as dwellings, barns, granaries, silos, poultry houses and machine sheds.

The Cooking department is equipped as nearly like a home kitchen as is consistent with the number of students to be accommodated. Wood and gasoline ranges are used instead of individual gas plates. Convenient cupboards and kitchen cabinets are such as should be in any well equipped home. Even the work tables used by the pupils are models of convenience in every respect. Food sets, showing the composition of each of the standard foods, are conspicuously placed for constant reference and study in the preparation of meals. Students get practice in preparing and serving meals to each other and to numerous visitors. This is supplemented by a series of lectures in Home Economy touching upon Chemistry of Foods, Invalid Cookery and Hygiene of the person and the home.

In each school the Sewing department is equipped with sewing' machines, draughting tables, and everything necessary to teach the girls the best methods of making their own garments. They furnish their own material and use the finished products. They make underclothing, shirt waists, skirts, wool dresses, and some millinery work is done by all girls in the regular

course.

Well equipped, modern home laundries are used to teach the principles of Laundering, with special attention to the removing of fruit and other stains, and disinfecting; special treatment of flannels, silks, fixation of colors, starching, polishing, composition and action of various soaps, soda, bluing, borax and washing powders.

The courses in Home Nursing and Emergencies are given by means of lectures with occasional illustrations, and are very popular.

Academic Work is carried on by all students throughout the two years. Wherever it is possible, as in arithmetic, the subject matter is adapted to farm use.

Purpose.

The chief purpose of the County Agricultural schools as now established in Wisconsin is to popularize agricultural education more than can be done by a well-filled state college. The schools are subordinate to the state college in that they are not so advanced, espeIcially in their academic subjects. StuIdents are admitted directly from the rural schools. Most of them would never go to an agricultural school if this new class of schools were not brought close to them. Some students board at home and help with home chores; others visit home at the end of each week and are dominated by the home spirit throughout their school life. Certainly these county institutes reach a class of pupils that would not feel that they could spare the money necessary to attend the State Agricultural College. And yet there are students who, after getting the work of the county school, will feel like continuing their education and will attend the State College of Agriculture. Several graduates are already planning such a course. More county schools of agriculture will help fill the state school to overflowing.

Adjourned till 9 o'clock a. m. next

day.

Conductor W. C. BradMusic.

J. L. Herbst and his new Strawberry, the "Tardy."

There is always a rise and fall in the markets of the various products which are consumed daily, and the egg quotations are watched with much interest by both city population and country folks. For the past few years the price of eggs has taken a jump during the winter months from 15 cents a dozen up to 30, 35 and 40 cents. Statistics show that the population of the cities is increasing more rapidly than the rural districts, and so long as this continues there always will be a good demand for fresh eggs. But there is a cause for this great difference of price throughout the year. It is a fact that

during the winter months eggs are at a high price, while during the spring and summer months they are at a low figure. Each year the cold storage concerns throughout the country are sold out before the winter is over. There never is an over-supply and so long as the population in our cities increases much more rapidly than the rural districts the egg business will never be overdone.

Breeding Stock.

There are several reasons for a shortage and the high price of fresh eggs during the winter months. Improper breeding of the stock, improper feeding and care in bringing the stock to maturity, improper housing and improper feeding to produce the required results.

By improper stock, I mean hens that have no record of being an egg-producing strain. I venture to say that 90 per cent of the farmers who are raising poultry for eggs do not know how many eggs his hens are laying in the year. He does not know which hen is laying 50 eggs, or which one is producing 150 in a year, and yet he continues to breed from the whole flock, a mistake too often made. If some attention was paid to the flock, he would soon note the birds that are his best layers. If he would then breed from these birds and continue breeding from his best layers, he would soon have a laying strain. The egg-producing hen is the active bird. She is the one that is inclined to be nervous and continually moving about. Invariably when in laying condition can be noted by the brightness of the face and red comb. These are the birds from which to breed,

J

An experiment has been carried on in the state of Maine to show what can be done by careful selection and feeding to produce eggs. The experiment was started some years ago, with, I believe, 1,000 hens. A record was kept of the amount of eggs layed by each hen during the year. The best hens were bred from the following year and a record kept of the offspring. This was continued until at the present time one hen has a record of 281 eggs to her credit for a year; another 260, several 240, and a goodly number have a

