Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1891 — DOMESTIC ECONOMY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE . FARMER AND HOUSEWIFE. Some Valuable Information for the Plowman, Stockman, Poulterer, Nurseryman, and Everybody Connected with the Farm. THE FARM. A Valuable Fertilizer.

GOOD farming doesn't stop at the door of the poultry house. It goe-3 inside and gives . tho fowls as ra- \ tional care as is \ bestowed upon the \ rest of the farm rift] stock. It also takes I special pains to A preserve every Mb particle of tho valuable fertilizer $ that is made there. g* menibered that no stock upon the farm is fed such 9l concentrated food as that consumed

by fowls, that are properly cared for. The natural result is that their droppings contain more valuable food elements than any other manure made upon the place. I have never realized this so forcibly as during tho past season when 1 used it in mv garden side by side with commercial fertilizer. The fact that the poultry ntdfaure gave better satisfaction than the artificial compound was probably duo to the care which had boon taken to properly preserve it. 1 believe it is an exception to the general rule when proper care is given to this dressing by farmers. It is either allowod to collect in heaps under the roosts, where it may remain for mouths rendering tho air impure, or it is thrown out of doors to be wasted by rains, and its nitrogen (the specially strong and valuable point in this fertilizer) dissipated in the air. My own method is to remove the droppings frequently from the pens and place them in barrels, with a generous supply of dry absorbent, such as road dust, but, never wood ashes or lime. Such a plan involves rather more labor perhaps than most farmers would think they could give to tho matter, and so I am of the opinion that the verv best general plan that can be adoptod is to clean out the pens thoroughly, and then cover tho floor to the depth of at least six inches with perfectly dry road dust, which can always bo obtained during a dry time in the summer, fall, and spring. All tho droppings that fall into this dust will be quickly covered and their moisture absorbod by the constant scratching over the wholo room, particularly If oats and wheat are thrown down occasionally. By this arrangement there will bo no heaps formed beneath the roosts, because tho scratching of the fowls will level all, and keep an even mixture over the whole floor. The finest dust will fill every crack and cranny, and provide a bath each day for the fowls, so that vermin will be unknown. In this way I think tho pens need not bo cleaned out more than twice a year—ln the fall and spring. The manure laden dust will be found to be most excellent dressing, and It will have the merit of not being so concentrated in this form, and so will not bo likely to be injudiciously used as frequently happens with the undiluted article, and yet not a particle of Its value will be lost, while the pens will be kept sweet throughout the year, and the fowls kept free from the common pest of vermin. Caro should be taken If this plan Is followed that the drinking water is not spilled, for when road dust under cover becomes wot, It dries very slcJWiy, and dampness in tho poultry house is especially to be avoided. —lVebb Donnell, in Practical Farmer,