Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-12-24
az r. ~ RENTHUYsENl

C3y r. VAN BENTHUYsEN)
Ten years ago any farmer who had
a flock OF fancy chickens was looked
upon with pity by his neighbors. II
was considered that any man who
would spend more than a dollar for
a setting of eggs was throwing his
money away! And as for the pur-
chase OF a pen at the enormous price
OF S25 for the five birds-why, the ay'
erage farmer would have had to be
examined as to his sanity If 1t were
found that he had made such an IN
vestment.
However, il you will take the
trouble to look around you now, you
will find that there is a different atti-
tude taken on this subject. In the
last few years the poultry industry
has shown an Improvement that is
hard to beat. Several of the. states
now have a department Of poultry
husbandry, and quite number Of col
leges are conducting their own poul-
try experiment stations. Indeed,
some OF the correspondence schools
have gotten up courses on poultry
farming that are marvels of complete
ness.
Most OF us are familiar with the
various poultry shows that are con-
Quoted in thousands of towns through
out the country The larger shows
are held in the biggest cities of the
country. New York, Chicago, Pitts
) burgh, etc, in fact all the large cities
have their poultry shows each year,
and these shows are planned on as
elaborate a scale as any other form
s OF entertainment The smaller cities
often have a regular show each year,
but if this is not done, the poultry ex-
hibit of the annual fair is sure to be
one of the most important features.
1t is apparent that the country is
waking up to the fact that this indus
try is one of the most important, and
that Mrs. Biddy is, for her size, about
the best paying proposition Of the
farm, if the proper care is given to
her. Probably one of the most i'm
portant things that has helped the in
dustry along so rapidly within the
last few years is the information and
help contained in the bulletins that
have been issued by the various eX-
perimental stations. By reading
these and applying the methods
shown in them, the farmer has been
convinced that "a little less cussing
and little more caring" will make
the chickens a paying item.
The wide-awake farmer of these
days doesn't need much argument to
convince him that pure-bred stock OF
all kinds averages the best, whether
it is horses, COWS, poultry or any
thing else. But it is only within the
last few years that many were will
ing to admit 1t as far as the poultry
went and then they were shy about
putting any money into it. There are
several ways that this may be done
some good and some bad, and there
are several points to be considered in
making an investment of this nature
These points, however should be be
fore every man, whether it is poultry
or any other stock that he wishes tC
improve.
First, the breed. This depends or
mans individual liking so much that
1t is useless to enter into any discus
sion here as to the breeds that may
be chosen. There are three classes
the meat breeds, the egg breeds and
the general purpose breeds. Under
leach of these classes there are sew
eral varieties, and they each have
their boosters. From experience witt
lseveral of them, | viii say that any
Abreed that you may start with viii
give you satisfactory results, If they
Are given the proper housing anC
Aading.
Becond. the investment. There ar,
three good ways that a start may b.
made-hY buying eggs, baby chicks o.
pen Of mature birds. The latter is
of course, the most satisfactory, al
the breeders will give you sufficien
number of eggs to allow the Matching
of more good stock than could other
wise be secured. The industry of sell
ing baby chicks has increased won
derfuly within the past three years
and is generally considered yer.
satisfactory method of starting
flock BY this system you can "coun
lyour chickens before they ar
DaGhsd,". and avoid the necessar.
an incubator or severa
ems. L.
he DEALER &.2ers