Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1911 — Page 3

Winter Months on the Farm

Hodto Improve Them

The universal question of the farmer interested in poultry is “What breed will prove most profitable for general farm purposes?” He Incessantly besieges the poultry fancier, the editors of poultry Journals and similar authorities on chickens with this query. It is impossible to answer jthis question in the way the farmer desires. He expects a particular breed to be named outright and characterized as the premier money-ma-ker of all varieties. [ Due to the great similarity existing ■between the breeds, extreme variajtions in local conditions exist. As a result. of Individual peculiarities and [preferences of the owners of the I flocks, no one breed can be named as tale most profitable for all farm purposes. ' In general, the dual-purpose breeds, capable of both meat and egg production, are best adapted to farm conditions. Specialized varieties are imjpractical for the general farm, as they (require too much attention and care. The farmer needs a bird with much

A poultry house well adapted to the average farmer. It has four pens, each connecting with a lot in the rear.

vitality and constitution which will ;be able to rough it with a minimum i amount of attention. Some people have a natural liking (for certain breeds and by the practise of careful, painstaking selection can obtain the best results from their 'use. Anyone who constantly overfeeds should select one of the special egg-producing types rather than a i meat-producing bird. The Leghorn is the variety best adapted for such classes of feeders. Choosing a Breed. The average countryman, according to his natural preference, should choose one of the dual purpose breeds for the farm hennery. Any of the common varieties, Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red or Orpington, should satisfy the farmer for a rough-and-ready, hardy, profitable fowl. Any special preference for birds of a certain color can be readily satisfied by the wide range of: colors offered in the varieties of these breeds. A very misleading idea prevails among many inexperienced poultrymen that the color of the fowl radically effects its egg production. This Is an imaginary view of the uninformed as the color of the bird is of no importance in determining capacity for production. • There are some commendable features about the variety in the feathering of the breeds. The white fowl is admirable, due to the fact that no colored pin-feathers disfigure the dressed bird. On the other hand the white breeds present certain disadvantages, such as the fact that they are more conspicuous and afford inviting prey to hawks, and are hard to keep clean and presentable.

One Breed Best. A crying evil in rural poultry husbandry is the attempt to maintain more than one breed on (he farm. The countryman should definitely decide on the breed best adapted to his conditions and then should work only with this variety. The common condemnatory practise of the farmer 1b to maintain one breed for a time and about when this breed is proving successful, an alluring advertisement or a snappy bit of news matter characterising some other breed as h “world beater'* causes him to change the variety which he is raising. , This continual shifting of breeds reacts upon the farmers’ pocketbook and results in no good. A rigid rule should be followed: “Select the breed which has proved its merit and then adhere to this choice." Any of the above-named breeds will prove profitable If rigid selection of breeding stock is enforced and qrdlnary care Is afforded the fowls. Tbs search of the farmer for a perfect breed instead of devoting his energies toward the Improvement of his present variety should be condemned and derided. The countryman is not going to discover any such model variety no matter how ardent his search. He must develop his present breed by awtw of rigid selection, elimination of inferior stock, normal sanitation, and healthful surroundings. Rigidly Select Breeding Stock. One hen may lay 15 eggs a year, the majority of which are deposited

Poultry Breeding How lo Choose a Bleed', Male and Rear Fowls Thai W3l Give Largest Net Returns

By PROF. J. G. HALPIN

W itcomin College of j4gricultum

Use Leg Bsnds. Too much emphasis cannot bs placed on the importance of marking the pullets with suitable leg bands in Order to distinguish between them. Ordinary leg bands can be purchased for ten cents a dozen and should be used as a means of Identification throughout the flock. A record Including the age of the bird and the setting from which the fowl was hatched Is absolutely essential. On the majority ‘of farms there Is no way of determining whether a hen is two or ten years old. Old hens unfit for further service are allowed to set and their progeny retained for breeding purposes. This evil can be remedied by identification marks which would serve as a check on the bird’s age and period of service. Another bad custom of the average farmer is to send for eggs concerning which he reads an Inviting advertisement, and then employing all, the birds hatched from this setting, irrespective of their Inherited tendencies toward prolificacy and vigorous constitution, in bis breeding operations. Promiscuous selection here permits the use of a|l these offsprings where rigid selection—the only ultimately successful method—would have condemned perhaps aU except one or two of the very superior pullets.. Breed only the beet and the Improvement will be steady and sure

