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Eggs In Winter.
A comfortable poultry house can be
cheaply and expeditiously made in the
oorner of a barn, shed or any outbuilding.
It should bs cheerfully lighted and face the
South or West if convenient. Tarred felt
paper makes a good lining and is obnoxi
ous to vermin. The houae should bs di
vided into pens, large enough to hold
twenty fowls and uo more. Fowls do bet
ter in small colonies. The laying stock
must not bj crowded, or they will not be
layers long. The U mperature in the cold •
est weather should be high enough to keep
the water from freezing—at auy rate,warm
enough to prevent the combe of the layers
from freezing. A wooden floor is better
than any other kind In the cold weath
er, the best earthen floors will get damp
and keep so, and damp is disease and
death to poultry.
The best roost is a two by four-inch
scantling, put broadside over two twelve
inch boards, forming a platform to catch
th« droppings, as manure is worth seven
ty-five cents to one dollar per barrel.
Heavy fowls should not have to jump more
than eighteen inches. Each pen should
contain a dust bath, so that the fowls can
roil in the dry dust and keep down lice.
A small box to hold broken oyster shells,
o d mortar, gravel, crockery broken into
small pieces, etc. Some of these sub
stances are absolutely necessary to furn
ish grit to grind up the food. They are
the hen’s teeth. A certain amount goes
to furnish lime for the eggshell, but much
of the lime for this purpose can be given
in the shape of proper food.
The nets snouiu be kept in constant ac
tivity. Alaz z hen is never a laying one.
Cut straw, hay, chaff or dry leaves should
be scattered liberally on the floor of each
compartment, and in this all grain fed
should be thrown, so that the hens will
be kept scratching for it. A cabbage sus
pended from the roof of ceiling high
enough to make the hens jump at it is a
capital way of keeping tuem busy. Oc
casionally substitute a piece of cow’s
liver, lights or any tough sort of meat for
the cabbage. In very cold weather the
chill should be taken off the water for
drink.
Laying fowls require plenty of fresh
water, hence the importance of having the
house warm enough to prevent water
freezing. Take away all the male birds
from the laying hens. The cock bird is a
nuisance in the pen of layers. He not
only monopolizes the most of the food,
but teaches the hens to break eggs, and
so learn to eat them. Besides, the stim
ulating diet is too fattening for him, and
will ruin him as a breeder.
In the cold weather of winter, a warm
meal in the morning is necessary to start
and keep up a steady supply of eggs.
A good plan is to threw all the waste of
the kitchen, in the shape of meat scraps,
pieces of bread, uneaten vegetables, etc.,
into a pot; heat up in the morning till
nearly boiling, ana then mix bran, pro
vender, shorts, or whatever is most abun
dant or cheap on the farm, into the hot
mess, dusting in a small quantity of red
pepper before mixing. Let the mixture
stand for a few minutes uutil the meal is
nearly cooked; then feed in a clean
trough, with lath over it to keep the hens
from jumping in and fouling or wasting
the feed m their eagrr anxiety. Feed
only enough of this soft stuff to barely
satisfy, never enough to gorge.
When a hen has had so much food that
she will go into a corner and mope she
has had too much, and if the overfeeding
is continued will aOon eease to lay. The
laying hens are the active ones. If food is
given at noon it should be oats, and scat
tered among the litter on the floor. This
meal should be light. The last food in the
afternoon should be generous. Each hen
should be sent to roost with a full crop to
carry her over all the night.
Green food in the shape of vegetables,
usually grown on every farm, will be rel
ished t>y the layers. Cabbages, turnips,
earrots are generally the most convenient.
Small potatoes boiled and m<xed with
provender or bran is a good change for
the morning meal.
Some of the above named vegetables
should always be in the pens of the layers.
There is no danger of their eating too
much Red clover hay steamed, chopped
and mixed with bran and given while hot
is one of the healthiest foods for the morn
ing meal. Meat in some shape must be
given at least twice a week, to furnish
blood making material. Hens fed on meat
lay well. If given no meat the hens will
eat their eggs and pick feathers from one
another. In cold weather warm the grain
feed.
What would be generous and stimula
ting diet for Leghorns, Minorcas and oth
ers of the Spanish family would be too fat
tening for Plymouth Rocks or Brahmas.
A* before stated, give enough to keep the
hens active.
