FARM Jm ORCHARD
Notts and Instructions from Agricultural Colleges and Experiment Stations
I Oregon and Washington, Specially Suitable to Pacific Coast Conditions
Poultry Raising at a Business.
The importance of the poultry in
dustry as a business is now generally
recognized throughout the country.
This is particularly true to those who
have given the Industry serious
thought and study. When one com
pares the poultry industry with other
A agricultural pursuits, he is confronted
with more or less inaccurate data.
Many people at first thought place the
industry far below its true value, due
to the fact that both the farmers and
townspeople depend upon the hen for
daily help in providing the family
with food for each meal, Because a
large proportion of poultry products
go directly to supply the dally needs
of the producer's families, it is im
possible to ascertain the exact quan
tity thus consumed. Very few of these
producers keep any account of either
the fowls or eggs used in this way.
As a result the increase in the devel
opment of the poultry industry of this
country is undoubtedly much above
that shown by census reports.
Unlike many industries the poultry
industry may be begun in a small way
and conducted successfully with the
expenditure of a small sum of money.
If a person is gifted with those qual
ities which make a good poultryman,
is intensely interested in poultry keep
ing and determined to become suc
cessful, the highest success may be
won. Poultry raising is a vocation
which gives opportunity for the deep
est study, the best talents, and the
most skilful practice.
A small flock and little land will
enable one to commence in the indus
try. Income from the money invested
begins to come In quickly because
eggs and chickens are soon produced
and are readily sold at any time for
cash. These products are in constant
and increasing demand. I might say
to those who are about to make their
first start in the poultry business on
an extensive scale, that the surest
way to success is to start on a small
scale and in the meantime learn the
business thoroughly before investing
any great sum of money. Mistakes
will certainly be made and the most
difficult problems will - arise which
must be solved and the busfness
should be well in hand before suc
cess can be gained in any extended
way. Many failures are due to lack
of knowledge, experience and common
sense. When the owner can look af
ter his own flock in detail, be is many
times successful, whereas when be
enlarges his plant he must depend
upon hired help, consequently his
ousineBs may prove a failure when
conducting it on a large scale.
If circumstances will permit, the
fall of the year Is a good time to begin
the business, for at this time the fowls
may be purchased somewhat cheaper
than In early spring and the experi-
ence gained by caring for them
through the winter months is of great
.. value to tne beginner.
As to the amount of land required, I
would suggest that four or five acres
be allowed for 800 hens, kept in mod
erately small flocks. Laying hens will
do well confined in yards, provided
they are kept clean by cultivation and
a section grown to green stuff. This
acreage will also be ample space for
the. rearing or the young required to
- keep up the original flock. If the grain
be purchased a very small area may
be sufficient on which to raise the
green or succulent food for the win
ter months. It is more important to
nave a large run for the young fowls
during the growing season as they
require more exercise when develop
ing than a mature bird, which is be-
j lng red principally for the production
M or eggs.
There Is probably ao branch of
agriculture that brings such quick re
turns as poultry keeping. Whether
me raiser requires eggs or meat, the
product is ready for the market in a
comparatively short time. There
should be no difficulty in producing
for the market In from five to eight
montns. in ract, that so little time is
required for the development of a nav.
lng business, makes poultry raising
attractive to tnose having little capi
tal and who must enter some business
that will bring quick returns. The
breeding, raising, and managing of
the birds is an occupation enjoyed by
both men and women, who find it not
only profitable, but a pleasure. There
is no branch of animal industry that
oners so many inducements to wo
men as some of the various phases of
poultry keeping. Certain lines of
poultry work may be conducted more
profitably than other lines so that
those who make a study of the sub
ject and their adaptabilities, are able
to select the line of work which will
be the most satisfactory. For in
stance, the poultryman may devote
his entire attention to the production
of fancy fowls for breeding purposes,
or confine himself to egg production,
or the rearing of broilers, roasters or
capons.
More attention than formerly Is now
being given to the production of Bpo
cial articles, which find a ready mark
et at good prices. As better products
are placed on the market, the demand
for a good article Is becoming strong
and constant The best on the market
is usually sold first and at advanced
prices. Better work with poultry will
result in better products, which find
an easy market and will be In demand.
It should be the aim of every poultry
man to produce the best which the
market affords. Great skill and a
thorough knowledge of the business
is reauired In order that one vield the
greatelt profits.
LILLIAN BLANCHARD.
About the Dairy.
