TUB NORFOLK Wt'EKLI NEWS-JOURNAI FKIUA i SKPTEMBER 24 l'J09
The Norfolk Weekly News-Journal
The NOWH , Established 1881.
The Journal , Established 1877.
THE HU8E PUBLISHING COMPANY.
VV. N. HIIHO , N. A. HIIHO ,
Prt'SllllMlt. Secretary
Jflvorv Krldnv. Bv mall p'or year. $1.1)0.
Entemd at thu postolllcu nt Norfolk ,
Nob. , as second cliiHH mnttor.
"EllUorlnl Department
No. 22. Business Olllce and Job Rooms
No. II 22.
A drouth IH bettor broken limn kept.
IJotb Cook and Peary cut Bomo Ice.
Hearst IB after Tammany. Speed
to lilH efforts !
Summer'H backbone Is brolton. .lack
did It.
"Shall Cannon bo canned ? " Is the
question of thu hour.
Immigration to the north polo will
jiot Bet In before sprint' .
Canada wants the po\o \ and nobody
IB going to got very hot over It If she
gets It.
Tour comets are said to bo headed
this way. What's the use of scaring
as to death ?
The Young Turks are becoming
Americanized. They want n loan of
$30,000,000.
And now some one proposes to
bnlld a subway at the polo. The ono
at Chicago will bo ilnlshed first.
Justice Urowor says Ills wife won't
lot him resign and still they say wo
men have no political Influence !
A hog was recently brought to mar-
Icet at Almond , Kan. , weighing 9G5
pounds. Any thing In Wall street that
can beat that ?
There will be a great crop of cam
paign cigars for the next two years In
Kansas. That state has a million
ncres of alfalfa.
Thirty million pounds of German
carp taken out of the Mississippi river
last year , and yet the price of canned
salmon is unchanged.
Canadians are trembling over the
possibilities of a German Invasion.
Milwaukee men visiting Winnipeg had
F better look "a Iccdlo out. "
R
It Is said that the cranberry crop
in Wisconsin Is a failure. What's the
use of mentioning It ? Aren't cran
berries high enough already ?
i ,
Those Seattle hustlers are feeling
pretty good over their exposition , and
they have a right to. It Is already as
sured that It will bo a money maker.
Everybody seems to have their spe
cial pet "greatest fee of civilization. "
Secretary Wilson of the department of
agriculture says It Is rats. Oh , rats !
Why not have ex-Vice President
Fairbanks welcome Peary and Cook ,
lie's been used to arctic weather and
-would feel at homo In that atmos
phere.
The New York democrats have como
to the conclusion that the whole party
needs reforming. It Is amazing how
slow they are. Other people have
thought so for a long , long time.
William Jennings Bryan Is to cele
brate1 his silver wedding at his homo
at Lincoln , Nob. , on October 1. It's
1C to I that Senator .Too Bailey of Tex
as will not extend his congratulations.
They are abusing poor old Methuse
lah by claiming that ho only lived
seventy-eight years. It Is mighty
mean to try and ruin a man's reputa
tion after he's been such a long time
dead.
Ixjsllo Shaw seems to bo looking
for former Senator Foraker , who Is
probably hunting for David B. III11.
Strange how the spirits of the depart
ed seem to have an alllnlty for ono
i another.
James J. Hill glvos good advice to
the farmers when ho says : "Hold
your farms. " There Is no other Invest
ment so sure for the ordinary man
without largo business experience as
a chunk of good land.
George Gould , \vho has Just returned
from Europe- , says "Germany Is grow
ing llko smoke and overshadowing
England In the matter of develop
ment. " Is It any wonder that the
Britishers are seeln' things o' nights ?
The thanks of the dally press are
duo to both Peary and Cook for fur
nishing good copy In a dull season , and
the thanks of the whole people are
duo President Taft for beginning his
long trip across the continent In time
to choke off the interminable north
polo controversy.
Bryan Is again scanning the heav
ens for an Issue In 1012. While ho
falls to discover anything that Is siz
able ho continues to do n very good
business on the sldo by his pen and
bis volco. America has never had
before a man who actually grow rich
and happy out of his own political
misfortunes.