Hatching and Rearing the Chickens. Another point of importance is the hatching and rearing of the chicks to maturity. In these times of progression I believe the farmer who intends to make anything out of his poultry must use the incubator. It has too many advantages over the old way of setting hens to be ignored. The one who is in the business for eggs or market poultry cannot afford to be without one. One reason for the scarcity of eggs during the winter months comes from the fact that the young pullets

record of 200 and over. The experiment is to be continued with the hope of securing a 300-egg hen.

It has been estimated that the cost of feed per hen for a year is from 75 cents to $1.00. Now then, if you kept a record of how many eggs each hen laid during the year, you could soon determine which were the money makers and which ones the spongers. With eggs at an average of 15 cents per dozen throughout the year, the hen would have to lay from five to six dozen to pay for the feed consumed. Now, if your hens are not yielding more than this amount, you are losing money in keeping them, and the sooner you get rid of them the better.

were hatched too late in the season and not being properly fed did not mature before cold weather set in and consequently were not in a condition to go to laying. Here is where the incubator has the advantage over the old way. The larger and heavier breeds take a much longer time to mature than the small breeds, and in this climate must be hatched earlier and kept growing before the cold weather sets in. ways keep in mind that the pullet will not lay until matured. The methods of' running incubators vary with different machines, but most of them are so simple that most any one can run them.

Al

The chick to become a layer and a money-maker must be kept growing

It

from the time it is hatched to the time of maturity. No food should be given it from 24 to 36 hours after it has been hatched. Its first feed should be a goodly proportion of sand, to which can be added a hard boiled egg or siftings of dry bread crumbs. should be fed sparingly at first, but often, never giving more than it will eat up clean at one time. Gradually it can be fed dry cornmeal, rolled oats and millet. As the chicks grow older, corn and wheat cracked and steel-cut oats make a very good food. No soft or sloppy food should be given. I find

quarters early. Get them into the new quarters before the cold rains of the fall and early winter weather. Now, when we do this what happens? The frosts and freezing weather have destroyed the green feeds, bugs, grasshoppers and worms have disappeared; the weed seeds have been covered up. The weather will not permit them to be out and they have been deprived of their variety of feed, which brings them to a standstill unless supplied by other means. Right here I believe is the whole thing in a nut shell and the real cause for no eggs.

I get better results from dry feeding than from soft food during the chicks' growth to maturity.

Plenty of fresh water and grit should be before them continually. Skim milk and green cut bone should be given them occasionally. Give them a variety of feed, plenty of range and shade, keep the brooders clean and disinfected, and your chicks will grow to maturity before cold weather sets in.

Winter Quarters.

The winter quarters for your layers should be looked to early. These should be warm and dry, well lighted and ventilated, without drafts. A ground floor is preferable to board. Get the young stock accustomed to their new

Make their winter life as near like the life they lead in the spring and summer months as possible, and if your pullets are from a laying strain you will have no trouble in getting eggs. Bear in mind that you must have the qualities in the pullets to produce eggs before you can get the required results. I believe those principles which go to make up the dairy and beef breeds of cattle apply in some respects to the hen. You cannot get eggs out of the hen that will put all her feed onto her back, breast and legs, neither can you get quantity and high test from the cow that puts all her feed into beef. Discard all lazy, inactive birds and those that keep the roost warm,

For green food, second cutting clover is one of the best. Cabbage, carrots and mangel wurtzels can also be fed to advantage. They should be fed meat of some kind at least three times a week. Beef scraps soaked and mixed with bran enough to take up the moisture answers this purpose. Skim milk added to the mash will give good results. Plenty of fresh water and grit should be where they can have access to it at all times.

DISCUSSION.

A Member-Do you allow the hens to get out doors in winter?

Mr. Herbst-Not when the weather is too severe, no, sir. I do not believe my hens have been out of the building more than six times this winter.

Mr. Matteson-That is from the standpoint of egg production; but if you desire to use a portion of those fowls for spring breeders, you would