Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / Feb. 1, 1918, edition 1 / Page 6
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A Bird in the Hand (Special Information Service, V. 8. Department of Agriculture.) PUTTING A HENNERY IN THE BACK YARD A Double Yard ? Alternating the Flock Allows Green Feed to Grow. PROCEED WISELY WITH CHICKENS Suggestions of Specialists of De partment of Agriculture. WAKE START WITH PUREBRED Householders Usually Desire Not Only Eggs for Table, But Also an Occa- * clonal Chicken to Eat ? Light I Breeds for Eggs. You want to start a backyard hen nery or improve the one you have ? you have gone that far In your deter mination to help the meat and egg supply ? how shall you begin? What kind of fowls shall you keep, how many and how shall you procure them? These are your next considera tions. Here are the suggestions of specialists of the United States de partment of agriculture ou these points. They will help the beginner especially, but should also help the town householder to make his tlock more serviceable. First, the kind , of breed. This will depend somewhat on whether you desire eggs, meat or both eggs and 'meat. Householders usually desire not only eggs for the table and for cooking, but also an occasional chicken to eat. If this is your desire one of the general-purpose breeds, such as Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, lthode Island Red or Orpington, is preferable to the smaller egg breeds, such as tiie Leghorns. Not only do the mature fowls of these breeds, because of their larger size, make bettor table ?fowls than the Leghorns, but the young chickens for the same reason make better friers and roasters. Chick ens of the egg breeds are suitable only for ^nalltr broilers. Hens of the gen Vral-purpose breeds also are more "broody," making good sitters aud mothers, which is a decided advantage when it is desired to hatch and raise chicks. Hens of the egg breeds seldom become broody aud are in any event rather unreliable sitters and mothers. Lighter Breeds for Eggs. If, however, the desire for eggs out weighs that for an occasional table fowl the lighter egg breeds undoubted ly will be more practicable because fhey lay as many eggs and eat less feed, with the result that they produce the egg more cheaply. It is by all means advisable to keep some pure i ? # BEGIN WISELY WITH CHICK- ? \> ENS? BUT BEGIN. 3> ? > If you have not kept chickens <?> ) J before ask advice from trust- T * > worthy sources before you 4' | launch the backyard venture, jj, ' ' Get In touch with the local poul- < ? ] ! try association, the county agent | 1 ' and some successful poultry men. ?? * ! Write your state agricultural 2 \ J college and the United Ktates 4 < > department of agriculture for J | bulletins on poultry raising. ^ u Don't be discouraged if the ad- < > J I vice is a bit conflicting. There \ [ < > are several ways to succeed with ? ? J | chickens, as with anything else. {J This war is a test of nations even more than of their material resources and strength. The Issue of it depends on the relative intelligence, moral qualities and attitude of y\e people engaged. ? Secretary Houston. i Chickens never wash, as many other birds do, but cleanse themselves of Insects by wallowing in soil. For this reason every poultry house should be provided with a dust box. * ? - Start with pure stock ? that will l?ake the Increase and eggs for hatch ing marketable at better prices. " breed or variety. If this is done sales at a profitable figure often run be made of breeding stock which It Is In tended to market or of eggs for hatch Ing. The size of the flock which can be most efficiently kept will depend, first of all, upon the space uvailable and, secondly, upon the amount of table scraps or wasto which Is available for feed. It Is a mistake to try to over stock the available space. Better re sults will be obtained from a few hens In a small yard than from a larger number. The backyard poultry flock rarely will consist of more than 20 to 25 hens, and in many caseH of not more than eight or ten, or occasionally of only three or four. For a flock of 20 to 25 hens a space of not less than 25 feet by HO feet should be available for a yard. If less space Is available the size of the Hock should be reduced, allowing, on the average, 20 to 30 square feet for each fowl. A few hens sometimes may be kept successfully with a smaller yard allowance than tills, but if the space is available a yard of the size Indicated should be used. Ordinarily, the best way for the city poultry keeper to start a flock is to buy pullets in the fall when they are cheaper. Unless there is u scarcity in the community now, however, there is likely to be little trouble In secur ing a few hens at this time, although prices probably will be higher, l'ullets obtained at this time will give better returns if eg^s are desired, while If the intention is to raise chicks older laying hens may be used, or day-old chicks can be purchased and a start made In that way. How to Buy Hens. Whon pullets or liens are to be pur chased It Is well, If possible, to go to some fanner or poultryniau who Is known to the prospective buyer. If there Is no opportunity to go Into the country for pullets, they often can be selected from among the live poul trj shipped Into the city to be mar keted., The advice of some one who knows' poultry should be sought in making such a purchase to make sure that pullets or young hens are ob tained and that the stock Is healthy. Often the local poultry associations are glad to help the prospective poul try keeper to get stock by putting him In communication with some of its members having stock for sale. Some times the local board of trade or cham ber of commerce Is glad to help In bringing together the prospective pur chaser and the poultry raiser. In a later article suggestions as to