in some brush pile nest wherein the chicks are hatched. Another hen will produce 160 eggs annually under the proper conditions of housing and care. From which of these settings of eggs should one select the stock with which to replenish the breeding pens? Too often the choice is made of the inferior brush pile-reared roughers concerning whose egg-produ-cing qualities and prolificacy the farmer knows little. Always breed from the hens which lay the best in the fall as they best serve this purpose. Never save eggs for setting from a sluggish hen that hangs around the-roost “droopy” and sleepy and displays an inactive, lazy disposition. The habits of*'the hen can be studied beßt in the winter and this season is the proper time to select breeding stock. Accurate and rigid selection of breeding stock should commence early. Study the flock carefully, especially as regards the laying hens which have the reddest combs and which hover around the nests. Those,

which are first off the roost in the morning and last to seek their perches at night, which are the best feeders and exhibit full crops at night when going to roost, are the vigorous, hardy specimens which lay best and are the preferable types from which to breed. Select such birds, band them with leg bands, if not already marked, and keep a record of their future operations. The use of such stock precludes the liability of the hen stealing her nest or a failure In breeding due to the use of pullets and hens which have not inherited vigorous tendencies to lay. Belect Strong Males. In the case of the dual purpose breedß the maintenance of one male to every fifteen females is attended by best results. Much depends on the individual vigor, vitality and prolificacy of the male. A male of lazy, inactive, sluggish temperament should never be retained in the breeding pen as he would undoubtedly transmit these characteristics to his progeny. The breeding flock should be allowed access to a large range. Only the best pullets should be selected for breeding purposes, the others being sold for meat.. For good results in breeding, more than one pen should be available in the poultry houses. For example in the fall when the birds are brought in from the range it always pays to have one pen in which to hbuse the pullets, and a second one for the older hens. The pullets are thus protected from misuse and abuse of the older and' stronger hens until they mature sufficiently to be able to defend themselves. Close, rigid selection among the fQwls of these jiens should ultimately resffift in the choice of the cream of the flock to be used in future breeding operations.

* m As o’er strange rails we fare, rRj I strain my eye around the curve B v For what awaits us there. Hr! When swift and free she carries me N ■■ Through yards unknown at night, QD fkß I look along the line to see 4 tef-tt; That all the lamps are white. gH! The blue light marks the crippled car, f||f The green light signals slow; Warn The red light Is a danger light, fl|| §H| The white light, "Let her go.” BB Again the open fields we roam, i|ps| \ And when the night is fair, HH I look up in the starry dome i&p And wonder what’s up there- IVt| Isl For who can speak for those who dwell llli Behind the curving sky? f’-fk Gw * No one has ever lived to tell t|pl Just what it means to die. Swift towards life’s terminal I trend, KM The run seems short tonight; Bgj God °nly knows what’s at the end—fl[ H I hope the lamps are white. WILL THE LIGHTS BE WHITE? This is the story of an old engineer. He is coming in on freight He has had a hard run, a heavy load and a slippery rail. He has been put Into the pocket for the limited and side-tracked for the general manager’s special. He’s two hours late. Finally in the twilight he catches the gleam of the switch lights at his terminal town. Rising he flicks the bag out of his overalls, his knee joints crack. Glancing into the little mirror above the boiler-head he notices that the locks that curl about his oily cap are gray. His face is furrowed by the touch of time. He’s an old man. As the engine, with the steam shut off, coasts along toward the home signal, he likens this long, weary journey over the division to the journey of life. He knows that if the lamps are white and the switch is right he will drift down to the roundhouse and to rest. Musing, he wonders how it will be at the end of the long, long run. Will the lights be white, will the switches be set to “safety,” will he be able to enter God’s great roundhouse and to rest?

HE MISSES THE LOCOMOTIVE

Traveler 3aya He Finds the Electric Motor Uninteresting in Comparison. “Whenever I get out of a train at the Grand Central or the new Pennsylvania station I can’t help missing the old locomotive,’’ said a traveler. “Ever since I was a child one of the pleasures of a railroad journey was to look over the locomotive which had been pulling my train, but somehow J don’t get this pleasure out of the electric motor. “The trouble with the motor seems to be that it’s too businesslike; it is plain and prosaic beside the old locomotive. Why, you can’t even see the driving wheels, and might as well be looking at a huge soapbox for all the interesting parts you can see. “From habit, I suppose, I always look to see what’s been pulling me when I finish a railroad ride, but when I see one of these motors at the Pennsylvania station I sigh for the old locomotive it has displaced. The motor doesn’t make a sound after it gets in, just as though it had been no exertion at all to pull you under the river, but how different the locomotive! You always find it panting away like some living 4>eing, getting its breath, as it were. Then there’s the engineer leaning out of his cab window watching the travelers leave his train, the vltalizer of the whole thing. You don’t feel so drawn to the motorman somehow. “Doubtless the mothr is the superior of the locomotive in many ways, but it never will be as interesting and with its coming seems to have gone some of the romance of railroading for the traveler, a romance which centered in the engine. I guess there are others just like myself who miss this feature when they arrive at New York.” —New York Sun.

