Arizona republican., 1922-03-05

bushel. This was the beginning OF
grain sprouting, as least so far as the
general public knows, for the Sc
cretg' were simply systems, more or
less simple, of methods of sproutlng
oats or other grain for poultry. Re-
suits were such that sprouted grain
became a very popular poultry feed:
The claims that egg production wouid
be increased, and that the health ana
yigor Of the fowls would be greatly
improved had much Justification: as
these results generally followed. The
statement that 10 cents worth OF
grain could be sprouted and turned
into n dollars worth of feed. or some
claim of a similar nature, was hardly
true. but results were so pleasing
that sprouted grain has become
necessity on many poultry farms
throughout the country. especially IN
the east.
Why Green Feed 10 Necessary
Last week we said that II was natu-
raj for birds to lay in the spring OF
the year. Birds in a natural state
find in the springtime an abundance
Of tender vegetation. We may rea-
son that because there 10 plenty OF
this tender vegetation the bird lays,
or we may accept 1t a. one OF those
wise examples Of natures co.ordina-
ton which Is beyond the comprehen-
sion OF man. Spring seems to be the
natural season OF the year for repro
duction and all nature Is In tune. 80
to speak, to carry out this the most
| important Of all her laws
The green feed which the birds
| find so readily available in the spring
season stimulates the production OF
eggs, and, 80 far as can be deter
mined. has a marked influence on the
fertility of the eggs. The green feed
also is beneficial to the young, sun-
ulating their growth. making them
healthy and strong.
Green feed is therefore natures
best food and also regulator, tonic,
conditioner and stimulant. 1t beats
any sort of prepared condiments and
guaranteed egg producers. 1t, like
the egg. has no substitutes" In
general way. poultrymen have known
OF the value OF green feed probably
for nearly as long as fowls have been
domesticated, but It Is only within
the past few years that we have be-
gun to understand just why green
feed Is so valuable.
Vitamines
Just within the past few years we
have been reading lot about q new
food element which has been called
"vitamines." DR.. McCollum has given
to the world information regarding
some of our most common foods, tnat
is. in the nature of q. revelation. We
have known the value Of these foods
but did not know to what element to
attribute their value. BY exhaustive
studies and many experiments upon
animals, DR.. McCoilum has been able
to say definitely that certain foods
contain some peculiar properties not
easily isolated by the chemist, but
which are proven to be necessary %
animal life. These elements are found
in the green leaves of most plants, IN
a few seeds and in milk and eggs.
and to q lesser degree in the flesh OF
animals. There is a great deal that
is not known about vitamines as yet,
but the world IL becoming more IN
terested, and so far as the great ma
jority OF US are concerned. u IL
enough to know that we can feed
green -leaved plants 20 our cows and
to our poultry and obtain our share
of vitamines from the products OF
the dairy and from eggs
The name vitamine has been wen
chosen: IL Is from the same Latin
word from which we have vitality.
and vital, and which IN the original
root word means life" Incidentally,
the word is pronounced the same 80
the first part OF vital and the last the
same as any other kind OF . mine,
| literally, mine of life"
Green feed to the poultry keeper IL
| indeed q "uline OF life;" IL maintains
vigor. increases egg production and
makes the eggs for Matching more
Available Sources
In the Salt River valley there are
many ways OF providing green feed.
! Sprouted grain is just as valuable
| here as anywhere, but since other
green plants are available. II IS not
so necessary to go TO the bother--and
| IL Is a bother--to sprout grain. The
poultry keeper in the Salt River val
ley is very fortunate in having q
variety of plants that can be grown
| for green feed the year round.
| Through the winter season. when we
are most anxious to increase the egg
production, we have alfalfa and green
grains. In summer we have sudan
grass and alfalfa Alfalfa. grain in
winter and sudan grass will furnish
a constant succession of green feeds
at little cost. There are many other
| feeds available, such as lettuce. and
| this is being used by a good many
| Salt River valley poultrymen who
| have a chance to get the Gull lettuce
| from the lettuce growers. Swiss
chard makes a most excellent supply
| practically all the year around.
How Used
Several commercial poultry men OF
| the valley feed green feed regularly
at a regular hour each day. running
| it through a cutter and feeding in
| troughs. This may be green grain,
alfalfa, sudan, lettuce or whatever
Is most easily obtained.
It would seem that the ideal way
would be double yards, the fowls be-
ing alternated in these yards. allow
| ing something to grow In one while
the fowls have the run of the other.
For some reason or other this plan
does not seem to be followed very
extensively. Quite possibly. on
| large plant it Is less expensive to cut
the feed and feed it regularly rather
than to plow or spade up the yards.
Essential as green feed Is, the fact
| should not be overlooked that II. like
many other good things. can be over
done. Too much green feed and too
little grain cuts the egg production
and results in producing those watery
| eggs which are characteristic OF some
farm flocks. and which unfortunately
| has given bad reputation to Salt
| River valley eggs.