OREGON AGRICULTURAL COL
LEGE, Corvallis. The three points to
observe in keeping milk .or cream in
the best possible condition for market
or1 manufacture, are 'clean, cool and
covered,'" said Professor R. R.
Graves, head of the Agricultural Col
lege Dairy department. "The public
demand is not so much for richer milk
as it Is for cleaner and better milk,
and it Is a demand that must be an
swered if the dairyman is to have a
continued market for his products.
There Is undoubtedly a very general
belief that there is a great deal of ex
pense and labor required to handle
milk in a sanitary way, and that it is
not practical on the farm or in small
dairies. Such is not the case, how
ever, and it is possible to improve the
quality of the milk greatly without in
creasing the cost of production
"The quality of milk is impaired by
bacteria, by dirt that falls into it, and
by odors that are absorbed by it.
"Bacteria are present in amounts
ranging from a small number to sev
eral millions in a drop about one cu
bic centimeter, generally referred to
as a c. c. They are found in the milk
while in the udder of an unhealthy
cow, and to less extent in the udders
of healthy cows, usually about BOO
per c. c. In the latter they are mostly
in the 'foremilk,' and in the stripplngs.
The numer of bacteria do not, for
some reason not well understood, in
crease during the first hour after the
milk is drawn. After that, if the milk
is warm, they increase very fast, and
the milk is soon full of them. -
"Perhaps the largest number fall
into the milk during the milkingPart
of them come from the dust in the
air, and the remainder from particles
of dirt, manure and hair, which drop
into the milk. In order to lessen the
number which fall into the milk, the
cows should be cleaned well before
being milked, and the milk should be
drawn into a pail with a small, hood
ed, cloth-covered opening. Such pails
exclude more than one-half of the
germs which fall Into an ordinary
open pail during the milking process.
If the cows are curried' and brush
ed once a day and then are carefully
wiped about the flank and udder with
a damp cloth, most of the dirt will be
removed and the remainder attached
close to the skin so that it will not
fall down during the milking.' The
best milking palls have openings from
five to seven inches wide. In some
palls the opening is covered with a
single thickness . of cloth that is
stretched across v the opening about
three inches below the rim.
'The floor, walls and stanchions of
the stable should be kept clean and
free from dust and' cobwebs, and if
the floor Is dry it may be sprinkled
lightly before milking. All dry feed
is given alter milking, so that no ex
tra dust Is raised. The practice of
wetting the teats with milk is too
filthy to be allowed in any dairy.
"Wbile milkers in large commercial
dairies wear clean white clothes, a
good substitute for the farm dairy is
a light, loose-fitting long coat which
should be kept clean in a clean place,
and slipped on Just before milking.
The milkers' hands must be scrupu
lously clean, and never permitted to
come in contact with the milk.
"As soon as milked the milk should
be poured into a can In the milk house
or somewhere else where the air is
free from dirt and odors, and cooled
to the lowest water temperature avail
able. If the temperature of the milk
Is reduced to BO degrees F. or lower,
within the first hour, harmfvl bacteria
will not multiply. Hence, if the milk
Is cooled, kept cool and covered, it
will keep for two or three days.
"The best way to cool the milk in
the small dairy, is to place the cans
into tanks or tuba, of the coldest wa
ter that can be had, and stir both
milk and water occasionally with a
clean rod, until they have the same
temperature.' After the milk is as
cool as the water, stirring should
cense.
"Another source of bacteria in milk
is Improperly cleaned milk vessels. If
the palls, cans and cloths are washed
In warm water, with a bit of soda or
other similar detergent, and then im
mersed for five minutes in boiling
water, they will be thoroughly clean
ed and disinfected. In cleansing the
palls ant) cans It is necessary to give
special attention to the corners.
Where the corners are not smooth
and rounded, dirt and decayed milk
will collect, literally teeming with
bacteria of the souring and putrefying
kinds.
"Such feeds as turnips, silage and
kale should not be fed before or dur
ing the milking time as warm milk
takes up odors very readily, and for
this reason, too, the milk should be
removed from the barn as fast as It
is drawn.
"In following the above simple rules
there will be but little increase in cost
over that of the usual methods, and
the more wholesome milk, with the
better prices it will bring as soon as
ts reputation is established should
Induce every producer to conduct his
dairy operations in a clean and sani
tary manner."
MYSTERIOUS WRITING SNAKE
Bar Magnet and Few Braided Strandi
of Tinsel May Be Uted In Making
Quite Amusing Toy.
