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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1916)
THE SEMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA. DUCK RAISING IS FLOURISHING INDUSTRY J ' i i r urn i t i n im ii n n hi mii minii a in ami n ii Jj 1 oxetfe hah ? ; ; j. Five-Pen Breeding Tt. W. CurtlBS of nansomvlllo, N. Y who raises about 30,000 duckB a year and makes big profits nt tho business, Bays It 1b harder manual work to ralso duckc than ''chickens, and tho buslnoss requires patience and good Judg ment. Ho selects eggs from tho stronger birds and sets them In Incu bators and broodB them until they nro oight weeks old when thoy aro fattened for market. "Before theso ducks aro fattened we sort out our breeding stock at tho ago when tho ducks aro old onough so that wo can toll tho soxes. I go," Bays Mr. Curtiss, "through a largo number of ducks and perhaps I might got flvo or ton flt to breed from out of a largo flock of ono hundred. That Beoms Hko a iot of work. Evory tlmo you chango tho feed tho ducks won't eat, and If you chango gradually thoy will probably bo off their feed for two days; and Just at that tlmo wo sort out tho breeding stock, and It Is Just at tho tlmo wo chango tho feed bo that wo do not loso anything. "Wo handlo tho ducks by tho nock; wo never take them by the legs. We hold tho duck up and look at him, and if ho has a good broad breast all tho way through and fairly deep keel, and broad back, and not too long u neck, and his head not too long, and If ho fights a great deal and tries to get away, showing he is strong, then wo will pick out that duck. Ho has got to bo a certain weight; wo do not actually weigh thorn becauso that is too much troublo. "We take tho ducks out in May and they aro taken out in flocks of two hundred. Wo start and drlvo those ducks over to tho pasture and in driv ing thorn wo will say that wo have two hundred and ten or two hundred and fifteen. "We keep them In a largo wood lot. We tako lots of tlmo driving them along, not too slow and not so slow as you would drlvo markot ducks. Wo keep them moving and when wo get them half way over two or threo of them will break down and flap their wings, and they cannot walk. Thcbo House for Growing Ducks. ducks are left right where thoy aro. It Is simply tho survival of tho Attest, and when wo got to tho breeding pens there will bo ducks strung all tho way along where wo have been driving them. It is only tho ducks that havo strength to walk this distance, being urged all tho time, that aro put in the pen. Then we go back and cloan up the ones that aro left and thoy aro put Into tho marketing pen. It does not matter how nice a duck thoy arc, becauso it is strength wo are after. "Wo put ono hundred to two hun dred ducks in a pen, and there is no shed or anything for them to run un der. It is Just simply a wood Iot. It . would bo Just ns well to have them run in a field, provided they had somo artificial shade, but decidedly you havo got to havo somo shade for ducks. If you put ducks in, a hot field In the aummertlmo there Is danger. I havo seen full-grown ducks get sunstruck and lie down and die. "Wo feod them there for Ave months on light food. Wo do not want to fat ton them. If thoro are any ducks that get off their feed thoy are taken right off; thoy aro not kept Wo koep lan terns burning in the trees on dark , nights to keep them from getting scared. "A peculiar thing about ducks Is that thoy will run and tramplo on each other and Jump in tho corner of the pens If they get scared on a dark night If it is a bright mconlight night wo do not light tho lanternB. "Tho feod for theso ducks is four parts bran to ono part of flour and one part cornmeal and ono-twentlcth beof scrap. For green feed wo uso four parts clover. Tho nlove' should bo about ono third or a llttlo moro than one-third of tho entire feed. You can feed them all tho green feed thoy will eat A good ,'ndlcatlon Is to watch their troughs, and after they havo eaten their feed If thoy leavo a llttlo clover In tho trough you know thoy aro getting nil tliy war.t, and may bo u llttlo more; and if thoy c.can this trovgh up they haven't qulto onough to eat. If they have too much to out, hoy pick the green feed out and leave nothing but the mash, and then