Fast Locomotive for Heavy Service.

A locomotive, which was built by a German concern and exhibited at the International Exhibition at Brussels, is one of the largest ever turned out in Europe. Although it does not exceed in general dimensions the American locomotives of corresponding types, it is said to be remarkable for its combination of high tractive power and great speed. It hauls a 700-ton train over level track at a speed of 74ft miles an hour, and at a speed of 37tt miles on gradients of 1 ft in 100 ft. —Popular Mechanics.

Deer Races With Railroad Train.

For ten miles between Paris, Tenn., and MacKenzie, a Nashville, Chattanooga A 8L Louis passenger train raced with a deer. Passengers crowded to the aide of the train and cheered the deer on until it was finally distanced and disappeared in the heavy timber.

Slow Time of Russian Trains.

The cost of traveling by rail In Russia la much less than In the United ‘States, and the danger at accidents Is reduced to a minimum by the fact that the trains do not run at great speed, averaging about 25 miles an hour tor the main lines snd 20 miles on the branches.

TRAIN SURELY WAS MOVING

Passenger’s Description of Trip as “Flying" Beems Not Much Over-Exaggerated. “The speed of railroad trains,” said Col. Jack Sorlln in the Fort Pitt hotel lobby the other evening, “has'been the subject of many a humorous comparison. But I heard a new one up in Knoxville this morning. “As I left the house I met the officer on whose beat I live. He has been walking that beat for several years and is known to nearly every man, woman and child in the neighborhood as ‘our policeman.’ He had been away for several dayß and I naturally Inquired whether anything was wrong. “ ‘No, Mr. Sorlin,’ said he. ‘There’s nothing wrong in the family, but I’ve been on a flying trip to Kansas City. By the way, Mr. Sorlin, did you ever ride on the C. & A. road? You never did? Well, let me tell you, there ain’t no trains in the country can touch ’em for speed. Jes’ listen to this: We were skimmin’ along through Missouri so gosh-blamed fast that I was positively uneasy. All at once we swished by a pasture with a thousand head of beef cattle—then we ran through a thousand acres of potatoes and other vegetables—and then we roared past a pond about three miles long. So help me, irfk Sorlin, if we didn’t pass the whole dog-gone combination so allfired quick it looked like a big beef stew! ’ ’’—Selected.

Trainmen Hunt Rabbits.

The railroad men say that In the Central Branch country the rabbits are unusually numerous this winter and that jackrabbits are more numerous than for years. The trainmen get a chance to hunt occasionally on account of the poor condition of the engines. Whenever an engine goes wrong the trainmen enter the fields and hunt rabbits. When the engineer .gets through with the work of repairing the engine he pulls the whistle cord, and then the trainmen come back to the train and resume their work on the road. At Parnell last week one crew had time to have a rabbit supper.—Kansas City Star.

Famous English Parish.

In addition to its alien population, bygone Stepney was credited with a large number of the citizens of other towns on account of the current notion that all children born at sea belonged to the parish of Stepney, a notion probably due to the large number of sailors who lived there. Paupers who had been born at sea were gravely sent to Stepney from all parts of the country, and from time to time the law courts had to be called upon to decide against their claims.—London Chronicle^

Milwaukee Up to Date.

The city of Milwaukee has adopted the thumb print system In paying off Its employees in order to protect the city against fraud by forgery or Impersonation. Any person applying 3r warrant for salary will be compeßI to make a print of bis thumb Up, which will be compared with previous prints where they exist, so that identt> ft cation will be perfect.