An exchange comments : "Tho
Peary-Cookdisagreement will furnish
an excellent excuse for n natlon-wldo
combat , and before cold weather
comes , wo'll all be lined up on ono
fildo or the other , looking as silly aa
the old farmer who yoked himself up
with a calf , and then bugged thu by-
Btandorx to head him off. "
Speaking of an optimistic newspa
per acquaintance the Emporla Gazette
says this happy thing about him : "Ho
IB as joyous as a boy wearing his first
pair of pants , and ho seems strong In
the conviction that with nil Its faults
this world la the bust ono ho Is ac
quainted with. " What finer tribute
could bo asked ?
Those people In Pennsylvania nro
very funny. A burglar got a hundred
dollars from a sleeping car and the
people were greatly excited over It.
The political grafters , meantime , who
steal millions from them don't cause
any disturbance that provonta them
from sleeping und eating their three'
meals a day regularly.
Seattle has dedicated a statue to
William E. So ward. It is well. Tone
no other American does the Pacific
west , and especially Seattle , owe so
much ns , to Soward. Ills purchase of
Alaska gave a mine of wealth to the
whole country and n trade which has
meant and will continue to moan much
for Seattle's prosperity.
The talking postcard la the Inven
tion of a French engineer and has be
come so popular In that country that
American rights have been secured
and the device will bo placed In the
United States. These Ingenious cards
can bo placed in a machine kept in n
convenient postal booth and the recip
ient can hear the exact voice of the
sender.
That was certainly a remarkable
discovery made by "Ty" Cobb. It
really overshadows the Cook-Peary
controversy for the moment. Cobb
was actually arrested for hitting a
night watchman and "putting him to
sleep. " To find ono that was not al
ready asleep was the feat of a very
painstaking and reflecting man. No
one , not a baseball artist , could do it.
The Minneapolis Journal voices a
widespread public sentiment in this
section when it says : "Tho west Is
In a mood to welcome the man who
Is dally giving evidence of his deter
mination to administer his high office
on high principles. Taft has not pro
fessed over much , but he actually is
delivering the goods. And today the
man who delivers the goods will win
the people. "
At the beginning of his long trip
President Taft well said nt Boston the
other day : "The personal touch be
tween the people and the men to
whom they temporarily delegate pow
er , of course , conduces to a better
understanding between them. " The
winning of the west will be history
repeated ns a result of the president's
journey. lie will return to Washing
ton the great pacificator of a great
people.
Probably no other nation has so
much dlinculty In making a treaty aa
has the United States. In must other
countries the executive can conclude
a treaty with another power , and if
ho chooses can even do it secretly.
But there is no secrecy about Amer
ica's negotiations. Ninety-two men ,
two from every state , must pass upon
any treaty our president or secretary
may draw up , and two-thirds must fa
vor it or it never materializes. It Is
no wonder wo have a bad name as a
treaty making power.
The nation will with President Taft
doprccnto and condemn any attempt
to array the west against the east.
There Is no such division in the hearts
of the people. Their Interests are ono
and Indivisible and never before In
the presence of an Americanism which
knows no sectional lines , was any such
attempt so Indefensible. Governor
Johnson of Minnesota , In his Seattle
speech , emphasized alleged differences
and spoke contemptuously of the "de
nomination of the east. " In doing this
ho displayed a narrowness of vision
that puts him out of the presidential
class. President Taft fittingly re
proved such sectionalism. In this ho
will receive the approval of the people
ple of the west most heartily.
It Is to be hoped , for the sake of the
newspaper profession In general , that
an article printed In the Bloomflold
Monitor last week Is not n sample of
Its week-In-and-week-out style. How
any paper could so grossly slop over
and make so many mlsstntements Is
hard to conceive. The Monitor at
tributes a column of slush to The Nor
folk News , claiming that the article Is
quoted from The News , which , ns a
matter of fact , The News never saw
until it read the Monitor. The article
in question makes sport of the report
ed find of gold near Bloomfleld. All
that The News over printed about the
Bloomfleld gold find was the news
Item telephoned to this ofllco by W.
II. Mullin of that city.
The knockers are working hard on
Dr. Cook and the
rat-a-tat of their
hammers is heard coming from the
j dens of several near-scientists and stu-
I dio-explorers. Genuine scientists and
experienced .explorers say that the rec
ords of his observations , which could
not be faked , will bo abundant proof ,
while those who know Dr. Cook personally -
sonally vouch for his absolute Integ
rity and say that what ho hag done
before verifies his latest and greatest
achievement. That Peary should have
been second Instead of ilrst In no way
lessened the glory of the achievement ,
since previous explorers loft no trail
i nor anything to Improve or make the
difficult approach easier. That the
first two to reacli the polo should bo
Americans and should carry the stars
and stripes after centuries of effort
and repeated failures brings a fame
to this country which Is the best re
ward both Cook and Peary can hope
for. .
