Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-05-10
spr,nstims's Return and Chickens.

ttnrlStlan science Monitof.l
l, has long been observed by close
and intelligent observers as an annual
" recurrent and remarkable phenome-
non Of modern American life that the
passing of the sos called vernal equinox
is marked. annually by the turning OF
the thoughts of a large number of city
bred urban residents to the poultry
ward This is pronounced phenome-
non because il is almost an invariable
rule that the footsteps of these men
never accompany their thoughts in
this particular. MANY of them have
never seen a poultry yard in actual OPP
Grafton: many Of them would not
know q poultry yard If they should
see one yet they are perfectly honest
in their attachment 10 the poultry
yard idea. They are known TO the
close and intelligent observers referred
10 as theoretical poultry fanciers; they
take up the chicken thought seriously
with the return Of every spring, and
they seem to enjoy themselves SO thor
oughly in attending TO imaginary
hencocps. in shooting imaginary hens.
in chasing imaginary chickens out OF
an imaginary garden, and in hnoing
ina ginary hidden eggs in imaginary
hay lofts, that even those engaged on
the commercial side Of an almost pure
ly sentimental vocation deem it only
fair 10 respond when they write in for
illustrated catalogues.
A curious phase Of the matter is that
these poultry yard theorists seldom
care to associate with surburbanites or
rural producers. They are at home.
and they feel entirely comfortable, only
when mingling and exchanging views
Wit: each other. Nearly ell Of them
are subscribers to poultry journals,
most Of them are corresponding mem
bers Of poultrymen's associations,
and some Of them write interesting let
tiers to the dalies at this time Of year
on the best method Of handling large
chicken yard for pleasure and profit:
but no, one Of them is known TO be In
the market for rare chance In the
country.
If they can get the ear Of city men.
they are ever ready TO talk by the hour
on the different varieties of poultry.
those best suited for light and med
ium and for a heavy soil. the most eco
! nomical and effective feed, how to in
crease and expedite laying, why hen
will shy at a pair of plaid trousers
etc. They are nearly all interesting
conversationalists, and it is pleasure
To be thrown in contact with one OF
them in April on long railroad jour-
ney, where they can point out errors
in the chicken yard design and archl-
| lecture as the train moves across the
country. Take them all for all, they
| seem TO be a worthy class OF citizens.
one may easily believe that they are
kind husbands and indulgent fathers,
and that they always scratch their
tickets. Yet the fact remains that
hardly anything would induce one OF
them to attend to a chicken yard OF his
| ovn. There are others who are at
fected in the same peculiar way about
! blowing, planting and harvesting.
They can lecture on these subjects and
| write instructive articles about them
but for the most part they have lived
all their lives in steam-heated apart
ments. and have no intention OF max
ing a change. Yet II these and the
| theoretical poultry fanciers should lose
interest and cease to write for Illus
trated catalogues, the annual spring
| rise in postal receipts would probably
| disappear.