you know they haven't enough green feed. "Wo feed them wet mash; mix it a llttlo more moist than you do for chickens. Theso ducks must not bo fed nil they will eat, because If you House for Ducks. do they will get in good condition. They aro not to bo starved, but you muot keep them Just a llttlo hungry, and thoy will go out in this ono or two acres of land and eat inoro or less green feed, and thoy will run up and down tho pen and it will givo them muaclo. "Wo keep them in this manner until thoy nro flvo months old, and then wo chango and put thorn in permanent quarters. Most any kind of a build ing will do for a duck house. It does not roqulro very much light, but If you want eggs all tho winter you must have it warm enough bo that tho eggs won't got chilled. If you go through pretty often and tako up tho eggs they will not get chilled. "Wo do not have any nests in our duck houses; wo simply bud them with shavings. Wo did try nostB, but wo could not seo any great benefit from them. Thoy will dig a hole in tho corner and lay tho egg and cover It up and when you go through in tho morning you have to be carofui that you do not walk on the eggs. "Wo breed from a pullet, wo never breed from a yearling duck. A duck will take on fat very easily, and if you koep them over the second year they get too fat, and they will not lay as oarly, and tho eggs aro net fertile, and wo cannot get good results. "Wo mate ono drako and flvo ducks. Wo start theso in October, and as tho Bcason advances, say about the first of March, wo watch tho ducks, and if wo seo two drakes got to fighting, wo catch one of them; we catch the poorest and put him in a pen by him solf. Whenover wo see any fighting, wo tako out a drake, and when there is no lighting, wo leave them alone, and thoy balance themselves up. "Sometimes you will find thoy will run for a long tlmo and thoro will be no fighting; then, there will como a rain storm, and there will bo puddles of water in tho yard, and if you go out you will And dozens of them fight ing, and thoy will tonr each othor to pieces. They will get tho blood started and your flvo drakes will get nfter ono and fairly eat him. I have : seen it when wo would not have more than ono drako to ton or twelve ducks, and wo would get Just as good eggs as wo got In tho winter." RAISING FEED FOR THE FLOCK Farm That Produces Its Own Grain Is Always Most Successful Oper ating Expense Reduced. "Tho poultry farm that produces Its own feed or n goodly part of It Is al ways tho most successful," according to William II. Pfelfor of Allenton, Mo., "becauso tho feed Is nlwayB right at hand when needed, no drayago, no waste, tho range birds seeing to tho latter. "The shattered grain does not go to feed sparrows, crows, etc., but pro duces chicken-meat and eggs. Tho droppings go back to the fields as fertilizer and the operating expense or upkeep is greatly reduced. "Such a farm has a great advantago over tho ono that has to buy all its feed, hauling it over miles of rough country roads, paying dearly for tho time wasted in drayago und extra han dling. - This in itself is Important evi dence of why tho farmer can produce cheaper poultry and eggs than, tho poultryman. Those who after serious consideration decido to go Into tho business should bear this advice in mind." EGGS SHIPPED FOR HATCHING Should Be Nested Deeply and Careful ly Wrapped In Excolslor Cover Basket With Cloth. Eggs to bo shipped for hatching, if packed In baskets, should bo nested deoply In excolslor and each egg care fully wrapped In excolslor. The basket may bo covered with n pleco of cloth which is sewed to tho basket at tho edges, or held In place by tackB carefully pushed In tho bask et, or may have its edge pushed up un der tho top strip of tho basket, outside, with the edgo of a case knife. SETTING EGGS FROM PULLETS As General Rule Young Fowls Are In Poor Physical Condition Hens' Eggs Are Best. Better hatches and stronger chicks will result by setting eggs from hens than from pullets. As a rule, pullets lay more during tho winter and aro poorer In physlcnl cond'tlon at tho be ginning of the hatching season than aro tho hens, which gives rise to a larger number of small eggs and moro infertilo ones. One That 1 Was Left By RONALD JONES (Copyright, IMS, by