When meat is given it is not necessary
to give so much grain. For instance, if
meat is fed at noon it will be only neces
sary to scatter a few handfuls of oats in
each pen to keep the inmates at work.
When a hen becomes too fat she will lay
soft shelled eggs.
Where plenty of meat is to be had as one
es the cheapest articles of food a greater
quantity of oats may be given. Wheat is
the best all round food. The waste of the
farm in conjunction with meat and the hot
morning meal and exercise will bring
plenty of eggs.
Beyond question, the best all round
fowl for the farmer is the Plymouth Rock.
The two bast breeds are the Plymouth
itock and the White Leghorn, for the rea
son, as the tables published in a preceding
part of the report proves, that the Ply
mouth Bocks put on flesh more rapidly,
and the White Leghorn lays moreeg<is
than any other of the standard breeds.
Closely following come the Wyandoites
as an early flesh producer and layer. Then
follow the Brahmas but they are slower
in development.
Another auvantage in keeping Plymouth
Bocks and Leghorns is that while the
Plymouth Rock hens are hatching chick
ens, after la ing all winter, the Leghorn*
(being non-sittars) will go on laying, and
pay the expense incurred while the other
breed is setting.—R-port of Ottawa Cen
tral Experimental Farm.
Deafness Cannot be Cured
by local applications, as they cannot reach
the diseased portion of the ear. There is
only one way to cure Deafness, and that
is by constitutional remedies. Deafness
is caused by an inflamed condition of the
mucous lining of the Eustachian Tube.
When this tube gets inflamed you have a
rumbling sound or imperfect hearing, and
when it is entirely closed Deafness is the
result, and unless the inflammation can
be taken out and this tub* restored to its
normal condition, hearing will be de
stroyed forever; nine cases out of ten ar*
caused by catarrh, which is nothing but an
inflamed condition of the mucous sur
faces.
We will give One Hundred Dollars for
any case of Deafness (caused by catarrh)
that cannot be cured by Hall’s Catarrh
Cure. Send for circulars, free.
F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O.
by Druggists, 750.
Infertility in Eggs.
While it may seem a little eafly to talk
about infertile eggs at this season of the
year, yet to avoid all trouble in that line
we must begin in time. The business hen
has already moulted or put on her winter
clothing and is the most desirable hen be
cause she is ready for business, not so
liable to disease on acceunt of exposure
and not an expense without income to the
poulterer. This hen now ready for busi
ness is in the pink of health and will take
on fat very readily. Over fat fowls are
totally unfit for breeding, owing to their
inability to produce strong vigorous
offsprings and the tendency to infer-1
tility of '.their teggs. In fact over-fed
animals of any kind, while they are pleas-1
ing to the eye, are unfit for breeding pur-
6 oses and how much more so with fowls,
low can we avoid this tendency to fat in
hens? We can do it by supplying more
egg-producing food and giving plenty of
exercise.
We must feed that which does not pro
duce fat and in away that they will work
or scratch for it.
With these precautions taken against
fat; with plenty of green winter food or
egg-produeing grain in abundance; with
unlimited exercise, have we a right to ex
pect fertile eggs ? Not yet. We are not in
sured a liberal supply| u f fertile eggs yet. We
must keep clear of inbreeding or incest
uous breeding as it tends to increase infer
tility and weakens the offspring.
While inbreeding is resorted to in order
to improve the outward appearance of
stock, yet this should not be carried too
far, as it is done at the expense of the
health of the offspring.
When we have been careful to feed
properly, supplied exercise, and avoided
inbreeding we have not yet done all. We
must not allow our eggs to become chilled.
They will lose their fertility if left long in
a temperature below 40 degrees.
There are many other things necessary
to insure ferule eggs, and the poultry man
who has no trouble in this line may well
consider himself fortunate indeed.
How to Select a Layer.
The following has been “going the
rounds,” but to whose credit we do not
know. We present it for comment.
How many poultry men can pick out a
good laying hen from a strange flock? Not
many can do it; yet it can easily be done
after a short study of make-up and char
acteristics. There goes a hen with a
thick neck, large head, iii-snaped, walks
listlessly about, seemingly with no inten
tion or purpose in view. She doesn’t care
to scratch, but hangs around the hen
house, evidently waiting for her next
feed. She gets up late in the morning,
and goes to bed early in the evening.
