Show TOWHEE KILLS BEETLES IN EARLY S SPRING PRING j M pomp P P f V I 1 4 R N 5 ay v ia towhee the upper part of body Is black the under WhIte and the sides chestnut prepared by the united states depart nn nt of 0 agriculture after snow lias has disappeared in the early spring an investigation am among ong the leaves near a fence or in ili a thicket will often disclose the little bird known as aa tho the tow lice clie wink or ground robin scratching for his dinner like a lien hen this dinner will consist of beetles and larvae of insects harmful to crops which have been spending the winter under old leaves tho the good which tho the does in this way can hardly bo be overestimated since tho the death of a single insect at this time before it has had an opportunity to deposit its eggs la Is equivalent to the destruction of a host later in tho the year the towhee has also been credited with visiting potato fields and upon the potato beetle its vegetable food consists of seeds and small ald fruits but no complaint on this score la is known to have been ninde made so far as ao observation goes the bird never touches either cultivated fruit or grain in fact it la IS too shy ehy and retiring e even ejen jen to stay about gardens tor for any length of at time the towhee breeds from the middle states northward and winters in the southern halt of the country naturally associated with catbird and brown thrasher it lives in much the same places though it la Is more given to haunting hedgerows hedge rows along roads and fences some common birds useful to the ilia farmer Is the title of farmers bulletin no of the united states department part ment of agriculture describes other useful birds the pamphlet may be had by applying to the dopart department part ment Manage management fent of the sow during pregnancy the breeding season tor for spring lit has just passed and the time tor for the sow to give birth to her bar young Is at hand facts must be borne in mind tho the first la Is that the sow eow Is doing double duty not only to Is she keeping up her own bodily functions but the development ot at tho the litter Is an increasing drain on her system feeding at this time should be liberal although it need not be so heavy as after the pigs are farrowed furrowed far rowed the condition should bo be good legood neither too fat nor too lean A very fat sow BOW Is apt to be clumsy with her pigs and somo some times her pigs are lacking in vitality the very thin sow will either not do justice to her bar pigs or will become a mere wreck herself during the time she Is nursing ifer her litter and the chances are that both these things will happen the necessity of exercise must not under any circumstances be overlooked this may bo be provided by a large lot or even driving the hogs slowly for a short distance each day in the second place the main demands upon the sow aro are those for the building of new tissue therefore tho the kind hind of teed feed Is ili important the nitrogenous or protein bearing feeds are I 1 needed at this time these are bran oil meal peas beans oats and barley the clovers alfalfa peas beans detches vetches etc are also of at much value to the brood broad sow BOW special emp emphasis basis should be laid on the condition of the bowels during pregnancy and particularly at far rowing the special danger to be avoided being constipation the grain ration should be given give Is as slop and toward the close of the period of gestation oil meal or a small amount ot of flax meal should be introduced into the ration corn should not ve oe fed in large amounts to br breeding stock because it does not furnish enough bone bonc and muscle forming constituents to properly develop the unborn pigs it if possible corn should not net be fed at all to any ny but fattening animals hog craves green feed during the winter more care will be ba 11 needed to keep the sow in good condl tion lion on account of at the absence or of pasture not only does the hogs system mote or less crave green feed but bulk la Is demanded to offset the lack ot at green feed nothing surpasses roots root S these may bo be sliced or pulped gulped t ind and mixed with the grain or may be given whole as a noon feed care must be used in feeding roots as aa they are laxative t in effect and it fed in excessive excess he amounts war nuy bring about profuse ac tion of the bowels sam eastern farmers annera recommend the use of silage cloye clover r alfalfa hay sheaf oats oata or corn fodder to supply the bulky requirement of 0 the ration charcoal ashes abbea lime and salt should be accessible at all times these act as a tuge and preventive of disease and meet the hogs bogs cra draing ting tor for mineral matter in the feed during the entire period care should be taken to keep the system well toned the sow eow should become n ilustr butr ned to being handled and should look upon liar hor attendant as a friend the brood sows bows may run together up tip to within two weeks of farrowing furrowing far rowing time then it la is well to soli separate arate them placing ench each sow BOW by herself tn in a yard with a small house which should bo be dry airy and clean A groat great deal of 0 exercise will not now bo be necessary the teed feed should be reduced somewhat what and it if thero there Is any tendency to constipation pat pation loii a slight change 14 feed may bo be necessary tho the farrowing furrowing far rowing pen should be pr provided 0 with fenders around at leas leaah t three sides bides about six to eight inches from the floor and six to eight inches from tile tho wall these should be strong enough to support the weight of the flow BOW should she llo lie on them they are constructed to protect the pigs from being lain upon during the first few days daya ot of their lives this will go far to prevent a very fruita frutt cause ot of loss losa among young pigs for the littia fellows will foon eoon learn to creep andel these fenders when the sow lies down |