no means accept any
breeding animal that is narrow-chest-
ed, for it Is n sure indication of lack
of vitality and consequently of breed
ing ability. Ample capacity in the
middle should be provided by we'll
sprung ribs, and long, deep sides.
Many judges of hogs regard good
roomy sows as being especially high in
fecundity. and this characteristic is
certainly no detriment to their confor-
nation, provided it is combined with
quality.
A SOW should show the type demand
ed in n market animal, namely, a
strong, wide. deeply flcshed back;
smoothly covered shoulders; plump,
well-rounded hams; apd trim, neat
underline. A wide, well-develOped pei
vic cavity will insure easy parturition,
and the udder should be evenly and
well developed and have at least IL
teats. Her legs should be strong and
well placed, have good clean bone, and
strong, straight pasterns. 1t Is not of
as great Importance to have perfect
feet and legs in a sow as in male,
but she should show no weakness at
this point. A sow should have scale
and size, combined with quality.
Strong, clean, hard bone, trim joints,
neat ears, fine, glossy bristles, and
freedom from folds and wrinkles in the
skin, are all indications of quality. A
large, raw-boned SOW, having plenty of
capacity and size, but lacking In fem
ininity and quality, is one Of the poor
est investments breeder can make,
for her pigs will be slow to develop,
hard to fatten, and lacking both in
numbers and In uniformity.
Selection.
If possible, the first purchase of sows
should be made from one herd, for In
this manner 1t is easier to get uni
formity. Uniformity goes deeper than
the mere visible type or conforma-
ton; 1t Is determined by past ancestry
and is controlled by the characteristics
contained In the germplasm. The
germplasm Is continuous. extending
from individual to individual. and any
member of the chain shows In Its visi-
10 conformation only few Of the pos
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
Provide Lime For Hens.

When the ration lacks mineral mat.
ter the eggshells are tender. Hens
then become ravenously hungry for
lime. They begin to eat their eggs to
get more lime for making eggshells.
Lack OF mineral matter In the food Is
the principal reason why hens eat
eggs. Cracked oyster shells. mortar.
bones. ETC.. should be accessible 10
fowls at all tines
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
POULTRY
AND EGGS
DISEASES OF TURKEYS.
BIsekhead Is One Of the Most Destrvo-
tive Of the Common Ailments.

wv ot tHe SomFNon timeNtS.
Prepared by United States department OF
agriculture
Turkeys are subject to most Of the
diseases and ailments affecting fowls.
or these the most common infectious
diseases are blackhcad. chicken pox
(sorc head and roup. Timber neck
and impaction of the crop are nom
infectious ailments quite often found
among turkeys. or the parasites lice
are the most Injurious, especially
among young turkeys. and unless some
effective means has been taken to de-
stroy them they can usually be found
on every turkey In the flock.
OF the infectious diseases, blackhead
is the most destructive among tur-
keys. This disease first became seri-
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

The Indian Runner duck, which
had It's origin in India-hence the
forepart of its name-has rapidly
come into wide popularity by reason
of its prolific egg yield and by rea-
son of which 1t is aptly termed the
Leghorn of the duck family. The
name Hummer" is very appropriate,
for they literally run, instead Of
waddlng, as do other ducks, ana
sometimes present 4 very comical
appearance. The bird pictured l.,
an Indian Runner duck.
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26

The Illustration shows a method
of preventing turkeys from flying
over fences. a thin piece of wood
Is placed across the back and tied
under the wings with soft strips of
cloth
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1917-12-26
DUCK RAISING PAYS.
Birds Are Easily Handled, and With
Care Return Coed Profits.

Care Return Coed Profits.
Improved methods of artificial incu-
baton and brooding combined with
ludicious feeding with the aid of ma
chincry have enabled duck breeders to
grow their stock early and thus obtain
the best prices and to raise large num-
bers Of birds economically.
Almost any location will do for duck
raising. Cheap. WORKOUT or marshy