It Is not the foreign foe , but the
enemy nt homo , that our nation , as
well 's those older civilizations which
havu como and gene has to fear.
j j ! There Is but ono danger which so
| ' strong a nation as ours need fear , and
that Is the loss among our people of
that courage and strength , both phys
ical and mental , which comes from
'
hard work borne hopefully and en
joyed for a worthy achievement. The
hopeless grinding toil of ono working
like-a slave under task master , without
Interest in the result or pride in the
right completion of the work , is de
grading , but the honorable hard work
whichthe _ great body of American men
and women are today doing for the
'
support of their homes Is enobllng.
If men and women become weak , flab- I
Uy and self Indulgent there Is no fur
ther hope for them. That Is why so
j many of our rich families fade away.
In the course of three or four genera
tions , self indulgence without the ne
cessity or ambition to work weakens
the mind as well as the body. There' j
is no greater visible danger to the
civilized world than that Its very civi
lization should weaken the family In
stinct , by developing a selfish love of
ease and self indulgence.
TAPT , TARIFF , AND THE WEST.
The welcome which was accorded
the president of the United States in
( (
i Chicago is Indicative of that which ho
'
will receive as ho travels through the
country to see and to bo seen of the
people , says the Chicago Tribune. The
respect for his office and the apprecia
tion of the man is probably greater In
j the territory which ho enters today
and which he will not leave until ho
nears the end of his Journey than It
Is In parts where he Is more often and
which are nearer to the seat of gov
ernment.
The population In the upper Missis
sippi valley , from the boundaries of
Pennsylvania to the Rockies , nominat
ed and elected William II. Taft be
cause It believed that , more than any
other man but one in the whole coun
try , he represented the policies in
which it believed and which bear his
predecessor's name. He won In the
Chicago convention and was elected
because the people believed in his
courage , his candor , and in his loyalty
to the Interests of the nation , Irre
spective of party or section.
Ills task In carrying out the man
date which he received from the coun
try Is not easy. During the extra ses
sion of congress the ideas which ho
represented and the wishes of the people
ple who made him president were con
sistently and ably opposed by an al
liance of Interests united for mutual
protection. The Aldrich law Is a dis
appointment to a great mass of the
people to whom the president will
speak on his Journey. It Is his avowed ,
Intention to discuss the tariff. To assort - j
sort that ho will do so candidly is ,
unnecessary. His very nature pre- ! '
eludes his doing otherwise. The pub-
(
lie will look to him to explain the i
difficulties which confronted the ad
ministration and other representatives
of the party In their effort to secure j
the measure of revision downward
which was expected ; to explain the ,
circumstances which resulted in tho' j '
. wool schedule ; to toll them how thej j
Dlngloy rates on cotton goods were j
not reduced , but In some cases in
creased ; to show why there has been
no relief on crockery , glass and other
.articles . of household consumption ; to
1 tell the story of his successful efforts
to secure a reduction of the tariff on
certain raw matnrlals ; and , finally , to
outline the scope of the work of the
j board of tariff experts and to measure
the possibilities of future revision as
the result of the commission's inves
tigations.
Tariff revision was but ono part of
the president's program of reform and
of constructive legislation , but It Is
that part which most Insistently pre
sents itself to an optimistic but disap
pointed west and concerning which wo
look to him for light regarding the
past and hope for the future.
DECREASE IN SIZE OF FAMILIES.
Ono of the most Interesting features
of a special report just published by
the census bureau on "A Century of
Growth 1790 to 1900 , " Is a chapter on
"Analysis of the Family , " showing the
marked decline in the average size of
the family that took place between
the first census and the last.
In all of the United States as It ex
isted In 1790 the average family con
sisted of 5.7 persons , and in nil of the
United States as it existed In 1900 ,
the average family Included 4.C per
sons.
In 1790 the largest average was In
Delaware , with G.I persons to , the fam
ily , and the smallest was Georgia , with
C.4 persons to the family. . I
In 1900 the largest average waa In
North Carolina , with 5.1 persona to' '
the family , and the smallest average
was In Maine , New Hampshire and
Vermont , with -l.t persons to the fain-
Uy. It Is to bo noted that thu highest
average In 1900 , which was 5.1 to the
family , was smaller than the lowest
of 1790 , which was 5.4 to the family.
