Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1913-07-16
eBy BESSIE l. PurNAMo


Children instinctiyely delight in
pets. The first chicks have an ire
sistible charm for the mere babe;
and this natural taste guided with
tact Is quality which stays with the
years There are many incentives of
real worth toward working with iG,
animate objects, yet the real, live
things always arouse more of interest.
The work is so light as to be easily
within the ability of the average child.
Feeding chickens is one of the first
real duties assigned TO the little one
With growth comes the added pleas
ure of fashioning the coops-it may
be In the rudest form by means OF
discarded boxes, or IL may be the
evolving of triumphant victory
through the department in manual
training. In almost every other form
of live stock raising there are some
duties too heavy for the child to per
form Even Bookkeeping shows these
features at times. Gardening and
fruit culture, too. have their draw.
backs in which the help of an adult
is essential; but with the poultry
business the children are fairly ~
dependent.
1t harmonizes nicely with school
work, the most of the duties being
required night and morning; and if at
certain seasons during the school
year supervision through the day is
necessary, some older member of the
family is usually willing to look after
1.-THE work being arranged for on q
strictly business basis, with poultry
DIT eggs given in payment and at the
ruling prices.
II gives the needed outdoor exer-
else. and there is no reason why a
share of the attention now claimed
exclusively for baseball should not be
diverted to a more profitable occupa.
tion. The hustle in getting the flock
ready for the day adds to the relish
81 the child's breakfast
II fosters a spirit of kindness 70
animals; for no poultry grower can
hope TO attain any measure OF sue.
cess until the spirit of gentleness is
mastered in connection with his
wards.
II fosters a love for nature study
and the lessons on this topic which
are learned in school find practical
applications which render them more
real and impressive Thus the rela.
tion of bird life to insect life is EN-.
phasized in the chicks liking for bugs
and worms and its adroitness in Sc
curing them. And as the child notes
these facts 1t will more readily under
stand the mission OF the birds IN
keeping at bay the hordes of insect
pests.
The original investment may be al.
most nothing, and it is really best &c
keep it within moderate limits, teach
ing the principle of making it self
sustaining from the first. Give enough
at the start If convenient. as the eggs
and one, two or three hens: and for a
time supervise the work. In nothing
else will the increase come SO rapidly.
And children are not content unless
they can see things grow.
The lesson Of thoroughness comes
with every detail in the work. The
care In fighting away pests when the
eggs are first given to the hen is but
a specimen of the care in this single
detail which must be given from start
to finish. The cleanliness OF every.
thing from drinking cup to roost EN-.
phasizes this point
- No rF AZ
eggs for market is another wholesome
lesson in child development. The
eggs which are spotless and present
ed in clean wrappiugs are those which
are sure of the best prices And II so
packed that there Is no danger Of
breakage, the profits on the entire
lot are assured. Show how the glossy
finish given by nature is impaired
when the damp cloth must be used
injuring the keeping qualities as well
as the appearance. and urge the ease
with which this trouble can be Oh
waited by the use of clean straw
Responsibility is an element which
must never be lost sight Of. Life,
even though only that of a chick, IS
not TO be trifed with. The plant may
be allowed TO wfther and die through
neglect. and yet, there is only the loss
of the plant. But with animal life
there is pain and suffering as a re
suit OF neglect And the child who
takes up this branch OF work should
be fully impressed with the attendant
responsibilities
Discipline is gained through the en-
forced regularity Of work. There Is
no success without II. Poultry grow
ers must give the attention regularly
mr. tro,tble U,iII follow. And the habits