Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-05-16

The enormous possibilities in the poul-
try raising business in a town lot have
been most ably demonstrated by c. H.
Ledford. now known as one of the most
successful breeders of Black Minorcas in
the south Mr.. Ledford's chicken ranch
could never be termed a farm" 1t is
essentially a town place and is located at
S3 Sells avenue in the heart of West
End.
The lot upon which Hr Ledford has
so successfully raised his champion
breed OF Black Minorcas and many other
breeds, is 100 by 275 feet, and on ito be-
sides the chicken runs, buses. etc. is
Mr.. Ledford's home, a 2-story building.
and his farm. upon which he raises near
ly all of the vegetables needed by a. large
family.
At the present time there are only
about 140 grown birds on the place and
about $50 little ones. but the stock has
been recently diminished by number of
large sales. However at no time has
Mr. Ledford attempted to establish
large farm or to put~either his chickens
or his eggs on the general market. He
sells only for breeding purposes and con-
seauently has established a very care
fully culled stock. always getting rid of
any inferior birds as soon as possible
On aLeOIOruS place are ten pcAS-T
S of Black Minorcas, Of Rhode Island
Reds. one OF White Plymouth Rocks and
one OF Barred Plymouth Rocks. How
ever the speciality of the ranch is the
Black Minorca and the other breeds are
merely side issues. although one of the
pens OF Rhode Island Reds comprises
several especially fine birds.
Mr.. Ledford is a state vice president OF
the American Black Minorca club. and
an enthusiastic believer in the Black
Mfnorca as the best all around breed.
His birds are famous throughout the
south and the little pace on sells ave-
nue. in West End is home of Champion
Black Giant and Champion Black Giant
IL. besides a number of other prize show
birds of lesser note.
In all, birds raised or this town estab-
lishment have taken more than 800 rib
bons and cups in different poultry shows
all over the south. In fact, Mr.. Led
ford's chickens have taken so many
prizes that he has not counted them in a
year or so-not since they passed the 300
mark
WON MANY PRIZES.
Last season at the Georgia Poultry
Association show, Mr.. Ledford's birds
took every first prize II. the Black Min
orca class, besides a silver cup. While
this year he took IA out of a possible 10
prizes despite the fact that there were
seven other breeders competing in the
class. At Augusta, Macon and other
shows, chickens from the little town lot
in Atlanta swept everything before
them At Knoxville during the exposi-
ton it was practically the same way.
and again at shows in Alabama and sew
eraI other southern states. Mr.. Ledford
has carried away more prizes than any
other competitor.
OF particular note is pen number 1.
situated just beyond the residence, and
having a run OF about u feet by II feet.
This pen is headed by Black Giant H..
like his sire also raised by Mr.. Ledford,
this young cock. although only two
years Of age, is the winner of twelve
first and special prizens, and in addition
has headed several prize pens at differ
ent shows. In the same pen Is Black
Minorca hen. the winner of seven first
prizes. The other five hens in the pens
are al winners of from two to seven
I first prizes.
The second pen is almost as good. but
larger The young cock which is in this
second pen is the winner OF the first
prize IL his class at the Georgia Poultry
Association show besides a number Of
othef prizes. He is mated with six hens
and six puilets. many OF them prize
winning show birds. The other Black
Minorca pens on the place are all Of
carefully cWiled stock and several of the
birds IN them are prize winners.
The Plymouth Rock pen is headed by a
prize cock. but the birds OF other breeds
have never been shown by Mr.. Ledford,
although he believes that he has prize
winners in a Rhode Island Red cock and
several hens of the same breed.
Mr.. Ledford has been raising chickens
all his life. and has been raising them
on the Sells avenue place for the past
eighteen years. II have tried eighteen
different breeds" ne says, .fbut in my