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Show City Folk Urged by UTtoRaise Own ChicW I rC SH'lf lQt'N THE HOME LOT "T ' " : V' OF THE BACKWARD . OAT SPROUTING HENS PLNNED AWAY FROM THE YDUNG ONES- Swl IN FOREGROUND Dwellers ot Congested District Thus Will Divert Red Meat So Needed by the Allied Fighters to Give Them Stamina 11) s, to Defeat Hun Terror. i- I "An egg on your plate i means that much wore meat for the boys in the trenches." THIS slogan Is sounded by the government gov-ernment In urging the people of of the United plates to raise more poultry. The cry is sent out over the lan., reaching the ears of town and c:t resident, and farmer and rancher. A patriotic nation Is giving heed to the cry and as a result at least 150,000,000 more eggs will be produced this year than were last. And through its many scores of poultry poul-try experts, and with the co-operation of national, state, county and community commun-ity committees of war workers, the Agricultural Ag-ricultural Department is busy interesting interest-ing a great nation In a great patriotic v. ork that of Increasing the poultry products of the land. No community is being overlooked. No farm or ranch is I co isolated, no city jo large, and no village vil-lage so small that they are being neglected neg-lected by those whose interests are to help tlic government spread its propaganda prop-aganda for more poultry. In all of the big cities the work of furthering in task of increasing productions pro-ductions is under way with a boom and bustle that denotes it will be carried to a successful end. In hearty conjunction con-junction with the government's agents me tomans central i ommiuee on Food Conservation in St. Louis, for instance, in-stance, has .set its forces to work. Along with its work of boosting the produc-Uon produc-Uon of foodstuffs by carrying on a gigantic gi-gantic thrift garden project, the St Louis committee Is striving with might and main to not only interest every pos-fciblo pos-fciblo person in the patriotic and home economy work of keeping poultry, but to teach those who otherwise would not know how to do it successful . "Woman Expert in Charge. Encouraged by the hearty support given giv-en the campaign the g eminent has assigned a woman chicken expert to St. Louis to take initial charge of the work This woman, Mrs. W D. Henderson Hen-derson of Ferguson, is now in charge of the work. Her office is with the "Woman's Central Committee on Food Conservation. She will work with the committee for several month to give such assistance as will be needed In f..rt . It- ;... ik. -,,f-L- and to assist Individuals who are turning turn-ing to raising chickens. Independent of the work the government govern-ment is carrying on In conjunction with that conducted by the Woman's Cen-t:al Cen-t:al Committee, the department Is making mak-ing still further campaigns in the cities. In Us campaign it not only is reaohlng out to Interest the heads of the homes &nd the mistresses of the households, but to Interest the children. For, it Is hown, children can do wonderful work In raising chickens. To lo this a series of lectures is being Civen by poultry experts. The first in St. Louis was given by K. H. Wilklns, I poultry husbandman of the I nited States Department of Agriculture, March 28, at entral High School, where he was heard by several hundred persons. per-sons. The second was at the same place a week later, by T. E. Townsley, extension ex-tension poultryman of the University of Missouri. The third was given by Edwin Brown of Kngland, the world'! most eminent poultryman, an authority whose name Is known in every civilized land on the globe. Others are yet to be given by 11. L. Kempster ot the University of Missouri, and H. E. Cosby and K. L. Mason, government j,ouiirv husbandmen. husband-men. 1 he six lectures are planned to embrace em-brace every feature of poultry keeping. Kach subject has been or will he gone into In mlrute detail so the novice who will have heard them through, wilt in science at least, be a poultryman as good as the average. At the same time the importance ol raising poultry during the growing sea-ton sea-ton and of keeping hens during the esg-laying season, both trom the patriotic patrio-tic standpoint and trcm the standpoint of homo economy, is being brought out in such a waj as to make it impressive to llioco who hear them. Au Expert from England. That not on'y me i. niteu states uov-nicnt uov-nicnt is realizing the necessity ot Increasing In-creasing poultry products in America, but the whole world as well, is shown by the activity being taken in spreading spread-ing the ' more poultry'' propaganda throughout America by that greatest of poultrymen. the worlds chief expert, ex-pert, Edwin Brown of lxudon. England, Eng-land, whose visit to St lyouts last Week awakened an Increased interest in the great work that no other lactor has so far accomplish' .1. ot only is Brown the world's leading poultry mm. but he is one of the best authorities on food that ever gave his efforts to the work of bettering conditions. t He has studied poultry conditions in almost every civilised country ot ttic globe and Is the author of many books cn