The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-26
IDEAL POULTRY FARM
GAINED BY INDUSTRY
How a City Man Retired to the
Country and Raised
Chickens.
VENTURE WAS PROFITABLE
Hard Work Enabled Novice to
Succeed in New
Business.
VENTURE WAS PROFITABLE
ny Prof. r. q. sTONEBURN.


up the work and workers 40 that The for.
mer may he properly performed and the
latter made PROSPEROUS and contentCd
There Is much truth In the widely
quoted saving. "iiapry is the man who
has found his work. Too many OF us
through necessity or chance. are thrown
into lines for which We are unsuted, and
lind neither success nor contentment. DC
casionally fate takes a hand and strale ut.
ems things out. Frequently the process Is
painful for time. but the unple asant ex-
periencss become "A source OF amusement
when success IL reached.
For the rlSht man or woman poultry
keeping Is II most attractive ard reasona-
bly, renuneratlve business. But not for
ALL SO one Will do well ~ consider the
matter from al sides before pluugins I'm.
occasionally circumstances conspir. to
force one into mis- line 90 work. "a In
the case OF the maa whose stury follows.
For the facts IN this case the writer is
Indebted to n friend who has long been
prominent In the poultry world. The &C.
curacy OF The account may he vouched for.
hut Tor obvious reasons true names cam
not be used.
The man In question. whom We shall
call Mr.. Thomas. was born aud reared in
an Ohio city He knew the country only
as source OF food supplies and n pleas
ant place 20. spend brief vacation. or
practical farming. OF true country life.
he was ignorant
After passing through the city schools
ne sought employment. and secured a po-
stton In q busy Office gradunlly work.
IN. into position OF trust and making a
FAIR salary. Presently nc married n Young
lady who had spent her early life on n
farm, coming TO the city to complete her
education.
For few years all went well. A lit
He money was banked each month ami
fytt 1Anfr A,f.
rival OF the first child came turn in
financial affairs. Expenses Increased. but
Income remained before. In order TO
save anything 1t became necessary to en-,
corners very closely: 20 practice many
or the petty economies which are so try
ing.
on this basis matters continued for n
half dozen years But the worry over
finances. the confinement and grind OF a
busy office. disappointment in business
promotion. all BEGIN to tell. and one day
our friend broke down. The physician
stated his verdict curtly. Nervous pros
fration: six months absolute rest in the
country" And so in this way this man
FOUND his work. though the change was
not easy NJ first
During his enforced rest at the farm Of
relative he became interested In and
assumed personal charge of the monde
script flock az chickens which formed part
OF the farm live stock. He found the work
fascinating secured very satisfactory re-
suits and soon came to the conclusion
that he could make good profit from
poultry keeping rs a speciality. The labor
involved was not severe. 1t kept him gu.
OF doors and he felt that in this way
Ne could regain his health while making
y living for the family. He concluded
that II lie was restored TO health ne could
return to town II he so desired.
~
He had 5000 cash capital and a reasona-
bic amount Of household goods and cloth
ing. Therefore he had to make his start
in most careful manner. making every
cent count.
After considerable search he found a
twenty acre place which had been WY
tually abandoned for several years Yield
ing its absent owner no revenue. The
house was IN poor condition. the barn IN
woree. and the land Overgrovn with
brush and weeds. But the soil was light
and well drained, a nice stream flowed
through the farm. and It was near vii
lage OF some 1000 Inhabitants
After some negotiations the place was
rented for term OF three years. al an
annual rental Of s15. with the privilege
OF purchase for $1,000 at the end of the
lease. This clause enabled Mr. Thomas
10 protect any Investment lie might make
in the WAY OF improvements. He could
either buy the place for his own use or
sell II and retain any surplus over the
stated purchase price,
Possession was taken In July. OF the
precious 5000 portion--s2O0--was set
aside To meet necessary living expcnses
until the place should become productive
Nearly $500 was spent in repairing the
house and barn so they would be habita-
bic for family and stock The balance
was used in clearing up and breaking the
land.
From some friends VINO were willing
10 aid Mr. Thomas 20 the extent Of taking
his long time notes a horse, cow, sixty
pullets and Necessary tools were secured
Then the battle began in earnest
The FIRST attack was on the weeds and
bushes These We're cut by Mr.. Thomas
himself The work was trying to him at
nrst, hut soon his appetite returned he
could sleep o nights, and day by day his
strength was restored. thus enabling him
10 accomplish more
BY early fan the whole tract was
cleared. Then II was plo,lg he'd and
dragged and seeded with winter rye. No
further time was devoted to the land
until the following spring
Tire next step was to provide a house
for the puilrts. which had been thriv-
Ing ana developing splendidly and gave
promise or soon entering the producing
class. Fxcpnsive buildings were out OF
'he question. So makeshft quarters were
'rected. Fortunately hens are not par
tlcul7r as to tho type OF architecture
rsed so long as they are kept dry and
comfortable
This frs poultry house was not very
ttractive, bur II did TIE business 7, was
IHerclN q frame OF poles covered thick!v
Nth straw and having the necessary
DOORS and windows In the south side
When the pul!ets We're moved IN they
found conditions 10 their liking and soon
began To show their appreciation by de-
l'Yerlns good quantity OF eggs.
In passing IL might be said that STRAW
stack" poultry houses were not invented
10y Mr.. Thorn y. They have been used
f'r years~in sections where grain III ex.
b. t,nsiNcly grown and straw is cheap and
,rnty.
IN" lat" garden had FOR some time been
"lplng ont IN the matter OF table sup
plies the cow had been supplying enough
iuttcr I" bring in little cash. but the
= serve fund began to got low by late fan
III I'd some additional income beyond that
from the hens was needed II was decided
that Mrs, Thomas and the boy could
care for the plac' durrg the winter
months. go Mr.. Thomas sought employ
ment in the adjoining village Because o.
his knowl'd DIGS of accounts and wide busi.
ness experience H. WIS able to secure a
place In one OF the stores at salary OF
sos a month lie lived at home walking
60 and from work in good weather
driving when r'r'ssary
True to hlg cOuVlptiop tbnt bn ,,,,,,