An amusing piece of experimental
apparatus may be made using a bar
magnet and some braided strands of
tinsel, says the Popular Electricity.
Fasten the bar magnet to a wooden
stand as shown, and between the bind
ing postu connect a very slack braid
of tinsel. Connect the binding posts
to a switch and three or four dry
cells. By arranging a double pole,
double throw switch not shown and
throwing it over first to one side and
then to the other, the tinsel will wrap
Mysterlona Writhing Snake.
itself In one direction around the mag
net and then, uncoil and coll Itself
about the bar in the opposite direction,
depending upon, the direction of the
current through the tinsel.
To prevent the bar from short cir
cuiting the tinsel, the bar may be
wrapped with a layer of papr or linen
tape.
MANNERS A BUSINESS ASSET
English Lord Urges Boys to Cultivate
Politeness Because of the Com
mercial Value They Give.
Lord Rosebery, speaking to some
English grammar school boys, dwelt
on the "enormous commercial value of
manners." He urged every boy pres
ent to cultivate manners "not for the
higher consideration," but because
they "will give him a value which he
will never possess, without them."
His lordship neglecte dto specify
the particular commercial . centers
where manners command a premium.
But it has not been observed that man
ners have much to do with business
success in New York, or for that mat
ter In Chicago or. Berlin, however It
may be in London. It Wall street re
garded manners as possessing a com
mercial value it would long ago have
capitalized them. But good manners
never looted a traction system or or
ganized a trust or created the neces
sity for federal regulation.' No captain
of industry has ever been indicted for
politeness, and tbe manners of rail
road presidents and bankers have not
been .extolled for their suavity, says
the New York World..
The Bon-ln-law of Lord Rothschild
apparently takes an academic view of
manners. They have their uses in
some walks of life and are an asset to
creators of wollen fortunes who seek
to break into "society." But generally
speaking, books of deportment do not
seem of much value to youths ambi
tious of commercial success. The cap
tains of industry are not captains of
courtesy.
LINE RINGS FOR FISH POLES
Novel Tetachable Device for Roes Hat
Just Been Brought Out In Eng
landWorks Eaally.
A novel detachable line ring " for
fishing rods has been brought out In
England. When the agate or porce
lain ring portlou of the fixture breaks
it may be replaced with a whole rlnf .
Detachable Line Rings.
All that Is necessary is to Insert a
knife in the catch of the ring holder,
lift the hinged top, substitute the new
center and then close the hinged top
until the catch clicks.
Not Always.
Why was the whale that swallowed
Jonah like a milkman who has retired
on an independence T
Because he took a great profit out
of the water.
Well Supported.
Why Is a man in front of a crowd
well supported?
Because he has the press at his back.
AT ONE period Ben MacDhul
was held to be the highest
hill in Great Britain, but with
the advent of more accurate
scientific methods in the de
termining of altitude It was forced to
yield pride of place to Ben Nevis, the
summit of which, dominating the At
lantic seaboard of Scotland, stands
Just over 4,400 feet above sea level.
In reality Ben Nevis bas a great su
periority in height over the first-mentioned
hill, for at Its base It is no
more than 100 feet above the waters
of the Atlantic, whereas Ben Mac
Dhul takes Its rise from the high
ground of Mar at an elevation of
quite 1.B00 feet. It was early after
noon when we left Glen Nevis with
the object of spending the night on
the summit of the Bee After a long
spell of cold and misty conditions, an
Atlantic anti-cyclone, which had som,e
time been struggling to dominate our
weather, at length gained the upper
hand over a' series of small depres
sions, and a succession of magnificent
days was the result.
Birches on Lower Slopes.
The walk up the lower slopes of
Ben Nevis Is comparatively uninter
esting, though we noted that up to
the l,B00-foot level straggling birches
clothed the hillside, and we were in
terested in comparing the limit of
their growth with that attained by
them on the Cairngorm hills. As we
gained the upper reaches of the hill
the starry saxifrage (Saxifraga stel
larls) and also Saxifraga hypnoldes
were common, and an occasional plant
of the parsley fern (Allosurus crispus)
protruded its delicate foliage from be
tween the rocks. For the last 1,000
feet of the climb, however, vegetation
was quite absent, hundreds of acres
of volcanic "scree"' covering the hill
as far as the eye could reach. At
an altitude of 4,000 feet the writer
watched for some time a number of
LOOKING TOWARD
ravens, apparently a brood of the
present season accompanied by the
parent birds. They were feeding on
a spur of the hill, and as they rose
gave an exhibition of soaring powers
little inferior to those of the eagle
himself. It was near sunset as we
reached the summit cairn. Even with
the summer half gone, the winter's
snow still covered the plateau, In
places to a depth of quite four feet,
and cornices of snow projected over
the giant precipices. Though the ran
had already set in the. glens below,
the plateau was still bathed in its
soft rays, the snowflelds in Its glow
taking on a faint pinkish tinge, Arc
tic tn Its effect Lower and lower
sank the sun In the northwestern sky.
