The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-22
by JEANETTE PIERsoNJ

by JEANETTE PIERSON.)
When ] changed my vocation from
notwithstanding to farming six years
ago, some OF my acquaintances pre-
dicted a lamentable failure.
"A city woman can't run farm,
they said. This declaration was made
with varying degrees Of bluntness, and
everybody was so certain on the sub
ject that I might have been turned
aside from my purpose. but for the
facts that the farm had been bought
and my aged parents earnestly desired
60 spend their declining years In the
country.
rs al, this talk about intensive
farming and diversitication mere the
DRY and speculation" | asked over and
over. IF so, l may not succeed" i
told my friends, for l am not going
to run my farm in the old way. To
depend wholly on a single crop or on
a big dairy would mean ruin to me, as
it has to thousands Of others"
If bees pay, IL poultry Is actually
profitable. II there are large returns
from raising hogs. IL there is good
money In fruit and garden truck then
a woman can run farm just as well
as a man can"
was fortified in this view by some
things which came under my obser-
walton while was looking for farm.
One man who was devoting hts energy
to a large dairy made a failure owing
to a summer drought. and would have
been turned off the farm but for the
fact that his wife and two children
had cultivated an acre Of cucumbers
This pickle product actually paid six
sic. q. Il saved rae rarinel
from bankruptcy.
Another tenant In the neiShborhood
who devoted himself to a single In
terest. was turned out-of-doors because
the market for his particular product
was unusually low that seaSon, ant
his receipts were not equal tp his ex
renses.
| had seen little of farming ant
had studied much. 1t seemed clear II
my mind that the money was to b.
made in variety Of little things rath
er than In the production OF a large
single crop.
had money enough to make q sub
stantial payment on a farm of fort,
acres, which was equipped with goot
dwelling, two small barns, poultr!
house and a well. am in proximit!
to several small towns where there Il
constant market for produce.
Six years ago land was not over a
per cent. OF its present value In thi
district and could easily sell my farm
for 81 900 more than paid for It,
| took possession the first OF April
My plan in brief was to start lines o
production which would give me
monthly or weekly income all the yea
through. With this in view purchase,
twelve colonies of bees, fifty Plymouth
Rock chickens. six young pigs, eigh
cows, a span OF mares and a variet
OF utensils.
Fodder had to be bought to kee
the stock for several weeks. i hired
man at s25 per month and board. Tn
proceeds OF the dairy, averaging abou
$50 per month. were ample to pay hi
wages and meet the entire househol
expenses
During the first two months ! sol
sixty dozen of eggs and set twent
| ha tnAtdontal
penses In starting were heavy | hel
even, and at the end OF three month
could show a neat little balance
my favor.
The dairy had improved so that
was returning $40 a month. FroI
July on I had vegetables to sell an
nearly every day there was somethin
10 send TO a customer when the mil
was delivered in town.
had a hard fight with vermin
the poultry house that spring and sur
mer. It was foud advisable to NOV
the building to higher piece
ground.
Then We fixed up a large dust-hea
In the yard and whlte-washed ever
thing In the form Of lumber, besis
using insect powder literally. BY ia
the battle was won, the hennery beir
entirely free from vermin; and the
has been no trouble 81 that kind 4
five years.
A dust heap outside and whitewai
OF insect powder inside will save POI
try from yermin although there mu
be constant watchfulness.
Since the first winter I have had |
income OF not less than $40 per mon
from eggs and poultry. ! keep aeo
200 chickens and furnish broiiers
an hours notice at any time OF q
year to several customers.
L have never used an Incubator.
though | am not especially opposed