W. Q. Chapman.) Tho airship signaled, and tho tor pedo boat following How llko a bird that skims tho surfaco of the water. Capablo of forty knots an hour, she reached the ocean immediately be neath tho aeroplano within threo min utes. As sho ran sho saw tho little rippling wnvo thrown back by tho sub marine. But tho airship observer saw the sheath of tho porlscopo beneath him. Ho was scon. Ho dropped a bomb. It splashed Into tho waves, and, silent ly tho ripple of the perlscopo vanished. Tho Bubmarlno went under. Sho dived to a depth of a hundred foot, but, high abovo her, under tho surfaco of tho water tho aoroplaijo could seo tho shadow of tho great Ash as sho mado hor way northward. It signaled again. Mcanwhllo tho wireless upon tho tor pedo boat had been calling, and swiftly a haze of smoko on tho horizon devel oped first Into a black wisp, then into tho wireless prong, and then into the hull of a second torpedo boat. Swiftly It drew up and tho two followed tho noroplano, now fluttering In tho dls tanco llko a wounded bird. As the two torpedo boats raced sldo by sldo a sailor throw a ropo from ono dock to the other. Here sailors caught it, and soon there followed thicker ropes, then colls of wire, which wore wound about a winch and slowly un fastened. Finally tho net was dropped over tho side and tho two boats steamed together, keeping It between them. Tho captain of each torpedo boat was a young man. Each of them had He Dropped a Bomb. a sweetheart; each was thinking, even then, of his approaching marriage. Tho commander of tho submarine was thinking, in his poril, of tho homo that ho was never likely to seo again, and of tho aged mother who prayed for him evory day before tho crucifix In her room. The observing ofllcor ot the aero plane had a dozen sweethearts, and ho expected to havo a dozen more it ho lived through tho war. He did not In tend to marry any f them. Tho boats steamed on, guided by tho aeroplane, which was drawing nearer. Tho submarino, beneath, did not know whether it was visible or not,; it did not know of the not that was following It, and it turned and mado toward Its own coast. This gave the torpedo boata tholr op portunlty. At a signal from the air ship they dropped the net and reversed engines. Tho submarino, feeling its blind way nlbng tho bottom of tho aea, found it self suddenly impeded. Tho com mander knew what that meant. Ho strove to rise, but tho steel colls fas tened themselves about him. His noso, tilting upward at an anglo, rose to near tho surfaco. Ho shut off his elec tric engines, intending to uso tho petrol onos for surface driving. But ho could not qulto reach tho surface, and tho porlscopo, tilted backward, al lowed no glimpse of anything except tho far horizon. Across the glass the Imago of the aeroplane kept flitting to and fro, llko a swooping gull. Tho bow of tho submarine was point ing in the direction of ono of the tor pedo boats. Ho issued an order, and two of his crew ran to tho torpedo stai tlon. They drew a torpedo from tho plIngB and thrust it ti j) the chamber. At tho same instant a bomb from tho woroplano grazed tho sldo ot tho ves 3l and threw a cloud of water over it. Tho oxygen hiuscd, tho torpedo started, and the submarino rocked from tho recoil llko a tree in n galo. An instant later tho missilo, directed blindly, found Its br-.t. With a frantic roar tho flrst torpedo boat blow up. Fifty sailors wcro instantly struggling in the water, Tho steel not went down with tho ship, and tho submarine, part ly frcwl. reached the surface The commander ran to tho turret and, opening tho breech of tho little gun she carried, thrust In a shell. Tho layer nt his sldo tired. Tho clmll hissed through tho air and found lodg ment In tho second torpedo boat. Instantly a gun on tho torpedo boat answorod and missed. Down went tho submarine, freeing herself from tho clinging net, and stnrtcd beneath tho water, her perlscopo swishing through the waves. Tho noroplano circled abovo hor, nnd tho torpedo boat, having lowered a small craft to pick up tho struggling Bailors ot tho wrecked ship, started on tho pursuit again. Tho sailors wero mostly rescued, ox copt tho captain. Ho had stayed on the bridge to tho end. His body had gone down In the wreckage. As tho torpedo boat raced through tho water