Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 August 1891 — THE POULTRY YARD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE POULTRY YARD.

Pitching Eggs. After procuring baskets of light, tough material aud proper sizes, writes F. E. Nuss to Fancier and Farm Journal, I place a lining of two or throe thicknesses of paper on the sides and bottom of basket. Place a layer of Excelsior three-fourth or one Inch deep In bottom; then take each egg and wrap It separately in one or two thicknessess of paper (any kind of tough paper will answer.) Taking a small bunch of excelsior wrap each egg, seeing that It is completely covered with a thin layer. Place thorn in the basket close together large end down, as they will stand long transportation and rougher usago better in this way than any other. When they are all in, press excelsior between sideß of basket and eggs; then put a lawyer of same on top of eggs one to one and a half inches thick; then lay two or threo thicknesses of paper on this. Take strong muslin, cut out a piece a little larger than the Inside of the basket. Take a strong needlo (a small sack needle is best) and twine, and sow through tho sides of the basket and edge of muslin, drawing the muslin down tight. Now, fasten your card on the muslin; tie shipping tag, with purchaser’s name and address, on the handle of basket. Then you hive a package that you may feel suTe will reach. Its aestlnatlon safely, if any of thorn will. The lining of tho basket and the wrapping of tho eggs with paper may be dispensed with later in the season, when danger of the eggs becoming chilled is passed. wf nfrr.-.A. Drinking Fountain, Charles 1. Junkin, fn the Practical Farmer, thus tells how to make a drinking fountain for poultry. Materials: An old or now baking pan, the larger the bettor, and an old box, large enough to bold the pan. Run the pan Into tho box like the bottom drawer of a bureau, allowing it to protrude two Inches, and

then board up the rest of the box. Six advantages: Ist Cheap. 2d, Easily made. 3d. Shaded from the sun. 4th. Cannot bo upset. sth. Water cannot bo soiled. OtL Easily filled and easily cleaned. Poultry Mote*. ' Neveb expect hens to pay for themselves in winter unless you givo them a little extra care. Neveb fail to have a good supply of gravel where It is available for use when the snow is on the ground. Neveb begrudge a few dollars for some fresh blood each year, for It will always be worth more than it cost you if you gek the right stuff. Neveb cheat yourself with the idea that there is as much profit in an old heu as there Is In a young one. An old hen will lay quite likely, but not so many eggs as will a young one. Neveb feed your chickens three times a day, twice is often enough unless It be In cold stormy weather, when It is a good plan to throw a handful of fine grain in the straw and litter at odd times to keep the hens busy. Never forget that every poultry fancier has his hobby and that each and every breed has its merits, but the fowl that cau stand the test of the common market Is the fowl for the poor man.