The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-12-10
Mrs. Slocum's Brahmas.
Conctuded.7
From Prairie Farmer.

Bloomfield Poultry Show 1t came
off in January but Mrs. Slocum had it
ION her mind" just as soon as Thanks
giving Was off her hands; in fact the
idea of exhibiting some of her Brahmas
at regular poultry show had been in
or on her m'nl all the summer and
fall; it had grown with the growth OF
her chickens, and strengthened with
their strength, until it had become all
absorbing. 81 don't much expect to
take premium" she said to Jake when
they talked the matter over; but shall
have chance to compare my fowls with
those of more experienced breeders,
also see how my scoring agrees with that
of the judges " She decided to exhibit
a trio Of the old fowls and two trios OF
the young ones; and such time as she
had selecting 1.-THE best; it was worse,
caused her more "worrimrnt" Of mind,
than the rooster business the previous
spring. l firmly believe that she ''scor
ed" every Brahma on the place three
times apiece before her final choice was
made; but when it was made Jake and
Deacon Smith declared that the elect
were good enough to take premium
anywhere" The jud ges at the Bloom
field show thought 80 too; anyway they
awarded Mrs. Eliza Ann Slocum the
first premium on Light Brahmas under
year old, and second premium on
Light Brabma fowls. At first Mrs.
Slocum was inclined to think that the
second premium Of fowls didn't amount
to much, but when 4 keeu-eyed iancier,
man of ten years experience in breed
ing Light Brahmas, offered her SIS, then
$780,, and finally $40 for the trio, she
concluded that "a second premium at u
regular poultry show meant good deal;
$40 Was a good bit of money, and would
look well ON the credit side of the poul-
try account, but Mrs Slocum was wise
in her day and generation, and would
not let the fowls go. II can't afford to
suggested that she had better "let 'em
slide; they will be worth more than
$40 to me AS an advertisement
Failing to get the old fowls, the fan
cier turned his attention TO the first
premium trio ofyoung fowls, aud finally
succeeded in inducing Mrs. S!ocum to
part with the cockerel for $l5. The
pullets she refused to sell at any price
The Sis, together with the steady
income from the sale of market eggs,
again placed the balance on the right
side OF Mrs. Slocum's poultry account;
and Notwithstanding the fact that she
bought two ROSTERS which cost SO
apiece, and three pullets which cost an
other $40, for own breeding yards, the
credit side of the account was sttll the
larger when the season tor ceiling eggs
for Matching came around again, and
Mrs. Slocum's face wore that peculiarly
independent, contented expression that
women who have succeeded in any bus
mess. usually wear.
The fame of Mrs. Siocum's Brahmas
went abroad through all the surround
ing country, and as the poultry fever
in general, and the Light Brahma fever
in particular ragged high, Mrs, Slocum
expected and prepared to sell good
many eggs for Matching; but still she
was somewhat astonished when the or
ders began to pour in. The demand
for eggs was SO great that although she
had three breeding yards, she could not
fill the orders. At the close of the egg
season the profit side of the poultry ac-
count stood $500 ahead That was
seven years ago; and from that time
until the present Mrs. Slocum's poultry
business has steadily increased. Last
year her profits were over S. 900, more
than the whole income from all the rest
of the farm, and now Jake is seriously
thinking of devoting the farm to the
poultry business.
But the cash that Mrs Slucum's
Brahmas have brought into the Slocum
family treasury, is not the only good
thing that has accrued from that lady's
success in poultry keeping. When Mrs.
Slocum brought that first setting of
Brahma eggs into Plainvile there was
not a thoroughbred fowl, not a comfor-
table poultry house, not subscriber to
a poultry paper in the whole township,
and farmers generally did not believe
that poultry paid for keeping. Now
there are thoroughbred fowls and com.