The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-08-30
FARMERS COLUMN.
Poultry KOOping for Woman.
pY YANEY YiKLp.


Before me is letter from woman who
labors under Misrepresentation regarding
the amount and nature of work connected
with poultry-keeping Tho writer says:
al am out OF health-unable 10 do hard
work, but still feel that must do some.
thing toward earning my living. | haYe
read that poultry keeping is light and
profitable employment for people who are
not strong, and feel disposed to try it.
live near a good market for poultry pro-
ducts, and can haye the use OF few aercs
OF land. II could manage to earn, clear
Of the expense Of keeping the fowls, $500
or $500 year should feel quite independ.
cut"
The above is fair sam pie Of many lot.
ters that have received from half invalid
women, who desire to engage in some light
employment that will bring in ready money,
aud think it is almost time to put In a
protest, not against the letters, but sGaint
the perpetual reieraton by some poultry
wri ters Of the cold, old story" to the effect
that poutry-keepi ng is a very suitable and
profitable occupation for women who are
not strong enough to engage in any money
making employment that requires down
right hard work. Success in poultry keep
ing can only be won by constant care, close
attention to minute details aud plenty Of
hard work thrown IN. A semiinyalid may
| 10 nf Ia Eobf
nected with poultry-keepiug-she may
even assume the entire care Of a small flock
Of fowls. and doubtless her health will be
benefited by the out dnor air and exercise,
but she must not expect TO deriye any great
pecuniarY benefit from her labor in the
poultry yard; she certainly must not 60 into
the business with the expectation of max
ing living by it. do not write this to
discourage the halfinvalids, but to warn
them against indulging in hopes that can
not be realized, and gong beyond their
strength in the vein effort to accomplish the
work that would tax the energies of a well
woman. Let your work be according to
your strength. But for women who possess
an average amount OF health and strength,
and who have or can get the use of few
acres Of land, | can recommend the poultry
business as a means of flivelyhoUd. | know
several women who are supporting them
selyes and others denpendet upon them
from the proceeds of their poultry; and
other women may do equally well,provided
thoy begin right and stick to the business.
Poultry keeping has mono Of the drawbacks
that many occupations present to the women
who have themselves and children to sup
port. Poultry raising has always, so far as
my knowledge extends, been considered
wnnen's work. and woman can engage
in it without fear Of being pointed at as
"dreadul creature" out OF her "propcr
sphere" Next, il is work that can be done
ut home, and the children, instead of being
hindranco can be taught to help in many
ways. Thirdly, one can start with vory
little capital, and the business soon yields
an income; it is not like investing money
where one must wait six months or a wear
for "dividends," and last but not least, the
prohts-if the business is rightly managed
are sure; first class poultry products will
always sell at paying prices, and the woman
who once masters the poultry business need
have no fears about the iuture-so far as
this world is concerned.
For farmers wives and daughters who
desire to do some extra work that will ray
in cash, know of nothing that will pay as
wall in proportion to the time and cap tai
ioyested as a small flock Of fowls well.cared
fjr.-Prairie Farmer.