When the Ilrst census was taken the
country was still undeveloped , hard
ships wore many and luxuries wore
few ; yet the average family consisted
of nearly six persons. In 1900 devel
opment had gene far and luxuries wore
plentiful and comparatively cheap ;
i yet the average family had gene down
to 4.G persons. Tills seems to harmon
ize with the theory of sociologists that
luxury tends to decrease the family
and poverty and hardship tend to In-
1 crease It.
In 1790 there were In this country
20,203 families with eleven persons
and over ; 17,350 families with ten
members ; 2G.G87 families with nine
persons ; 30,932 families with eight
members ; 40,172 families with seven
persons ; 54,052 families with six per
sons ; and 57,171 families with flvo per
sons. This is out of a total of 410-
G3G families. There wore six or more
persons In 201,402 families , on nearly
half the total. '
The change Is better Illustrated by
percentages. Of the total number of
families In 1790 those with eleven per-
sons or over constituted 4.9 per cent ,
and such families amounted to only
2.2 per cent of the total In 1900. Fam
ilies of ten persons amounted to 4.2
per cent of the total in 1790 , but
only 1.9 per cent In 1900. Families of
nine persons were G.5 per cent of the
total in 1790 , and only 3.2 per cent in
11900. Families of eight persons were
9 per cent of the total in 1790 , and
5.2 per cent in11900. Families of sev
en persons were 11.2 per cent in 1790
and 7.7 per cent in 1900. The per
centage of 1900 begins to gain over
that of 1790 when the families dwindle
below six apiece. In 1790 only 7.8 per
cent of the families were limited to
two persons , but in 1900 families of
two constituted 15 per cent , or nearly
double.
BETTER FARMING NEEDED.
That Nebraska and South Dakota
farmers must produce more ears of
corn to the acre , as suggested by
James J. Hill in his recent Chicago
speech , Is being accepted as pretty
sound doctrine by the newspapers of
the country. And that an acre of
|
land today worth $50 will bo worth In
time $200 or $300 , seems assured if
farmers follow the suggestion of Mr.
Hill. To do this successfully , how
ever , the advlco of Professor Hunt ,
given in his Norfolk speech last
spring , that fertilizer must be used on
the land , that trees must be used for
protection , and that scientific farming
must be studied , must be followed.
The Chicago Tribune , speaking of the
Idea , says :
"When James J. Hill talked to the
American bankers day before yester
day he , as usual , said something worth
while. Some may call him a pessi
mist , a croaker , but the Tribune Is
Inclined to believe that he does not
exaggerate the importance of increas
ing largely the agricultural production
of the country.
"If the problem were merely ono of
providing an increased supply of ce
reals to meet the demands of a greater
population content to llvo according
to past or present standards , a solu-
tlon could be found without much dif
ficulty. But it Is apparently an 1m-
mutable law of developing civilization
that men should demand greater com-
fort and a higher standard of living.
It has long been the boast of the
American people that the American
worklngman was better fed than the
worktngman of any other country.
The increase in the proportion of cor-
porate and Individual earnings which
goes to labor shows clearly that labor
is living better than it used to. It
Intends to live better than it does now
If it can.
"Labor has fared so well hero be
cause of cheap food , coupled with the
fact that the surplus crops which the
farmers have sold abroad have been
continually adding to the wealth of the
country and thus providing capital to
be used In the employment of labor.
If the United States were to cease to
bo an exporter of grain and become
an Importer a now and serious condi
tion of affairs would present Itself.
"To avert It the American wheat
grower should work more scientifically
and Increase greatly as ho can do if
he chooses the average yield per
aero. In England the average wheat
yield Is thlrty-flvo bushels an acre , In
Germany nineteen , in France and Aus
tria sixteen. In the United States the
average yield Is twelve bushels to the
acre. This poor showing Is not duo
to Inferiority of soil. It la because
the American farmer does not copy
the Intelligent methods of the farmers
of England and western Europe.
"Too little is raised on the land
which Is under cultivation. In addi
tion to that land which could bo made
productive is allowed to go to waste.