the subject. Twice within a year he has come to America to give hie lime und influence to the task of maK-ir.g maK-ir.g the American people ' wake up" to the necessity of producing more poultry. poul-try. Two times he has visited l-'ranc; on the same mission. Prior to the war he stuuied tne poultry situation in Jer-many, Jer-many, Belgium and other countries. Fifteen oar6 ago Brov. n was in the l nited htates ma k i iig uu i'hwwihu study of conditions, as compared with those of England. To the American people be now is delivering a message. He is pointing out how England overcame over-came the poultry food shortage and Is showing America how It ran do the same thing. He la lecturing undor the auspices of the liureau ot Animal industry of the I nited Stales Department Depart-ment of Agriculture. Lesson from Canada. In time of peace, poultry raising 's a profitable recreation government authorities au-thorities maintain, and in time ot war it Is a patriotic duty. This Is because of the world-shortage of red meat and the fact that the United stales In the biggest possible way must overcom the shortage. The live stock industry of the allied nations na-tions has decreased Tt.oou.OOO head since the outbreak of the war The shortage of grain has mounted in like proportion. For this reason it is impossible im-possible for those nations to bring the production of meat up to Its former mark. Rather the figures will, de-spito de-spito all effort to stem the tide, run the other way. With the demand that Is made upon it the United States cannot supply the red meats needed by Its own soldiers and the soldiery and civilian population popula-tion of Us associates in the war, and feed its own people at home. Those at home must, therefore, produce substituted sub-stituted for its own consumption, allowing al-lowing the red meats to go abroad There is no better substitute than chicken meat and eggs. The people at home need not suffer, therefore, it they will increase the poultry products prod-ucts necessary for their own use This Is why it is so vitally important that every one who can possibly do so should raise enough broilers to feed themselves during the summer, and keep enough hens to produce the eggs needed for the family next winter. Drawing a lesson from the experience experi-ence of Canada during the early stages of the war, the government is not urging urg-ing farmers to keep more than 100 hens iu cue iarm or townpeopic Keeping more than on a basis of two hens for each member of the family. Canada heaid the appeal for more poultry and patriotically pa-triotically launched into the work of producing quantity An overproduction of chickens resulted. The market was "glutted" and a great amount of grain was consumed. Canada, in Its enthusiasm, enthusi-asm, looked more to quantity than quality she since has learned to re-Aerse re-Aerse tho order and Is now increasing her quality. More benefit will result from keeping keep-ing a few good hens welt than in keeping keep-ing a largo number of poor hens in such a way that they will not produce eggi This is the stand the government takes in .its appeal to the people. "Keep a limited number." It urges, "but keep them In such a way that they will give best possible results." That is why the government, In urging urg-ing greater poultry production, is resorting re-sorting to every means by which It will be able to show tho people the proper way of keeping chickens. Flock on City Lot. Properly" handled, a lien will produce pro-duce 120 eggs during the year Wltfl each member of the family having two hens, each therefore will gain a production pro-duction of LMO eggs during the pear. , For a family of three, say. this would mean a total of sixty dozen eggs. . year, or more than a dozen u Week, Jn war time tho averagi family of three, can, by duo care and economy, make out on a dozen egKs a week. Tho keeping of a small llock of laying lay-ing hens on a town or village lot or In a city back yard 1h shown to be an Important branch of poultry keeping The product of such a flock, both n the form of eggs and fowls for tho table, may be produced at a relatively low cost because of the possibility of utilizing table scraps and kitchen wusto and also waste from the garden whit li wlherwlse would bo thrown away. By the preservation of surplus eggs during tho spring and early summer tho period of cold weather scarcity maybe may-be provided for. The keeping of pullets pul-lets Instead of hens also will insure the production of eggs at this time, especially es-pecially If the pullets have been hatched prior to about the last of May. Surplus eggs produced in summer may be saved for use during tho winter if one will go to the trouble of taking such caro of them. What once was considered a hidden art has become a much practiced method throughout the country, thanks to the government for having conducted a wido advertising campaign of enlightenment In the matter mat-ter of preserving eggs. Following is tho method as given by the Department of Agriculture: Eggs to be preserved must be fresh, m and should be placed In a preserving container as soon as possible after they are laid. One of the best method of preserving