Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-09-27

and the labor OF feeding and caring for
them is performed by ell the members
Of the family. n one of them Il slck, or
for minute droops, Il IL noticed, and
she IL carried Into the house to 10 pet
ted aud nurscd like baby. She has .
friend In every member Of the family,
and will receive full attentiou; but the
hen that II lost In large number II un-
known. She may be III or dropping, for
q day or two before discovery, and abe
will receive but little care other than
may be necessary to attempt to ave her
AZ . matter of ecouomy. Her owner is
too busy With the vs9 To devote much at
tention to her, and she will have no nursc
but herself.
The small fock IL within the rrach Of
all. II requires capital 10 keep large
numbers, for elaborate poultry houses,
runs, bins and appliances of all kinds
must bc procured In number, but only =
small sum IL required to provide snug
house for = small nock, and the house
will be examined daily, II not from
choice, by accident. should lice put In
an appearance their prc.ence will be- de-
tect~d long before the expensive quar-
ters of the THOUSAND hens are swarming
with them. and as but . few minutes
will suffice to clean the house. and which
can he done by any member of the fam
ily, hut little time will be lost In so do
Ing.
One of the reasons Why some delight
In q small flock IL that they have fresh
eggs that are known to be fresh, which
is something more important than viii
appear 10 those who have no small hock.
"Nn egg IL an egg" Il IL true, bnt there
are times when an egg may he dlfier-
cnt thing from = fresh egg, and tho.e
Who buy egg. know that sometimes u
IL difficult 90 procure them strictly
fresh. Those Who have q small nock
convert much of their waste into eggs,
aud when the eggs aud poultry produced
at home are served on the table they
"know what they are eating" and do
not have 90 bring their faith In ~ an -.
slstant, "a Il necessary In these days OF
dressed beef. cholera hogs and roupy
poultry from the stalls.
The raising of the little chicks ls easier
when but small flock u kept. The
chicks ar, counted from the start, aud
though carefully watched during the
day, they must also respond TO roll call
st night, when the mistress of the house
is calling them little dsrlings and snug
iy tuckiug them away under their moth.
ere, "a b. kept warm until the morning
comes. Hut the chicks With the hen. In
the large nocks are too numerous for
such work. aud some day when their
owner "tskes an inventory" of stock. he
knows there ha. been q loss of large
proportion. but be cannot account Tor
them. The rat and the hawk, together
With the family cat. have feasted we'll st
his exT~nse, and be sccepts the .i'us-
tiou As an Absolui. necessity, or adjunct
To raising chicks In large numbers.
The small flock has bcen the medium
through which much pleasure And eo-
loyment has BEEN afforded to many. The
workingman, with hls dinner pail In his
hand. give. q parting glance AZ bis pets
as he step. OF To work. They give him
an opportunity to enjoy . portion of the
time he spends At home by watching
their growth from the shell to maturity,
aud every peculisrity aud Characteristic
10 each hen !. notei until he knows them
perfectly. n 4. safe to say that nothing
has afforded .o much enjoyment Ia those
living In the suburbs 10 town. or cities
q. the kccplpg % small nock OF hens.
Though the time may come when
poultry Ia large numbers will be q lead
Ing feature, and pay we'll In the hands
of those Who are willing to devote time,
labor and cspl,si to such industry, yet
the small nock will never bc crowded
out, a. IL has place 90 its own, entirely
distinct from poultry keeping 10 other
respects, and new devotcc. Ia the Inter
e.,s of the old hen are being added to
the ranks every day In the year.-iew.
iston Journal.