how an Inexpensive poultry house may be built or converted from an unused shed will be given. Feeding Ducks. Ducks may be foil on the rations recommended for fowls and rtftckens, but better results are usually secured by feeding more green and vegetable feeds and a larger proportion ot mash. Eggs from Pekin ducks ar? used largely for hatching, and the profit is secured in producing green ducklings (ducks fnttened and mar keted at the age of eight or twelve weeks) ; therefore these ducks are fed a maintenance ration after they stop laying in the summer until about De cember 1, when a laying ration ta given and the amount of mash in creased. Indian Runner ducks have been introduced as producers of com mercial eggs, so they should be fed laying rations throughout the year if kept for egfc production. Don't keep n male bird unless you want fertile eges. Hens lay just as well without a male. Don't overstock your yard. Twenty to thirty square feet for each hen Is an average allowance. If you can get them, purchase well matured pullets rather than hens. Keep the hens confined to your own land. Dry Pen for Sheep. Sheep want u dry, airy pen with lots of sunshine. | GIVES HUSBAND AND 3 SONS FOR COUNTRY $ Llntfe, Wyo. ? A husband and % <t three sons for Uncle Saiu'g lib* ? 9 erty forces 1? the contribution o 5 of Mrs. John M. Bennett, of ** ? this town. ? <i With all the male members of ? ^ her family preparing in various o o training camps for the fight for j> o democracy and humanity, Mrs. ij. <* Bennett and her two youqg ? ? daughters spend a great deal of o 2 their leisure doing Red Cross ^ O work. jfr ? o OV.OQOVOQOQ090QOQOQOQOQOQOQ HOLD LIBERTY BONDS People Urged to Retain Them as Permanent Investment. Government Discourages Practice of Merchants in Accepting Them in Exchange for Merchandise. United States treasury officials are seeking to discourage the practice fol lowed by many merchants throughout the country of offering to accept Lib erty bonds of the first and second Is sues at par, and in some cases at a premium, in exchange for merchandise. They hold that such practice defeats the primary object of the sale of the botirts, discouraging the general thrift movement and increasing expenditures, thus depriving the government of la bor and material needed for war pur poses. "While I have no doubt that mer chants are actuated by. patroitlc mo tives," said Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo, in a statement given out through the federal reserve banks, "I am sure that they have failed to con sider the effect which the acceptance of their offers have upon the situation. We are making the strongest effort to have these government bonds pur chased for permanent Investment by the people at large, to be paid for out of the past and future savings of those who buy them. Purchases thus made not only result in providing funds for the uses of the government, but they also effect a conservation of labor and material. "When the bonds are exchanged for merchandise, the primary object of their sale Is defeated, discouraging thrift and increasing expenditure. In addition to this, such bonds, when tak en In exchange for merchandise, must In most cases be Immediately sold in the open market. This naturally tends to depress the market price of the is sue and makes it less easy to sell fu ture issues at the same rate." Secretary McAdoo believes that the merchants of the country, upon a more careful consideration of the subject, will discontinue their efforts to soil merchandise and take Liberty bonds lu payment tot it. CONVICTS KEEP THEIR WORD Warden Liberates 40 of Them for Holiday, and Ail Return to the Prison. Rnhway, N. J. ? Warden Frank Moore of the state reformatory ex perimented during the holiday In per mitting prisoners, after receiving their word of honor to return, to spend Christmas at home. He liberated 40 of them and they all returned within the agreed time. "Harry the lJuster," who is clever at jail deliveries, was one of the forty. Another was a young man who took a large turkey home to his mother. His friends bade him good-by as he left Christmas night, believing his story of having business elsewhere. They did not know. CAPT. "ARCHIE" ROOSEVELT t- ? =US 1,1 "Archie" Roosevelt, son of Col. Theo dore Roosevelt, was recently promoted to c.'iptp!.i on (he recommendation of General Pershing, lie was a second lieutenant. Tobacco Seed At The Center Brick Warehouse If you have not got yours yet, drop us a postal card, stating kind you want and we will mail them to you. If you come to Smith field come in to see us, we will be glad to serve you in any way we can. Prospects look good for another crop and we should make an effort to make a bet ter crop than ever. Yours truly, Pool ?? Lassiter SMITHFIELD, N. C. F ertilizers !! The time is here for the farmer to buy his fertilizers for his next crop. We want you to know that we are still selling the Obers, the Fish Brand, The Navassa, The V. C. and others of the very best brands for cotton and tobacco. And in connection with our cash system of selling supplies, dry goods, etc., we have made a special arrangement to handle the fertilizer part of our business on a plan that ? will enable us to accommodate and take care of our customers and at the same time save you some good money on your fertilizers this year. See Us Before Buying Wholesale Department We have decided to sell our feedstuff s of all kinds at wholesale prices direct to the consumer and we have a very complete stock on hand. Come to see us when you need anything in our line, buy it at our prices and put the difference in the bank or use it for something else. For The Cash Buys It Cheaper Roberts, Corbett & Woodarcl THE BIG CASH STORE - SELMA, North Carolina
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 1, 1918, edition 1
6
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