is by the use of walerglaSS, a pale yellow, odorless, slrupy liquid that can be bought from any druggist drug-gist or poultry supply mart. It should be' diluted In the proportion of one quart of waterglass to nine quarts of water which has been boiled and allowed to cool. Earthenware crocks or Jars are the best containers, since their glazed surface prevents chemical action from the solution. The crocks or cans should be scalded and allowed to cool before they are used. A container holding five gallons will accommodate fifteen dozen eggs and will require ono quart of wa-lerglass. wa-lerglass. Heavier Types Best. Half fill the container with tho water-glass water-glass solution and place tho eggs in li ISggs may be added from day to day as they arc obtained, making sure that the eggs are covered by about 2 inches of waterglass solution. Cover tho container con-tainer and place It In a cool plajo. where It will not have to be moved. Look at it from time to time, and if there seems to bo dancer of too much evaporation, add suttb lent cool boilcJ water to keep the eggs covered. Kggs removed from tho solution should SO rinsed in clean, cold water. L'eforo they are boiled, holes should be pricked in the largo ends with a needle to prevent pre-vent thorn from cracking. Householders usually desire not only eggs for the table and for cooking, but also an occasional chicken to cat. For that reason, the Department of Agriculture Agricul-ture suggests one of the general pur-uoso pur-uoso breeds, such as the l'iv.....th l:.ck, yandotlc. Khod Island Kcd.s or Orpington, ns being preferable to th mailer egg breeds. Not only do tne mature fowls f the heavier breedi make bitter table fowls, but the young chickens for the same re-son make bet. tcr fryers and roasters. The goneral purpose breeds are also "broody'' breeds, the hens making good elttera and mothers, which Is a decided advantage when It is desired to hatch and raise chickens. If, however, tin production of eggs outweighs tho dc-slro dc-slro for an occasional table fowl, the lighter, egg breeds aro preferable. It is by all means advisable to keep some purebred variety. Where thia is done, sale6 at a profitable llguro can often be made of breeding stock liens past the flrot yeai will not be and mites. The problem of preventing this lose Is, In chief, one of sanitation (j and It Is not hard to solve. It is ono j " ' . . that all "keepers of chickens should be i ready to face ami ready to solve in the Vp;" k"- ' .l ' ' ' - I I means of combating the parasites Is to LUMON X r- " T."" '. " . J prevent them from infesting the house j C PATES Nj.;- BPBPPP-S lfj0:i1 onj'Uons l,ro furnished Uro MAKS W? yWjVuTl nnd mltcs l,-v dark, damp and filthy GOOD T : - ' '. , T Trj houses. Frequent spravlng of the in- JtSi ZjTy 1 terior of tho building and providing the OXT2S v?WMg.,!y. xfft-:& birds with properly constructed dust ' cztTJ boxes will create proper conditions for repelling the pests. found as good layers as pullets and those that have pas-red tntfir second ear will bo found Still more inferior This Is why pullets shoul 1 make up the flock and not old hens. The eggs from old hens will not. as a rule, pay for the1. "feed and keep. " Some Flock Advice. Obje-tioii Is frequently advanced to the keeping of poultry in towns and cities cit-ies because of the odor which may result re-sult and because of the noise which Is made by tho male of tho specie? There Is no reason why these objections may not bo overcome. There is no excuse for the flock becoming r. nuisance, for ine uroppui ixiicici uui.v iimin j.i- ly and the house and yacl kept in clean condition without much trouble. There Is no need of keeping a r.iale bird with the hens except in case tne cegs are d -sired for hatching. Hens lay as wef. or in most cases better, nd the ogK are better and their kooplng qualities arc vastly superior. Expensive fences are iot needed. A 4-foot fence is sufficient to keep the chickens confined if the f.lght feathers of one wing are clipped off If the tlocli Is allowed to run OUt mo fence, however, how-ever, is essential, for otherwise the flock becomes a nuisance in the neighborhood neigh-borhood In feeding, effort should be made to do so as cheaply ns possible, consistent consist-ent with production of eggs., To accomplish ac-complish this, all table scraps, kitchen waste and garden waste should be utilized. util-ized. Scraps of meat or left-over vegetables vege-tables which cannot be used In anv other way, make excellent chicken feed. Theso are best prepared by running run-ning them through a meat grinder It is usually rather moist, anu it Is well to mix with it corn meal, bran or other oth-er ground grain until ll is in a cruml.lv ..n.Hrlr.n TIia usual method Is (o feed tho table scraps at noon or at nlRht. or both times, In a trough or on n board. All the hens will cat up clean in half an hour should be. given. Any that is left should bo taken awny lost it becomes be-comes spoiled and Injure tho fowls, especially es-pecially tho chicks. With tho table scraps It is well to feed some grain. Perhaps this may be given best as a light feed In the morning. morn-ing. Four or five handfuls ot grain scattered