Passing Just above the tops of the
Coolln hills in the Isle, of Skye, and
throwing out their Jagged peaks In
strong relief, it-ultimately sank be
neath the horizon across the hills of
Knoldart at exactly four minutes to
nine. For a-full three-quarters of an
hour after this time Its rays still shot
high 'Into tbe northern sky, and at
no period of the night did the dull
red afterglow disappear entirely from
the horizon. A short time previously
we had seen the light of the sun re
flected on the waters of the far At
lantic and now' the hills on tbe Is
land of Rum the home of heavy
stags stood out sharply. Near by
we could make out a strip of the
low-lying Island of Elgg, and the He
brides, with their conical peaks,
prominent among which was Hekla,
Iks J ffcfc,.: JT A
l, uaJSKl
were distinct on the horizon. To thw
east all was haze, save where a wan
ing moon struggled, Just above the
horizon, to pierce the mist with her
silvery rays.
Sea of Mist
By dawn the entire face of the land
scape had changed. Luring the brief
hours of darkness a pall of white mist
whose place of origin was the cold
waters of the North sea, had crept
silently and rapidly over the hundreds -of
miles of country dominated by the
hilltop. From his vast sea .of mist
tbe tops of the highest hills stood
clear and sharp In the morning air.
Such a sight as we were privileged
to look down upon is one which is
extremely rare In this country, and
during an extensive and varied wan
dering on the Cairngorms at every
season of the year the writer had
never once experienced similar condl-'
Hons, when, more than at all other
times, the lover of the grand and
lofty in nature has instilled into him
the charm of the hills In its most in
spiring form. Prior to the rising of
the sun the mlBt was of a cold gray
tinge. Then gradually, almost imper
ceptibly, a rosy hue was imparted to
the clouds beneath, and soon after
sunrise the shadow -of the Ben was
projected on the mists for many miles
to the southwest. Scarcely a breath
of wind stirred on the summit of the
hills, but far below the clouds were
being guided westwards, and during
their silent progress , assumed in
places the forms of gigantic billows,
or rose above the average level as
they slipped over some less promi
nent hill which barred their progress.
By ten o'clock the sea of cloud was
as yet unbroken, and now reflected
the rays of the sun with dazzling bril
liance. High above the mist to the
eastward the Cairngorm hills were
visible, Cairn Toul (4.241 feet) being
specially prominent across the ' 60
ATLANTIC 3EA50ARD
miles of intervening country. Its con
tour was clearly seen even the corrie
of Clals an Toul, and, further north,
the slopes of - Braerisch, with the
large snowfleld In the Horseman's
corrie. Across the valley of the Dee,
Ben MacDhul was made out, the cairn
on its summit being distinctly visible.
Loch-na-gar held Its top above the
clouds, and. Just appearing above the
summit of Ben Alder, one could dis
tinguish the outline of Beinn a' Ghlo,
"the Mist Mountain," so named b
cause its summit is often shrouded
in cloud when the surrounding hills
are clear. But the most prominent
of the peaks propecting from the sea
mist was that of Schiehalllon, whose
tapering cone stood out with true Al
pine effect Westwards the twin topi
of Cruachan were Just visible above
the clouds, but here the mist envel
oped all but the summits of the high
est hills. In the corrie of the AJlt
a' Mhulllnn, far beneath us, the mist
ebbed slowly backward and forward,
seemingly endeavoring ' td press up
wards to the higher ground, but mak
ing little, if any, headway. Sgor a
Mhalm, a few miles to the south
west, was prominent, its crater-shaped
corrie being flooded in bright sun
shine, and as we scanned the corrie
through the glass, a couple of stags
were seen to gain the ridge and to
look down. Into the white sea below.
An Intense silence was everywhere
one missed the low croaking of the
ptarmigan and the dark form of th
eagle.