Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-11-20
women ms Poultry Keepers.

We wish particularly to call the attention
of American women to the business of poul-
try raising. thousands of their sisters "over
the water" pursue 1t as voc alton through
life-not merely to furnish eggs, ducks,
geese and chickens for the family table and
the inevitable feather bed with feathers,
but they go into 1t as an occupation, Il means
of support, or even source of comparative
wealth.
In this country, far more than in Europe,
women in the middle and lower classes as
well of course as those in the higher classes,
depend on the income, or on the daily earn
ings of the husband and father; and they
abound or suffer need" in proportion as
the masculine purse is well filled or scanti-
ly supplied. But they do not, when the
latter is the case in regard to the family
funds, attempt as a general thing to sup
ply the deficiency. by some effort of their
own at money making, as French, German
or English woman would do under like cir
cumstances. When loss of work or loss of
health lays aside the legitimate bread win
ner" of the house, the American wife and
mother Is compelled to turn over various
schemes by which she can, herself, support
the family. II she had money she could
open a little shop, and by the sale of small,
needed articles, keep the wolf from the
door; but she has no funds, and that idea
must be abandoned. Washing might be OBJ
tanned, but she has neither strength nor con
veniences for that laborious occupation.
She might do sewing, but the pittance she
would earn would do little more than buy
the extra wood and lights which such work
would demand and so one thing after anoth-
er is suggested and abandoned, till the sad
conclusion is reached that there is nothing
woman can dol" Let all such women
land the advice applies to every female who
needs an addition to her income) try poul-
try raising. The outlay in the beginning
may be small, the accommodations may be
rude, the grounds very limited; but, with
the instruction to be gained from poultry
books and publications, no one need fail In
the undertaking. A womans thrift and
gentleness, her instructive fondness for the
thing OF which she has the care, make her
the best possible attendant in the poultry
yard. Fowls are easily terrified, and a boy
or mans quick, heavy step, his loud voice,
and his rough seizure, when any of the flock
require to be handled, frighten them half
out of their small wits. They run to the
after the danger is past; and II the egg, due
the next day, comes up missing" 1t must
be charged 10 the half-eaten or half.
digested supper the late settling on the
roost, the disturbed circulation and the
feverish habit, induced by yesterdays scare.
compassionate ways, her faithful devotion,
her disposition to learn the best methods
her pleasure In the constant, II small, re.
ceipts ut her particularly for this work and
for success in 1t; and It is our most earnest
wish that thousands of our country women
who need this exercise, this out of door
care, and the money to be gained from 1t,
may be induced to give the business a
thorough, persistent and intelligent trial.
Even aside from the profits, the keeping of
fine poultry is entered into by many English
ladies, as adding much to the interest OF
country life and to the attractiveness of
country homes; and there seems to be no
reason why the fashion should not be
World,