In tho wako of tho porlscope sho flrod again and again. Throe Bholls fell short, throo wqnt too far. The Bcventh shell struck tho porlscope fairly nnd tore It away. Tho subma rino's oyo wob gone Sho was blind Instantly sho roso, with a brief do lay whllo changing engines. In that delay tho torpedo boat was upon hor. Tho eighth shell pierced tho thin hull llko paper. It mado two gaping holes, ono on cither side. The submarine was doomed. Tho commandor, nt tfcs gun, adjust ed his sights, allowing for the llBt of tho sinking ship, nnd Arcd. The shell burst In tho engine room ot the torpedo boat, dlaabllng hor. Sho drift ed helplessly upon tho water. Tho submarino was going down by the stern. Tho commander called through tho tube to tho men In tho torpedo room. Ono moro torpedo was left of tho store which had been brought from port. The commander, nt the wheel, worked frantically tc bring tho bow in lino with tho dis abled torpedo boat flvo hundred yards away. If ho could got that lino boforo his vessel sank, tho torpedo boat was doomed. Upon tho brldgo ot tho torpedo boat tho captain waited. Ho could not movo his vessel, which drifted aimlessly upon tho tide. Ho could swing hor from side to Bide by working the wheel; ho tried to koep hor bow on to tho submarine, so as to present the smallest possible target. Tho two ships watched each other, and tho noroplano, abovo, watched both. She had ono bomb loft. Sho clrclod lower nnd lower, describing- narrowing circles above the sinking submarine. At last she dropped ht bomb. It crashed through tho turret, kill Ing one man. That was tho comman dor. It tore a hole through tho bot tom of tho submarino, which went down instantly, carrying hor living freight to tho bee of tho ocean. But In that moment tho torpedo sent fairly homo, blow tho torpedo boat to atoms. Sho disappeared, and only a few ploces of wreckage re mained to show where shu had heon. Hero and there a sailor clung, but tho captain was gono, to Join his fol low captain, under the sea. Tho aeroplano, loft alono, turned and flow leisurely Uomownrd. There was nothing that could bo done. An old woman In n Gorman town, prayed beforo a crucifix: "God, bring my sailor son home to mo." Two girls in English villages wept for tho perils of their sweethearts up on tho sen. Tho observer of tho aeroplane, whe had nobody to weop for him, was thinking of his week's promised leave in London. Religious Women. Tho real reason why women aro moro religious than men today is bo causo thoy are more human than men. It 1b not by nature that thoy aro so. Social conditions havo mado them so. As we havo dh'Iclod the labbr of tho world between tho Boxes, tho work of men is almost entirely concorned with the production and distribution of things; tho work of women almost en tirely with tho production and sus tenance of persons. Wo all of us at times notice tho great throngs of mon who go, at the call ot tho whlstlo, in nnd out of our great factories. To the average man's mind, theso hundreds of men aro "hands," and tho purpose of the factories whoro thoy aro em ployed Is to produco "goods;" but to the averugo woman's mind, theso hun dreds of laborers aro human beings, nnd the purpose of tho fnctorles is to furnish sustenance through pay en velopes, to men nnd women and boyB nnd girls nnd babies yet unborn. In most ot our homes the man leaves hu man Interests early In tho morning, devotes tho best hours of his day to tho welfare of things, and returns to persons again only for tho evening's relaxation. Ills wife, moanwhllo, has hardly done an act of labor all tho day, has hardly made a plan or had a thought, which is not with consider able intimacy related to human beings her husband, hor children, hor neigh bors. Bernard I. Bell, in Atlantic. Curtailing His Fun. "Tho president of Razzler univer sity writes that our boy is behind In his Btudles," said Mr. Gadson. "What aro you going to do about It?" asked Mrs. Gadson. "I don't bco how wo can do any thing to help him, excopt to cut down his allownnco and tako away his mo tor car." And He Owned It, Too. "Thank goodness," shouted tho suf fragette orator, "our sex doesn't havo any use for razors." "My wlfo uses a razor," spoke up tho meek llttlo mar. in tho gallery. "What for?" sttrnly demanded tho s. o. 