In the richest section of the union
lund has been sot aside unnecessarily
for road purposes , unused , and an
swering no useful end , canal In area
to the state of Rhode Island. That Is
wanton extravagance. There Is an-
other extravagance of which the Amor-
lean farmer Is guilty. When ho plants
trees , which ho doca not tlo often
enough , he plants thorn Inside the
fence. They manage that bettor in
Europe. The roads on the continent
are lined with double- rows of trees. '
, Thus land Which la wasted hero Is
utilized and made to bear a valuable
crop.
"The aggregate American yield of
cereals and the yield per aero can bo
Increased , and will bo when the ne
cessity shall be apparent and the prof
j it manifest. Then , indeed , the move
ment from the farm to the city which
Mr. Hill deplores will bo checked.
With smaller farms and more Inten
sive cultivation the shop and the fac
tory will have fewer rural recruits. "
ATCHISON GLOBE SIGHTS.
At what ago does a boy become a
man ?
The more money a girl has , the less
she cares for the men.
There Is such a thing ns showing
injustice in clamoring for Justice.
Most lawsuits are brought not to
secure justice , but to get oven.
When a man Is asleep , and forgets
that he is alive , is his happiest time.
When a farmer loses a cow and it
is the best milch cow ho had , ho is
genuinely discouraged.
You will observe that the public
benefactor you hear so much about is
usually making It pay.
Question for the Lancaster Literary
society : Which costs the more , a vis
itor or a spell of sickness ?
"Every disagreeable Job around this
office , " every man around an ofllco
says , "they put on'me. . "
There Is one old-fashioned thing that
is quite common : the house that Is as
cold as a barn In winter.
Every stop a woman makes when
she is traveling she sits down and
writes a letter on her knee.
The amount of your fortune Is al
ways exaggerated , so that stories that
you are stingy will go better.
"Bought an automobile yet ? " a
farmer was asked today. "Huh ! " ho
replied , "I haven't had the grapho-
phone fever yet. "
The trait in parents that children
love the most is that which prompts a
lunch basket for a picnic , though the
clouds are gathering.
If good advice appealed to a young
man as eloquently as rheumatism or
dyspepsia does to an old one , what a
blessing it would be !
"When a man wants to go , " said a
Methodist today , "the only thing to do
Is to let him go , whether he is a
preacher or anybody else. "
When aman talks to a woman over
the telephone , it is always his wife's
secret conviction that his end of the
conversation sounds "guarded. "
If a woman asks the brethren and
sisters at a prayer meeting to pray for
her husband , ho learns about It with
out being told ; it's in. the air.
A church woman's idea of being
broad-minded Is to keep her mouth
closed when she hears a member of
some other denomination boast.
The boys used to dress like cowboys
and long to run off and fight Indians.
Now they will dress like arctic ex
plorers and long to run away and find
the north pole.
"I intend that somebody shall bo
sorry when I die ; I have $20,000 life
insurance , and that will put the life
insurance men in mourning , anyway. "
Drake Watson.
You probably have your own way of
eating eggs. So has n snake. A snake
swallows the egg whole , and then
wraps itself about a tree or post so
tightly that It breaks the eggs.
An eastern girl is visiting in Atchi-
son. "I have yet to see a man , " she
, saldtoday , "who wears his pants
right. Every man I have met so far
wears Ills pants too long or too'short. . "
Farmers' wives , so far , have adopted
every style known , to the women in
town , except the straight front corset.
A farmer's wife In a straight front
corset couldn't save any chickens from
drowning.
Husbands don't give their wives
much encouragement In piling puffs
and rolls on their heads , but their
children encourage them. Next to eating -
ing candy , a child knows no greater
Joy than to bo allowed to handle Its
mother's false hair.
Maybe this story is old : A woman
entered a crowded street car , where
upon nn old gentleman attempted to
give her his seat. "No , uncle , " the
woman said , "you nro older than I ;
keep your seat. " At the next stop , the
old gentleman again attempted to
lenvo his seat. The woman put her
hand on his shoulder , and forced him
back. "Keep your scat , " she said ; "I
am young and strong , and can easily
stand. " Finally , nt the next stop ,
wlion the man attempted to nrlso and
the woman tried to force him back
into his seat , ho mild : "But I want to
leave the car. I have alroiuly passed
my street three blocks , and If you will
permit mo , I will got out Intro and
walk back. "
Making Money
On the Farm
XIV-Poultry-TheQues.
tion of Breed
By C. V. GREGORY ,
Author of "Homo Course In Modem
Agriculture"
Copyrirfhl. 1909 , by American fro * *
Allocution
are breeds , varieties and
THERE of poultry almost with
out end. To thu beginner In
poultry culture the question of
which one to select IH a puzzling onu ,
and thu older puultryinen often won-
dur If they would not do bolter to
change breeds. Thu purpose for which
chickens are kept will dcturmlnu
which class of fowls Is bust. As to
thu varieties within that clasa , It la
largely a matter of Individual prefer
ence. A brief description of some of
thu leading varieties may bu of help
In making a selection.
