Evening star., 1913-11-23
MRS. HEN IS HELD
TO Be NOT GUILTY
AbSolved of Responsibility for
the High Prices of
Eggs.
BURDEN OF BLAME RESTS
ON FARMER, 1T is SAID
He Fails to Properly Care for
''Biddy' During Winter
Months.

Not guilty Of being responsible for
the high price of eggs
This verdict has been rendered in
favor of Mrs Hen by a large egg pro-
Queer of Falls Church. Va. who does
not care TO let his name get into print.
he recommends that the blame be put
right on the farmer. where it belongs
lie attributes the egg shortage to mis-
management Of poultry, and declares
that seventy-fve cent eggs are a result
OF the high cost of living, rather than
the cause of it,
This high price of eggs question is
growing every day. and it probably will
be summer time before it is settled.
There have been no egg sales this year
conducted by women's associations, as
last year. but the reason given is that
the blame this year is on the wholesaler
and not the retailer.
Boycott in Chicago.
While boycott Of eggs has been sug-
gested. il has remained for the women
of Chicago to institute the boycott The
campaign has begun. and representa-
tives of the club have been selected to
address meetings of other organizations
about the city in an attempt to get the
support of all of the housewives Of the
city.
However that may be. the poultry
raiser over Falls Church way furnishes
tne most logical argument yet presented
as TO the reason for the high price of
eggs. In his view economy and efficiency
-eHiciency on the part of the farmer
will materially lower the price of eggs.
Ihe things needed to Increase the
production of eggs at this time Of the
year. and consequently to reduce the
price are the following: Comfortable
ana clean quarters. proper feed, young
STOCK and personal supervision.
Speaks Advisedly.
Il have had several years practical ex-
perience In the production of eggs he
said This. supplemented by a close OBJ
servation and study of the methods pur-
sued ey others. places me in a position |
70 speak advisediy in deducing the fol- |
lowing conclusions on the laying hen:
very large percentage of eggs on /
the market are from the farms where the |
hen Is a side issue. principally to furnish |
pm money Ior the Wife-if she gets 1t.
IN iuIiy 10 per cent of such sources of |
supply only the slightest attention is |
given to the hen
The 90 and 10 cent egg is more the
direct result of the high cost of living
than the cause of it, During the sum
mer months. when vegetation is green
and the fields are alive with animal life
sucn as Srasshoppers. grubs. 'angleworms,
ETC. tns hen is able. by diligent forag-
ing, TO obtain the balanced ration which
nature intended she should have. She
receives the proper amount of exercise
IN her efforts for a livelihood. and can
rest In comfort in the trees with the skies
Tor a roof. Under such conditions eggs
are always plentiful and the prices low
and they cost the farmer no outlay.
Iinh1- D~s1
After Jack Frost has stretched forth
MS destroying hand, the foraging hen
ekes out a precarious existence with the
p1ttance of food doled out to her. and It
is just at this time that the prices of
esss pegin 70 soar. / have noticed that
nine out of ten of the farmers complain
or the cost of feeding their hens with
no egg result. whereas If they would
out pay their hens with a proper amount
OF the good food and care they would re-
ceive handsome return on their money |
For instance. John Smith mas a fiock
OF mems costing him 81 per month to
reed II this same Smith would lay
OUT FL per month in the proper manner /,
In my opinion. based on my experience |
receive return OF SO per month in eggs
or a net return of So on the salary maid
his fAns, instead or a loss of 81 a month II
have also noticed that with rare ex-
ceplon the main food, first. last and
corn because it is raised on the farm Il
and costs nothing. 1t is a well known Il
iacl = the poultry industry that wheat II
IS the staple food for egg production n
ano should form the larger part of the
ration. our, due to high cost of living
WGedt costs si.35 per bushel. and many II
farmers do not raise il, they buy ii, pre-
Ierring the homegrown corn.
Suggests Better Methods.
fhere should also be some food 70
take the place OF the green yegetatio,
as well as the gruhs that are gone from
the fields: also a comfortable house
should be provided to take the place of
the roosts in the trees. A comfortable
house means also clean house. A hen
-anhol De comfortable If tormented all
~ -. oy mites and other vermin. and il
lot comfortable and well fed there will
DC no eggs
another very important thing Is
Ndter- rms Is often forgotten An egg
; composed In large part Of water, and
! ! uILhHihS water Is not provided in suffi-
tent quantity the scarcity of eggs will
show IT, Another practice commonIv in
'osue on the average farm is that of |
Neepius Inc hen until she Is about to die |
u oid age Facts in the poultry in
ius.rS sho" That hens egg g-producing
falue decreases rapidly each year. The
len natures with a capacity Of saw 400 /
Sgs- III left to her own resources she
VIII produce about 100 the first wear. Il
'eventy-hve the next, fifty the next and Il
20 on With proper care and attention i
however, she could be made to produce
90 or more eggs ale first year. The II
question of keeping her after the first Il
'ear Is a matter of Judgment to be con II
lroiled largely by circumstances. the :
preference being to dispose OF her after
he first year.
Personal Supervision.
All these things bring the argument
Town TO the most important feature of II
III in the care Of the laying hen-that
s. personal supervision. for we all know
hat to have thing well done you must
10 IL yourself.
II takes lot of care TO make the II
len lay. but i believe the all-importantlI II
TEN Is that of proper food, The farm | II
n dlslikes 10 buy feed when he has
eed at hand. Do not put the burde N | II
IN the hen She is not TO blame IL |
> a principle of business economies II
hat IL takes money to make money. III
spend the money on the hen and reap 4
Il