'To sharpen poncilo, replied tho m. 1, m. II i in"- - - in jili - ii - n II i i . I Himnii i iijiiini u i iiiii.i LICE ARE COMMON PESTS AMONG SWINE -ii. u -i i. , ii...i. i ,. ., iii.nlWiMI Grand Champion (From tho United Htnti TJcpnrtinont of AKi-lcuHuru.) Tho farmer should froquontly cxain lno his hogs about tho cars, Hanks, and lnsldo of tho legs to sou it thoy nro lousy. Llco are common pests among Bwlno, and vigorous and persistent treatment is 'required to eradicate thoni. Thoy may bo readily bcoh trav eling among Uio bristles, particularly In tho parts Just mentioned. Tho eggs, or "nltB," nro small whlto oval bodies attached to tho brlstlos. Dipping does not as a rule destroy tho vitality of theso eggs. Swino should ho dipped froquontly In ardor to kill tho llco that hatch out of tho eggs aftor tho previous dipping. TIiobq llco aro blood-sucking parasites, nnd by biting tho hog and sucking blood thoy cnuso a great deal of Bkln Irritation. Furthermore, thoy act ns n drain on the vitality of tho hog, through tho loss of blood which thoy abstract. Whon lousy tho hog Is usually restless and rubs on posts and othor convenient objectB. Tho coat looks rough nnd harsh. This post Is transmitted from ono animal to an other by direct contnet, or by con tact with Infected bedding or quarters. Dipping Swine. To froo hogs from llco thoy should bo dipped two or moro times at inter vals of about two weeks. Several dippings may bo required boforo com ploto eradication Is accomplished, Do not fail at tho sumo tlmo to clean and disinfect thoroughly tho slooplng quar ters. Crosol compound (U. S. P.) may bo used for dipping and dis infecting. For dipping, mix in tho proportion of two gnllons to 100 gal lons of water; for disinfecting, In tho proportion of throo gallons to 100 gal lons of water. Although not always as offcctlvo as might bo desired, coal tar products of tho kind ordinarily sold ns Btock dlpB aro commonly used to treat hogs for llco. For ubo thoy nro diluted with wator In accordunco with directions supplied by tho manu facturers. Dipping vats aro mado of various matorlals, but tho most durablo is co- t raont. (Seo Fnrmors' Bullotlu 481, Concroto Construction on tho Llvo Stock Farm.) Tho vat should bo set in tho ground nt a convonicnt plnco whoro thoro is good surfaco drainage away from tho vat. A suitable size for a vat in which to dip hogs 1b ton foot long at tho top, eight foot long tit tho bottom, ono foot wide at thu bottom, and two foot wido ut tho top. It should bo dcop onough bo that tho hogs will bo completely immersed In tho dip and will not strike tho bottom of tho vat whon thoy plunge. If posslblo, tho vat should bo located so that a two-Inch drain plpo may lead from tho bottom of tho vat to facllltato emptying and cleaning, othorwiso it Is necessary to pump or dip out tho contents ot tho vat in ordor to clean it. Do not ubo old filthy dip, but clean and rechnrgo tho vat boforo dipping again if tho dip has become very dirty or It it has stood a long tlmo In tho vat. Tho end whoro tho hogs enter should bo per- pondicular and tho entranco should bo on a slide. Tho other end should Blopo gradually, with cleats to provldo footholds for iho hogs for emerging after dipping A dipping vnt Sb very useful whorovt,r n largo number of hogs is kept. i v, jwiu Ho j Wallows. Somo farmers favor hog wallows; others aro sliwngly opposed to them. Filthy hog Allows aro a sourco ot danger. Hop wallowing In or drink ing contaminated wator aro likely to contract discern,;. However, there aro many advantages to ho derived from wnllowa. A caul bath is very soothing to a hog during tho hot woather. It cleans tho scurf from the skin nnd pro tects tho hoc from Ales. Crudo oil, sulllclont to firm a thin layer on top of the wator, may bo poured Into tho wallow aboat overy ton days. Thla will tend to Veep tho hogs frco from llco and othor skin parasites. It tho skin bocomoy Irritated from tho oil, its uso shouhl bo discontinued. Small quantities ot coal-tar dip nro somo times addwl to Uio water in hog wal Iowb, but tUero Is an elcMunt of dan ger In thiu practice, as poisoning may result frorc tho absorption of phenols by hogs which llo In tho wullow moro or less continuously. On some of tho larger hog farms concrete wnllowB aro becoming popu