The General Purpose Breeds.
Chickens may bo grouped Into four
general classes : (1) ( ) General purpose
breeds ; ( ii ) meat breeds ; (3) ( ) laying
breeds ; (4) ( ) ornamental breeds. The
Him of the breeders of general purpose
fowls Is to combine laying and meat
producing ability to the greatest ex
tent possible. The general purpose
birds will not average as prolific lay-
era as some of thu more strictly egg
fowls. For producing meat , however ,
they arc fully as clliclent us thu strict
ly meat breeds. For the general farm
er who Is keeping poultry ns a side
Issue the returns from thu general pur
pose breeds will usually bu greater
than from any of the muro specialized
breeds.
The most popular and most widely
distributed of the general purpose
breeds is the Plymouth Rock. It Is a
medium sized breed , deep breasted and
well proportioned. Plymouth Rocks
are- very good layers , especially the
first year. After the hens are a year
old they tend to become fat and slug
gish and lay fewer eggs. The meat Is
of excellent quality. The chickens
innko good broilers at from three to
four weeks of age or can be profitably
fed for later markets. They are early
maturing and ns rapid growers excel
oil other breeds. Chicken feeders who
crate-fatten extensively put the Plym
outh Rock In first place for this pur
pose.
There are three varieties of Plym
outh Rocks Barred , White and Buff.
The great trouble with the Barred
Plymouth Rock is the dllllculty in
keeping the color markings up to stand
ard. They tend to become unevenly
barred , the bars become too wide or
too narrow or the general color too
dork or too light. From a utility stand
point this factor Is of little importance ,
but where birds or eggs are sold for
breeding purposes It Is important that
the color markings be up to standard.
The Buff Rocks have a tendency to
vary somewhat from the desired shade
and to produce black feathers in wings
or tall. They average a little smaller
than the Barred or White varieties.
The White Rocks breed true to color
the easiest. The hens of this variety
show even more of u tendency to be
come overfnt than do those of the
Barred variety.
Plymouth Rock eggs arc brown ,
which is something of an objection In
F10. XXVII GOOD TYl'IJ PLYMOUTH HOOK
mis' .
some markets and an advantage with
others. The standard weight for the
breed Is nine and a half pounds for
cocks and hovon and a half for hens.
Plymouth Rucks are criticised some
what for hick of hardiness as com
pared with the other general purpose
breeds , and there Is doubtless some
ground for this criticism. They may
be greatly improved In this point by
thu use of birds of exceptionally strong
vitality In tbo breeding pen.
Next to the Plymouth Rooks In popu
larity ns a general purpose breed are
the Wyandottes. They average about
a pound lighter than the Plymouth
Rocks. The chickens aru nearly as
rapid growers and produce moat of
as good or even better quality.
The Wyandottes are generally con
sidered to stand heavy feeding for
rapid growth n llttlo better than most
of the other breeds. The hens are
active and do not become ovorfat as
easily as Plymouth Rocks.
There are several varieties of Wyan
dottes , all the same typo and having
the HIUIIP general characteristics. The
only distinguishing point Is the color.
With this breed , ns with the Plymouth
Hocks , tlu > mixed colors are difficult
to breed true to standard. For the
man who docs not wish to devote a
grcnt deal of time to breeding for
fancy points n solid color Is preferable.
Ono of the newest of the general pur-
POMS breeds Is the Rhode Inland Red
Tin-no fowls are very hardy and for
Unit reason well adapted to farm con-
dltlons. They rank up well with the
Plymouth Rocks and Wyandottes In
laying ability niuLiiH meat producers.
They aru about the pamu size an thu
Wyandottes , thu atandaul weight being
eight and one-half pounds for thu cock
and six and one-half pounds for the
lion. The color IM a brilliant red , with
portions of thu tall ami wings BlindIng -
Ing off to black. The exact shade of
color varies considerably ,
Tberu are a number of other general
purpose breeds , such as the Dom-
tnliiies | , Buckeyes and .lavas. Thu lat
ter aru about thu same size ns the
Plymouth Reeks , though of n llttlo
different shape. They lay well , aru
fairly good for meat and arc good sit
ters. Thuro are two varieties , black
and mottled. The objection applies to
this breed that Is made In all birds
with black plumngc that the black
plnfenthers detract considerably from
thu appearnncu of the dressed fowl.