That hen may be put down as a very
poor layer. The eggs of some of the oth
er hens go to help pay her keep. Here
comes another hen. She walks briskly,
and there is an elasticity in ner move
ments.that denotes she has something in
view. She is neat and natty in appear
ance, small head, with a slim neck, nicely
arched or curved. She forages and scratch
es all day long, and may oe too busy to
come for her evening meal. She is at the
door in the morning waiting to be let out.
She snatches a few mouthfuls of feed, and
is off to the meadow looking for insects.
Before she gets out in the morning, she
generally deposits her daily egg in the
nest, or returns after a short forage. She
is neat, clean and tidy, with a brightness
and freshness pleasant to the eye. That
is the hen that pays for her feed and gives
a good profit all the year round.
The writer has noticed these traits since
boyhood, and knows that they are infal
lible. By studying these traits, any man
may in a few years, by selection, have a
fine flock of hens.”
Selectlag a Breed.
Just as much care should be exercised
in selecting a breed as in feeding them af
ter you once have them. The breed must
be suitable to the purpose for which you
select them. We have known breeders to
have first one breed, then another, until
they have tried nearly all varieties, from
the Leghorns to Cochins and failed of
course. Certainly they would fail. In the
first place they cnose the varieties by ran
dom, not stopping to consider what were
the desired qualities and in the second
place they did not keep any one breed
long enough to succeed with it. It is a
question with us whether it is not alto
gether better for a beginner to practice on
any one variety that may be the most
easily obtained until he forms some idea
of what branch he intends to pursue. Then
if he chooses poultry for eggs he can pro
cure stock of the more prolific varieties,
but if he should conclude to raise broilers
the southern farm.
JJyE i
•\ * •
A BATCH OF CHRISTMAS PERSENTS.
The grandest distribution of presents which Thk Southern Farm has yet made.
. It does not cost you one cent to secure one of these valuable"presents since we absolutely give them away freely
and cheerfully.
Every person who enters the contest will have an equal chance for one of the prizes. The scheme is easy, plaus
ble and practical. Here it is:
How Many Grains In Two Pounds of Coffee ?
Everybody uses coffee, but how many people ever thought of the number of grains contained in two pounds of it
All of our subscribers are invited to enter this guessing contest. The terms are as follows:
One guess will be allowed for each subscription sent in.
In order to get an idea of the number of grains of coffee in two pounds, it will be well for you to buy a pound of
medium size green coffee and count tbe grains. Os course two pounds will be just about twice that amount.
The contest will close on the 15th of December, as we want time to get all the presents to those who win them by
Christmas day. On December 15th we will buy two pounds of medium size green coffee, and will put it in the hands
of a committee. This committee will count the grains and make the awards.
Each guess will be entered as it is received, provided it is accompanied by one dollar for a yearly subscription.
In the event two or more persons guess the same number, and such number wins a prize, the prize will be equally
divided between them.
LIST OF FFIZFS:
1. To the person guessing the exact number of grains, ..... sioo in gold.
2. To the person guessing nearest exact number, - - - - - - $50““
3. To person coming next, Handsome Sewing Machine, - - - - - SSO
4. To person coming next, ---.----...525““
5. To person coming next, Ladies or Gents Gold Watch, - - - - S2O
6. To person coming next, Silk Dress Pattern, - - - - - - -S2O
7. To person coming next, China Dinner Set, .-..---sls
8. To person coming next, Cash Prize, - - - - - - - - $10““
9. To person coming next, Cash Prize,' ........ $5““
30 handsome doth bound books oy standard authors, - - - S3O
$325
Thirty Elegant Cloth Bound Books.
The following list of thirty books will be given to the next thirty guessers. Any person entitled to one of these
books will be notified before the book is sent, so that in the event any particular book is desired we may be apprised
of the fact, and the book desired will in each instance be sent.
10. Vanity Fair. Thackeray. 19. Ivanhoe. Walter Scott. 30. Daniel Boone. Norton.
11. Last Days of Pompeii. 20. Children of the Abbey. 31. Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte.
12. Tom Brown’s School Days. 21. The Scottish Chiefs. 32. John Halifax. Miss Mulock.
13. Willy Reilly and his Dear Co* 22. Thaddeus of Warsaw. 33. Adam Bede. George Eliot.
leen Bawn. Wm. Carlton. 23. Treasure’s from Fairyland. 34. East Lynne. Mrs. H. Wood.