lar. Tna cement hog willow should be locail In a shady place and mado bo an to contain from night to ten Inches of wator. A two-Inch drain pipe, ai recommended fi.r tho dipping ut, elculd bo placed In tho bottom of tl.u wallow to pormlt Kb being cleaned out. Other Methods. In many cases a farnior is not finan cially able to build a concroto hog wallow or a dipping vat. It this bo tho case, tho dip, properly diluted tc- Polnnd - Chinn Sow. cording to directions, can bo applied with a Bpray pump or nprlnkllng can, or clso rubbed on every part of tho hog by means ot a brush or a swab ot cotton wasto. Caro should bo taken not to apply tho dip stronger than dlroctod. Another method of controlling llco is to tio gunny sacks or similar coarse cloths around a post and Baturnto tho sacks froquontly with crudo oil. Tho sacks should bo tied at a proper height bo that tho hogs may rub against thorn. Change Pastures Frequently. Swlnu can bo raised when thoy nro confined in limited quarters It tho quarters aro kept clean, but thoy will do much butter and stay in better health If thoy havo plenty of pasture. Dtvldo the pasturo into convonicnt areas, so that tho hogs can bo shitted from ono pasturo to another. This not only provides fresh pasture, but af fords an opportunity to disinfect tho pastures by plowing and resoedlng or exposing to tho sun and weather. Intestinal worms, which aro rathor common in swlno, nro contracted from feod, wator, and ground which havo boon contaminated by tho droppings from Infected hogs. Froquont chango of pasturo is ono of tho best means ot reducing worm infostation to a mini mum. Hogs, howovor, should not bo allowed to run at largo on open range, ns this favors tho sproad of hog cholera. DISPOSE OF PESTS THAT EAT UP PROFIT Everyone With Sound Sense Knows That It Doesn't Pay to Feed Ticks and Lice. (Uy D. A. BPKNCUrt, Department ot Aiiltiml Husbandry, Oklahoma A, & M Collolio, Htlllwutor.) Does It pay to dip snoop? This question la nskod during tho spring by many beginners in shoop husbandry. I'orhnps an nnswor may bo suggested by tho following question. Does it pay in fno.l , t .1 1 1 .... O TT1 .. .. ...til. I sound sonso knows that it docs not. i If tho flock owner is anxious to rea , llzu all posslblo profit from his Aock he should uttompt to dlBposo of posts that cat up tho profit Tho (lock may appear to havo no tlokn, but a fow stray ones may bo lurking horo nnd thoro, ready to bring forth an army of ticks If conditions ro l main favorable. This is often tho cobo ' nnd tho Anal result is usually about ns bad as if you could boo ticka whon the Bhoop are sheared. If tho ticks aro thick It may bo wiso to dip as soon as tho sheop nro shorn. Othorwiso' wait throo or four wooks after shearing so thnt thoro may bo sufficient growth of ficeco to hold somo of tho dtp. Dip again In about ten dnys In ordor to kill tho young tickB that may havo been in tho egg I stngo at tho tlmo ot tho Arst dipping. ' Any of tho coal tar dips, such ns kroso, zonnloum, etc., used according to di rections, will glvo vory satisfactory re sults. SELF-FEEDERS GOOD FOR ALL LIVE STOCK Interesting Test Being Made With Dairy Cow at California University Farm. If tho Bclf-fcoder for pigs, becauso it lets them follow naturally bodily de mands of eating JuBt what food their system required, is such a great suc cess, tho self-feeder might provo equal ly good for other kinds ot stock also. At tho California university farm, Just ns a feeler, not as an experiment that would certainly provo anything, a dairy cow hus been fed since lactation with a flolf-feodor. In ono placo is alfalfa hay which sho can get to at all times, another dried boot pulp mlxod with rolled barley, which it Is figured will glvo with alfalfa hay an approximately balanced ration. Ono troublo. has boon that she has boon too interested in the barley to tuko enough intorcst in tho othor feeds, and that is exponslvo, but by Increasing tho proportion of boot pulp she has been mado to show better Judgment Tho test may provo nothing for prac tical purposes on account of oxponso of grain and concentrates. Hqwo'cr, one uuticcablo fact la thut hor bollly weight remains without any chango. Indicating that tho system Is a physical success, also tho effect ou milk Aow la excellent.
