her machinery caused by the high rate of speed. So it is with the highfed pig, besides the loss of feed there is the extra amount of fat, which is undesirable. Remember, no butcher wants a pig over one hundred fifty pounds, but would rather have them at one hundred pounds. It also costs less to make a pig of that size than one heavier. Experiments show that one hundred pounds of growth can be made, on a pig weighing fifty pounds to start with, by feeding two hundred seventy-three pounds of feed, while it requires four hundred seventy-nine pounds of the same kind of food to make a like gain on a pig that weighs one hundred fifty pounds, and it requires five hundred seventy-one pounds of food to make a one hundred pounds gain on a two hundred fifty pound pig, showing that it costs double to make a pound of pork on a two hundred fifty pound pig that it does on a fifty pound one. So the man who feeds heavy pigs produces what the market does not want at a greater cost than he who feeds light ones. Do not, Now, a few words as to the care of swine. Swine are natives of a tropical climate, and are, therefore, sensitive to cold and dampness. Then give them dry, warm quarters with not too much litter. for the sake of your pocket, allow them to shiver and squeal all through the storms and cold of winter. And last, but not least, do not kick and club them when you wish to drive them, or when driven by hunger they seek to satisfy their wants in forbidden places. But with kindness he will go where you wish him to, and with proper feed and fence will stay where you put him. No domestic animal will respond to kind treatment and good feed quicker than the pig, and no animal will make a pound of flesh with as small a cost as a pig. There is no branch of farming which has brought as much clean profit as pork making; to him who has kept his pigs in clover doubly so. That is, the man who has studied intelligently to supply the wants of his swine." LLEWELLYN LENT. POULTRY DEPARTMENT. How to Make Poultry Keeping Profitable. A CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS BREEDS WITH THEIR SPECIAL ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES. AND OULTRY is raised to a greater or less extent on every farm, and whether they are kept for special profit or only for family use, they should be cared for and thoroughly managed, as well as other departments of the farm, so that whether few or many, a profit may result from the investment of time and money. The farmer has the advantage of plenty of room for his poultry, food for them at first cost, and in return, by grafting this upon his other work without any great extra expense, receives, if he does not care to sell in the market, plenty of eggs for family use, choice young poultry for his table, and a compost to enrich his soil. If the poultry is raised for profit the farmer has the means of getting his produce to market at once, and can contract with hotels and private families, who want only good "fresh-laid eggs." But this business, like every other kind, to be really successful, requires thought, attention, care, and intelligence, and when these are exercised under proper conditions, there is sure to be "money in it." Nature's laws are to be respected if success is to follow. Fowls, when wild, live entirely in the open air, having perfect freedom, and the farmer with his land may approach this condition as far as it is necessary. Description. We here give a short description of the various breeds, together with their characteristics, so that it will be easy to decide which one will be the most suitable for the place where they are to be kept. Andalusians. This is sometimes called the Blue Spanish and is one of the leading varieties of the Spanish group. This group has been described as follows: "A close, compact, smallish-sized body, placed upon legs of a good length; the neck rather long, with a fine head; a large, upright-single comb; in the hen also large, but falling over one side; and the cocks have large sickle-shaped tails." Of course the color of plumage, legs, &c., are different in the several varieties, but the general appearance is as here described. In Andalusians the plumage is slate-colored, but on the cock's neck and back it is dark purple or nearly black. The birds are of a good size, are prolific layers of large white eggs, are precocious as chickens, very hardy, bear confinement well, are fair table birds when young, can be kept on all fairly dry soils and are non-sitters. In selecting birds attention should be paid to size, to erectness of carriage; and any white on the face, which ought to be red, should be avoided, as this indicates a cross with the black Spanish." Brahmas. This breed is one of the most prominent breeds of fowls. It is chiefly valuable for its great size and hardiness, and for laying well in winter. The eggs, which are buff in color, are often small, but are rich in quality. They are not a first-class table fowl, so far as quality of flesh is concerned, having more of the flesh laid on the legs than on the breast; but when young they are desirable, especeially when size is considered. For a family fowl they are unequalled, and a large Brahma chicken is a dinner for a fair sized family. There are two varieties of Brahmas, the dark and the light, which are alike, save in color. The bird is of pleasing shape, well-proportioned and handsome. It has deep, massive body, neat head, small pea-comb, and heavily-feathered legs. They are good sitters and mothers, though clumsy when old; are very quiet in habits; moderate layers; and can be kept on any soil. They are so large and the wings so weak they can be kept in bounds with an ordinary fence. Cochin. This was once the most popular breed of all. Cochins somewhat resemble the Brahmas in shape and appearance, but have more feathers and are rather rounder. As winter layers they are fairly good, |