Poultry items.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 206, 11 June 1887, Page 4

Poultry items.

Decks with Huns. — Da not allow hens to be confined in yards with ducks, for in that case they will inteifore with each other. If a good game cock is in the yard he will "knock a duck down whenever it gets within striding distance, while ducks will teach the arr of feather-pulling to perfection. Ducks will pluck the feathers from fowls, when confined, until they are completely naked Beside", in the matter of feeding some dilliculty will be experienced. The duck ha* a broad bill, and when bulky, soft food is tin own in the yard they manage to get the greater part of it at two or three swallows, -while, on the other hand, if small grain, such as wheat, is thrown to them, the hens manage to moie than hold their own. Newßkkkdsof ISSG. — The year just closed was prolific iv new breeds and varieties of poultiy. Among those, says the Prairie Fornu <\ \\ hich have claimed notice are the pea combed and the white Plymouth Rock, the white and the golden laced Wyandottc, while the white Java, which bears so close a relationship in blood and in appearance to the white Plymouth Ilock, although now bred foi a number of years, and hardly a new breed, i* looking up and coming more prominently into notice The pea-combed Fly mouth ttock, and the white Wyandotte have iecei\ ed a cordial welcome from the public. This is also true of the white Java, None of the golden Wyandottes have yet been otlcred for sale, their breeders pre fen ing retain them for the present in their own possess'on. Soil Aitkctisu the Colour of Fowls.— Upon th if Mibject a writer says: — Among other factor^ the chemical constitution of the *oit has much to do with the colour of fowl's plumage. Especially is this matter to be regaided in birds which have a free range, for then they are more apt to have their colour aflectei by the soil or other local influences, than are those in confinement, not- withstanding they are far more healthy when permitted full liberty. Keeping birds on a soil strongly impregnated with iron v. ill tend to make them vigorous and healthy, and at the same time will bring out the dark colours on plumage to perfection. But it will injure- the white markings on parti-coloured birds, and tend fo make the plumage of solid white ones brass?/ We are not speaking now of the direct contact of the soil with the feathers, ibut of the influence on the pigments in the blood, effected by the character ot the soil where fowls run and feed, and swallow more or lese earth and gravel, to say nothing of the vegetation of the locality which they consume and which is also modified by the chemical composition of the soil. TO 11A* 1. EIHiS WHEN' THEY ARE DEAR. — Give the Leghorns or any good laying breed the best food to be obtained, and there will be little complaint about eggs. Tho quinCity, quality and si/c are satisfactory. Not one pei^on in 'en knows bow to feed fowls, or to give the treatment they deserve, Farmeis in genera! do not got the lull benefit. of the fowls •"hey keep about them. Too of'ci thoy tolerate them instead of keeping them. For the money invested, a hen pa^s < ls large a profit as a cow. Farmer do not -top to inqniie into the matter thoioughly. Heeding only the larger things, the little ones are allowed to escape. They are satisfied if their hens pro duco a fail quantity of eggs during spiing, and s-uninifi 1 , while in March, April, and May fouls may be made to gi^e the golden prolit. Fiesh eggs are piized at this season. Fowls, in fact, have been lett to .shift for themselves. Piuity of bieed ai?o tells on this propitious time, the puiely bied fouls responding more readily to the demand than the mongiel. PfvOFltap-lf PoitliTvY Kki:i*inu. — There is a gieat r leA, in fact everything in the management. The same treatment will not do for all In alike. Too often the fowls are blamed v. hen in reality it is the keeper's fault. The giain is stingily doled out with a grudging hand, and is quickly consumed, and, 1 mi<.»ht add, beyond supporting the ineagoi life of the fowl, it is wasted, when as much moie added would bring a handsome piont. Autumn laying of fowls is much to be desired, and many have a belief that is peculiar to a few breeds, when it lies in a great measure with the Keeper. Theie are, however, many breeds that put oIV 1 ying until late in the season, leaving o blank dming the ninth, tenth, and eleventh months. This may in a measure be obviated by care and generous feeding. Separate the sexes at moulting time Indeed this should be done as soon as all the eggs have been obtained for hatching purpos . It ia better for the welfnio ot both, and were cocks are not requited for another season, it is better to fatten them, ~No benefit arises from keeping a cock when there is no use for him.

Currant Cuttings. — An experienced gardener of Indiana, according to the Farmers' Ailrorati , is of opinion that very few persons who plant currant cuttings do it at the right season of the year. It is usually clone in thespiing, when in fact it should be done in the fall. I have had a good deal of experience in propagating cuttings. I always plant my currant cuttings in the fall as soon a% the leaves fall oft. They will make durable roots two to four inches long the same fall, while the buds remain dormant. They will make double the growth the next season if set in the fall, that they will if not set in till spring. They should be set in ground that 7/ill not hoar? t-bem out by the effects of frost, and should be covered just before winter sets in with coarse litter. # Remove the covciing early in the spring, and examine the "cuttings to see if any of them have heaved, and if so, press them down amdn. Should they heave up an inch or more, if well pressed down, they will start and make better growth than cuttings in the spring. In either case, however, the cuttings should always be made in the fall.