The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-22

/, flowers, but when Il came to vegetables
side stepped I've heard so much.
about government seeds--how water
melons turn out to be pumpkins and
the nke--that I'm not going to take
any chance On having my years work
thrown away. Besides. Fred admitted
most OF the seeds were OF somew hat
ancient vintage. and all garden au-
thortties impress upon you the nccsst-
ty for having seeds that are fresh and
carefully grown. The seeds constitute
so small part OF the cost Of garden
that II seems to nae It would be foolish
TO ruu many risk. Jane can go ahead
! with her flowers. IL she wants to- No
one will have to go hungry, IL she does
get holly hooks instead OF pansies.
j had to send off a supplemental or
der to the seedhouse last night for a.
quart OF popcorn. 1im read somewhere
of boy who had made lot OF money
growing popcorn. and he determined at
once 20 try it He came down town
yesterday afternoon with his mother.
and they went TO see one OF tho mama
gers OF department store where we
have traded for years and are fairly
well known.
Agreed to Buy Popcorn.
The manager agreed to buy all tie
popcorn Jim coouId raise provided II
was up to the required standard SO
Jim is going to be corn boy" He
has written the department Of agri-
culture for all the literature 1t has on
the subject and is SO enthusiastic that
| he hasn't mentioned pigeons since he
thought OF popcorn. Ned says he'll!
stick to his rabbit program. as pop
corn looks like too much work I
think he Is counting on me TO grow
carrots and cabbage and other things
to feed his rabbits.
Our family physician is connected
with one OF the smaller hospitals. and
he has agreed to undertake next fall
to get Jane the contract for supplying
It with eggs. He doesn't know Just
how. many the hospital uses a week.
but the requirement Is that they shall
be infertile and strictly fresh. Several
Of our friends also want eggs. and lane
is planning to supply them. shipping
by parcel post. III the cost for containers
and postage doesn't eat too heavily
into profits. 1t doesn't look like she
would have any trouble selling all the
eggs her hens Will lay for her, SO her
only problem will be to get the hens to
lay and keep the cost OF production
down. She plans to go about 1t In
scientific manner. feeding from the day
the chicks are Matched according to
the system which has been worked out
by the Maine experiment station. and
which all commercial pouItrymen seem
either TO follow or make the basis
OF systems OF their own peculiar con
ditfons,
The question OF breeds has been Civ =
ing Jane considerable anxiety. but abe
has about decided on white leghorns
and white plymouth rocks. The leg
horns are supposed to lay the largest
number of eggs for the least amount OF
feed. but they aren't rated highly as
table poultry. AS we expect to make
chicken one OF the leading articles
In our dietary, the plymouth rocks are
| to be kept for this purpose,
Anxious to Hatch EARLY.
We haven't bought an Incubator yet,
but it will be one Of the first things at
tended to when we get settled. We
are anxious to get 1t going, forr chick
ems ought to be Matched early. so the
pullets viii begin laying in the fall
when the eggs are high. Tho author
tiles tell us that unless pullets get
their growth and begin laying before
the cold weather sets in, they are apt
to postpone the egg question until
spring and spend the winter In idle
ness, getting tat and lazy.
I gather from tho books that femis
ninity shows up strong In hens: that.
while they can be coaxed into doing
things. 1t isn't much use to drive them.
The average hen in the United States,
according to statistics. lays only about
ave or six dozen eggs year and does
not pay for her keep. But after her.
Keep 10 paid for. every egg she lays
fs clear profit so that the biddy that
produces from $50 to eco eggs a year
d an animated gold mine. We're going
to get the gold mine kind.
| We worked nearly all night getting
things packed and ready for the NOV
ors, and as ! was already stiff and sore
from Tuesday's wrestie with that wood
pile. coupled with the four miles ]
walked In making two round trips be-
tween the station and house, lam con-
sideraply weary today. But suppose
might - well get used 70 1t. It's
only since we got the notion OF NOV
Ing to the country that I've realized
how sluggish q life I've lived. Even
- boy wasn't particularly fond Of
axercspes ana certniniy I've taken
imishty uttlS " Il III ~ past twenty