The Sidney herald., 1960-04-06
INFORMATION FOR EGG


INFORMAIION FOX EGG
PRODUCERS
Whether TO keep owe the old
hens for another year is a queS-
ton that those who raise chickens
must face up to every year. So
here are a few facts based on
research around the country that
may help you in making your
decision.
First, keep in mind that pullets
lay from 20 to 40 percent more
aggs the first year than they do
during the next. Pullets also lay
more high quality eggs than old
hens. AS the hen gets older both
the interior and exterior quality
of her eggs get poorer. One re-
suit of this is more broken eggs
in the nest and the need for
extra handling.
Another point worth noting is
that as hens become older they;
require more feed to produce a
dozen eggs. Then there is the
melting season to consider when
old hens ordinarily do not lay any
eggs. In fact, some poultrymen
figure that you can feed a pullet
for Is weeks ON the feed needed
to bring an old hen through the
mOlting season..
Lastly, when pullets are raised
under clean conditions they tend
to be healthier than old hens and
this means less loss from disease.
SO there you have several points
to consider in deciding what to do
about keeping your old hens.
WEED KILLER
When you buy weed killer, are
you paying for the "kill" or the
can? The prices of weed killers,
especially 2,4-D prices, often mis-
lead people into buying less kill"
for their money. Here's what you
should know in order to get the
most out of your dollars this
spring.
Killing weeds has become a big
business. Several hundred COM
panieS sell about 10 million gallons
of 2,4-D each year. These COM
panies, both large and small, COM
pete with each other for your
dollars.
Some unusual pricing policies
have resulted due to the many
different ways 2,4-D is formulated.
The result of this is pricing can
take advantage of the man who
is too busy to read the fine print
on the label.
All 2,4-D weed killers contain
various Foundations of 2,4-D
acid, but the only true measure
of killing powder is the actual
2,4-D acid content in the can.
Therefore, since the 2,4-D acid
: content is really the measure of
killing power, it is the most i'm
portant factor in the price per
gallon. The acid content is label
ed on the can as required by law
and is usually given in terms of
pounds per gallon.
Rates of application are always
based on pounds of "acid" applied
per acre; therefore, the amount
of acid content per gallon deter
mines how much ground one gall
lon will cover. For example, at
the application rate of 1/3 pound
per acre, a two pound gallon Of
2,4-D will spray four acres, a four
pound gallon will Spray eight
acres, and a six pound gallon will
spray twenty-four acres even
though each comes out of the same
sized can.
Through the history of 2,4-D,
the acid content has been dropped
by some manufacturers, but as the
acid content drops, the price can
not drop in direct proportion. Here
is a simple example: Let's assume
that you pay $3.50 for a two
pound per gallon of actual 2,4-D
and pass up buying a gallon of
four pound material for $500 a
gallon. The two pound formula
tion costs you SIPS per pound,
but the four pound would only
have cost $1.00 per pound. Here
is the factor that the price buyer
seldom realizes: that you have
to buy two cans of the two pound
material to cover the same acreage
as the can of four pound material.
Don't be one of those who is
paying the manufacturers for the
cost of the extra car in making,
filling, handling and shipping, but
instead pay for the kill contained
in the can.
= * s
HOME GARDENS
Home vegetable gardening is
not as popular today as it was