Such birds arc Nerlously discriminated
against In thu markets. The foregoing
breeds have been developed In this
country and are known an American
breeds. There Is also an English
breed , thu Orpingtons , that gives very
good satisfaction as a general purposu
fowl.
The Meat Breeds.
The meat breeds , most of which nrc
Asiatics , arc1 the oldest breeds In this
country. The Ilrnhnms , one of the
Fid. XXVIII WniTIC PLYMOUTH HOOK
CHIOKKNH.
most common of these , are large , the
male weighing cloven to twelve pounds
and the hen eight and n half to nine
and a half. This large size Is one of
the chief points In favor of the Brah-
nms. They are Blow maturing , and It
takes considerable feeding to get their
largo frames thickly enough covered
with meat to be In good market condi
tion. Like all feathered legged breeds ,
tbo Brahma is clumsy and for this
reason docs not make a Ilrst class
mother. The pullets nro too slow In
maturing to lay many eggs the first
winter. Even when matured they are
not heavy layers , though they do most
of their laying In the winter , when eggs
are high. This Is largely because their
large size and heavy feathering make
thorn less susceptible to culd. As meat
producers the Bruhmas arc about
equal to the general purpose breeds ,
though for high class cnponb they are
perhaps a little superior. There are \
two varieties of Brahmas , light and .
dark. The light Briilinms are thi > more
popular. The black variety Is more
dilllcult to breed for color , and much
attention to fancy points has caused
utility to bo largely lost sight of.
Cochins are the second of the meat
breeds In size , the males weighing
eleven pounds and the hens eight and
11 half. They are of the same massive ,
full feathered type as the Brahmas ,
averaging a trifle shorter legged and
wider across the back. Like the Brah
mas. they are hardy. They aru not as
good layers , however , and are just as
slow lu maturing. There are four va-
riutie.s. of which the buff Is the most
common.
Both these breeds have served a good
purpose In grading up the mongrel
strains of the country and providing
foundation stock for the American
breeds. At present , however , they
havu few points of superiority over the
American breeds as meat producers
and aru inferior to them In laying abil
ity. As show fowls they are prized
because of their size and beauty.
The smallest inul quickest maturing
of thu Asiatic breeds is the Langslmn.
They aru objectionable becau.se of
their black color , while skin and feath
ered legs and do not excel the Amer t
ican breeds in any practical qualities.
An English breed , the Dorkings , nro I
good meat producers , but poor layers.
For the man who Is in the poultry
business from a utility standpoint one
of the general purpose or laying breeds
will be more satisfactory than any of
the meat breeds.
The Laying Breeds.
The laying breeds originally came
from the region aiound the Mediter
ranean sea , and hence are often re
ferred to as the Mediterranean breeds ,
The most popular of these Is thu Leg
horn. Leghorns are small birds , not
more than half thu size of the Asiatics.
They are very active ami good for
agers. They outrank any of the other
breeds In laying qualities , laying both
summer and winter If properly cared
for. They are not adapted to the potil-
trymiin who pays no attention to his
chickens , as they will not lay unless
they nro given good care. They lay
white eggs weighing ten to the pound.
The eggs of the American breeds
weigh eight to the pound ,
The smnll size of the Leghorn hens
makes thorn cheaply kept. They are
early maturing , often beginning to lay
when they are four and a half mnntlm
old. Their flesh is of good quality , but
their size Is against thorn from a mar
ket standpoint. The only way the
cockerels can be disposed of at n profit
is to sell them as broilers at two
pounds weight or smaller. Of the sev
eral varieties of Leghorn the whlto
and brown arc the most popular from
a utility standpoint
nas a Device to Muzzle Koostei i ,
The recent municipal edict In Wash
ington against crowing roosters haa
aroused the Inventive genius of a man ,
who has devised a rooster muzzle. It' '
Is a simple collar of leather with a
small cotton pad fastened around the ,
rooster's neck sufficiently tight to
throttle the vocal organ. The corpora
tion counsel has been asked to deter
mine the unique question whether to )
muzzle roosters is legal.