14. Brown’s Popular Recitations 24. Robinson Crusoe. DeFoe. 35. Irving’s Sketch Book.
and Dialect Stories. 25. Arabian Night’s Entertainments. 33. Tom Brown at Oxford.
15. Vicar of Wakefield. 23. Don Quixote de la Mancha. 37. 20,000 Leagues under the sea. Jules
16. Grimm’s Fairy Tales. 27. Gulliver’s Travels. Verne.
17. Anderson’s Fairy Tales. 28. Swiss Family Robinson. 38. Tour of the World in 80 Days. Jules
18 JEsop’s Fables. 29. The Pilgrim’s Progress. Verne.
39. Star of India. Edw. W. Ellis.
D O KY - ) 0 1Y) 0V" The contest Is open now. It closes December 15th. The terms are simple. You
send in one guess for each yearly subscription sent us. If you want to subscribe
for both Thk Farm and Weekly Constitution, send us $1.25 the price of both papers, and you will of course be entitled
to a guess in the coffee contest. The money must be sent to Thk Southern Farm, however. Somebody will get these
presents. Yon stand as good a showing as anyone. Address,
THE SOUTHERN FARM,
Constitution Building.
he must look lor a more general purpose
fowl or if he fancies raising capons he
must select one of the larger varieties,
Until judgment is used in the matter of
selecting the variety of poultry we wish,
we cannot expect to succeed unless it just
happens to hit; for it is then merely guess
work. If all beginners were more careful
in this respect there would be less failures
in store for the amateur poulterer.
Points of Black Ltangshans.
There is only one kind es Langshans
recognized in the Standard, the Black.
They were, says Poultry and Pets, first in
troduced into America in 1878, admitted
to the Standard in 1883, and at once took a
front rank among our domestic p oultry
for their many excellent qualities. They
are a large, showy breed, very hardy, and
unexcelled as winter layers, are quiet and
gentle, and stand confinement well. Their
plumage is a dense black throughout,
with a rich beetle green gloss on back,
wings and sickles, and when standing in
the sun's rays the feathers reflect like dia
monds. Tail is large, widespread, and
carried well-up. Hackle full, lowing,
ana very glossy. Head small for the size
of the bird. Comb single, straight, and
evenly serrated.
Wattles and earlobes, a deep, rich red.
Legs, a dark slate color, and feathered to
the end of the outer tee. Bottom ofjeet and
web between toes pink. Flesh, white,
tender, and of delicate flavor, resembling
when eaten that of a young turkey. The
hens make good sitters and are careful
mothers
The chicks when hatched are black, the
head and breast have different shades of
canary, and the legs are of a light color
when they assume their first feathers.
They often retain a few white nest feath
ers, which, however, entirely disappear
with their moult in the fall.
They are a grand, beautiful fowl, great
on egg production and as a table fowl. The
Standard weights are: Cocks nine and
one-half, hens seven, and pullets six
pounds.
In Olden Times
People overlooked the importance of per
manently beneficial effects and were satis
fied with transient action, but now that it
is generally known that Syrup of Figs
will permanently cue habitual constipa
tion, well-informed people will not buy
other laxatives, which not for a time, but
finally injure the system.
Atlanta, Georgia.
Any of our improved varieties will pay
well, and the breeder who aims at making
profits en them can do so and gain a
greater saving by using a little labor and
skill in the preparation of the food, the
time of purchasing grain, etc , the mann
of feeding to avoid waste, the construc
tion of their quarters, the method of keep
ing them in tnrift and in laying condition,
the time of marketing, and attention to
other details will have much to do with
the profits. If there was really no profit
In poultry keeping there is enough besides
to make it interesting, instructive and
healthy when well attended to, but there
is remuneration in it as all know who
have followed tne business right along in
a judicious way.—The Game Bird.
“Beats Anything I Kver Used.”
Westovkr, Md., Jan. 13,1892.
The Lawrence-Williams Co., Cleveland,
Ohio.
Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find check
for one bottle Gombault’s Caustic Balsam.
I must say it beats anything I ever used
for the purposes for which it is recom
mended, Wm. M. Hunt.
7