The American Home

WILLIAiCA; 4MDFDRD2

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building for thei readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. 104 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. It is plainly evident to all observers that the number of people who take an intelligent interest in house planning and house building is increasing. The popular press reveals this tendency very clearly. Illustrations and descriptions of modern houses and discussions of architectural subjects are overflowing from the technical press, finding a place in the newspapers ahd popular magazines. This growing interest among the people is all to the good. Architecture has suffered too long from popular ignorance and popular apathy. Generally speaking, people get the kind of architecture they like and the kind of building they are willing to accept There is enough architectural genius and enough skilled craftsmanship in our midst today to transform every town and village into a thing of beauty and to provide every family with a beautiful and healthy home. If the genius of the architect and the-skill of the workman are unemployed, or are wasted on unworthy objects, it is because the demand for this beautiful architecture has ndt yet become general and insistant. No

doubt, is is also due to the fact that some who appreciate and desire good architecture have not the means to command it. But the want of money is secondary. The matter of primary importance is that people should have Fight ideas as to what constitutes good architecture and s<rond building, and should insist whenever they cause buildings to be put up upon having only those which are both well designed and well built. Good Building, the First Essential. And here, no doubt, is a of danger. The popularizing of architecture is a good thing so long as the demand is for good architecture. A great uninstructed public demanding “quaint” houses and "picturesque” bungalows would get what it wants, but the result is not likely to make for real progress in architecture, or for healthy conditions in the building trade. When the house-hunting man turns with disgust from the “desirable villa residences!” to which the house agents have directed his’attention, and tried to sell to him, and determines to build himself a bouse according to his own and his wife’s ideas he takes a very right and proper course, but he is apt to go about it in a wrong way. He la-

Floor Plan.

rites an architect to design him a ••picturesque'’ house, with nooks and bay windows and overhanging eaves. It is to contain accommodaUons which might reasonably bo supplied for $4,000, but it is to cost not a penny more than $2,000. That is to begin at the wrong end. If a man’s chief ambition Is that all the landscape painters in .the neighborhood should come and erect their easels before his house, he does well to concern himself primarily with gables and nooks; but if he hold with Bacon that “houaos are built to live In and not to look on." be will do wall to give more attention to the sound-

ness of the walls and the root and the relative positions of dining room and kitchen. Let the man with $2,000 to spend determine that he will have as much good sound building as $2,000 will buy and therewith be content If this means being content with two sitting rooms Instead of the desired three, or abandoning a projected inglenook, there is a solid consolation In the knowledge that all the materialused in the house is thoroughly sound and has been put together in a workmanlike manner. When the essential thing—good building—is secured, a man may find it possible to indulge his fancies in many matters of detail; but he should be warned against too earnestly striving after the ideal of the picturesque. Having determined on the accommodation he desires and can afford, he will be well advised to be guided in regard to the design by his architecL The little cottage illustrated herewith is an example of a building thoroughly constructed and arranged according to the very best ideas for convenience; yet at the same time some little thought has been given to make the building attractive in appearance without adding materially to its cost. For $1,500 this five-room cottage has been built, using the very best methods of construction and finishing the building on the inside with oak, birch and yellow pine. A glance at the floor plan wyi show

the desirable features of its arrangement. The,living room and dining foom are of large size and open together by means of an arch opening. The kitchen is well away ' from the rest of the house, being separated from the dining room by the pantry, an arrangement which has been found to be very satisfactory. There are two good sized bedrooms very well placed. The bathroom is conveniently located. The attic space in this cottage is valuable for storage purposes, and since it is well ventilated serves to keep the first story cool during hot summer weather. The exterior is sided with clap-board, having band courses and corner boards used for ornamental effect. The cornice is rather wide and is of open timbered construction. Altogether this is an exceptionally attractive and economical little residence for the small family.

EUROPE TAKING TO BUDDHISM

Religion of the East Is Making Rapid Strides in the Countries of the OccldenL Buddhism has been making great strides in Europe for the past year. The membership of the Buddlriat society of Great Britain and Ireland is now counted by hundreds and branches have lately been established in Ui> erpool and Edinburgh. Prof. Rhys Davids, the writer on Pali and Buddhist literature, is its president, and among the vice-presidents is the earl of Metborough. A Scottish convert to Buddhism, who is now a monk in Burauv is shortly to start a campaign in Great Britain, having been appointed first resident missionary. Great progress has also been made by the Gorman Buddhist society, which has two important press organs, in Leipzig and Breslau. Buddhist progagandists have been especially motive in Hungary, where five editions of a Buddhistic catechism have been exhausted. For the first time in Europe ah attempt has been made there to get Buddhism officially recognised by thft state, so that it could be taught in tbe schools The plan was not successful, however. In Switserland and Italy the number of adherents of the ancient oriental faith is also growing steadily. At Lugano appears the Coenobium, one of the most important Buddhist publications in Europe. New Buddhistic colonies, it is announced, will shortly be formed near Lausanne and also In the Italian province of Umbria. , -

The Result

"He has an iMm will.” • I suppose that is why he can chain people’s attention.’'