In straw litter will be sulll-. sulll-. lent for a flock of twenty or twenty-five twenty-five hens. A good grain mixture for this purpose. Is composed of equal parts of wheat, cracked corn and oats. Another An-other suitable grain mixture Is composed com-posed of two parts cracked corn and one part o.i Is lix addition to o'raln and table scraps It is well to feed a dry mash, composed com-posed of various ground grains placed In a hopper or box from which the hens may help themselves. Tho advantage ad-vantage of feeding such a mash Is that the hens always have acccsss to feed, and this tends to make up for any faulty, inexperienced, or insufficient feeding. They generally do not like this well enough to overeat. But occasionally occa-sionally a hen will take to it with unusual un-usual fondness, and in that event the hopper should be closed during a part of the day. A good dry mash is made up of equal parts of corn meal, wheat bran, wheat middlings and beef scrans. Another good mash is composed of three parts of corn meal and one part of beef scraps. Tho Im?cX scrap is usually the most expensive Ingredient, but it is very essential. es-sential. It should not be eliminated or reduced unless tho quantity of meat in the taMo scraps is considerable or unless some other product can be procured. pro-cured. Green cut bone can often be purchased from the butcher This Is a good substitute for beef scrap. It should be purchased In small quantities, quanti-ties, as It spoils readily, and this Will . a USO bowel trouble. It is best fed In a trojuh not oftencr than every other day, allowing about a half ounce a bird. Sprouted Oats. Vegetable tops, parings and other vegetable refuse supply a valuable and cvy necesssary green feed for tho hens, awg clippings also are valuable as green feed. This may do fed as soon as cut, or it may be dried or cured, stored in bags, and saved until winter, when it is soaked in warm water wa-ter and fed in that condition, or mixed With some of tho mash or with the table Providing sprouted oats will also solve the green food question. This may be done by soaking oat grains In a pall overnight, spreading out In a shallow box, watering each day until the grains have grown long sprouts. This can be done in a basement By planting a small bed of oats in the chicken run and placing chicken wire over It so tho fowls cannot scratch up the bed, oats ma) be grown during the summer. Clean water should bo before tho chickens all the time. Grit, crushed oyster shell and charcoal should also bo arranged in improvised hoppers, so that the birds have access to thorn. Small gravel, small enough for the hens to swallow, will answer the purpose of grit Among tho most serious cases of )nv Damage by Mites. The mite is grayish in color except when filled with the blood he has robbed the chick of. Then he has a reddish appearance. It usually attacks when chickens are on the roost or nesL In the latter case, the fowl become? weakened and the temperature of her H body so erratic that she is not able tl give normal hoat to the eggs. She be-comes be-comes restless and often will spoil the H hatch by admitting too much cooling J air. The mite, making hiding place in jf the cracks and crevices of the house, decs not stay on the fowl only long J enough to get its meal. This is why racrillnr rind nprillinl snmvlnff shnllM 1 be done not only to kill out those &l- H ready there, but to discourage others J The louse is different. It remains on H the chicken and gets In its work no! H only when biddy is trying to Incubate H eggs, but at all other Mmea The treat. H ment for lice should be different. Spray- H ing the hen-house will not lessen thu chicken's misery. The common poultry louse is dull yellow In color. It is cry H active and easily passes from one fowl to another. It is not a blood sucker, but is a biter. It often causes sores on the chicken, and. when infesting It in any great numbers, never falls to PH cause the hens to bo nervous. This decreases the bird's vitality and is, in a largo number of cases, tho direct cause of the hens not laying well. H To exterminate them it is necessary r to treat each bird separately. This can tie done by dusting the birds with some well-recommended lice killer, or ffH by applying grease or mercuric olnt- H ment to the badly infested parts. Dust- H ing can be done at any time with sit- H .ickens. Care should bo taken not to dust the Interior H or n.-sts w ith-the nowder, as It often s PH made up of some poison that will harm H the Incubating eggs H Holding tho chicken by the feet, it Is 1 easy to rub the powder among the PH feathers, covering especially well any sections most likely to be infested. H The process Is slow, but it will pro- H results, and what the H poultry keeper is looking for. and what H the poor hens have likely been praying H to the gods Greasing Is tho method most general- H H ly employed in combating lice on small H chickens. Laid, with which has been H quantity of salt. , grease, plendld for use. Lit- H H Chickens should be gone over often. H for never should lice be permitted to H remain on them, if U Is desired U4 H bis block live I -H I LbssssssssssssssH tfs&l . t: I sssl |