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. FROM THE FOWL RUN. I

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FROM THE FOWL RUN. I BY "ROOSTER." j Many poultry keepers- say there is no chance of profit now that the food stuffs are fo dear, but this depends upon how the birds are managed and whether there is economy with carefulness all round. Food ftutti are dear, hut the produce brings bis prices, so that is an equivalent. Table birds have been making from 2/- to (j per lb., and ejjgs 6d each, and this is a good return for any outlay. But there are ether thing!* which .-hould be watched and which will lu-lp to swell the pro- nt-. For instance, the manure from the houses is worth something for artificial manure. In fact this is more valuable than half the fancy 6tutf put on the market. Where the houses have dropping boards so that the exerements can be scraped off clean and pure, it is worth much moTe than when it becomes mixed up with the litter on the floor, though even then it has con- siderable value. Much depend" upon what the. floor covering is, for wood chips and sawdust are not appre- ciated by nurserymen or market gardeners beeau.se it ci'tises a fungus in the ground before it completely rots. Hut if chaff, .s-hort straw, peat moss, or dried braves are beinx used, then the manure becomes a valuable pro- dud: At no time should the droppings be applied direct to the land, hut they want at least two-thirds dry earth mixed with them to enable a more even distribution, and then it Should only be thinly scattered. The fowl manure la, longer in the ground thaii just the im- mediate crop, and so is one of the best manures which (a') be used. Where peat moss or chaff i\ put oil the floor, this can be left for three or four motnth*. arul then take all the lot out together, and use as rt i>s. It is difficult to apportion the value of the manure because it -would depend a good deal upon the purity of the manure. Every farmer should u, this at home, hut in a small garden with a house cr two of fowls it would be too much to put this on thy p:ct continually, and so it must be sold for other growers. One well known poultry breeder used to all hi- manure at tenpence a 'uii^lie!, and I have known it .old at £3 pt-r cart load. Much depends upon the district and whether there is a demand for such manure, but right out in the country it would Y* the farmer only who could use it in any I 'lIamit. and he will buy this now in place of any other artHicials which are far more -carce. ;;< Anotli-er valuable product i> the feathers if there is much killing done at home I know that often there is no account taken of these, and on some farms the feath- cr- are just taken to the manure heap and then carted out to the fields with the manure. Xow they will benefit, the lanil when rotted, but it takes a long time to do this, anti Ill" ides j.t, is a waste of a product which means i,r(;!It to the bu.-ine.ss. Where there is a regular lot of ] fowls killed, all the- feathers -hould be carefully kept i and sorted according to quality. The crdinary wing und tail feathers are ncw heing tied up in bundles for pipe cleaners, and mn-t be kept from the softer kinds. Along the back of all fowls thece are some long-pointed feathers, which will make up for ladies hats, only they mu&t be kept apart and straight, so that they can be tied up in bunches. All the other feathers can be hag. ged up and sold for beds or pillow6. Now ome, will think this is a lot cf trouble, but where there is a good deal of plucking done and regular days for it, a building is usually set apart for the pur- pose. The feathers can h plucked into a big box, or where several pluik together, the common feathers can be dropped on the ground and the best sorted out when taken out. There are usually a few ledges about which will take the. l-est, and the rest fall down when plucked. Of course one must tind the best market for these, and then as^rtain what rtate thev' like them. But any of the old poultry-men know where they can find a market, and easily dispose of more than they can produce. It is an education to see a professional plucker, cr a woman who is u-aed to it. They will take oil all the feathers often before the heart has stopped heating, bnt this does not include stubbing. In some country districts women will do thi., plucking for the feathers in the hepe to find a market. The valiit, will depend upon the times and condition's, but now thev should be worth 2/- a lb., but before the war. I, tc, 1/6 was about the usual rate.

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