The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-26

and developing splendidly, and gave 1 promise of soon entering the producing class. Expensive buildlngs were out of the question, so makeshift quarters were erected. Frequently hens are not par | ticular as to the type of architecture used so long as they are kept dry and comfortable.
 The first poultry house was not very attractive, but it did the business. It was merely a frame of poles covered thickly
 with straw and havins the necessary doors and windows in the south side. l When the bullets were moved in they found conditions to their hiking, and soon began to show their appreciation by de- | liverng a good quantity of eggs. In passing, it might be said that straw stack poultry houses were not invented by MT. Thomas. They have been used for years in sections where grain Is ex- tersively grown and straw is cheap and plenty
 | The late garden had for sometime been helping out in the matter of table sup plies; the COW had been supplying enough butter to bring in a little cash, but the reserve fund began to get low by late fall and some additional income beyond that from the hens was needed It was decided that Mrs. Thomas and the boy could care for the place during the wint- CT months. so Mr. Thomas sought em- ployment in the adjoining village. Be- cause of his knowledge of accounts and 1 wide business experience. he was able to | secure a place in one of the stores at S65 per month. He lived at home, walking to and from work in good weather, driv- | ing when necessary.
 l True to his conviction that he must quickly get his land in productive condi- l ticn, MT. Thomas invested a considerable part of his earnings in stable manure and had it hauled and spread on the farm. When spring came the cash sur plus was still low. but good crops could | be counted on. The problem was how best to secure them.
 Right here the considerate employer, who was deeply interested in our friend s | determined effort to make success, came to the rescue. He offered MT. Thomas a reasonable line of credit and told him to give the farm his personal attention, returning to the store in the 1 fall if he wished.
 l Breeding males and an incubator were purchased, homemade breeders con- structed, and then began the work of hetching and growing the 300 bullets wanted for the next winters operations
 Incidentally, several hundred broilers were sold Most of this work was done by Mrs. Thomas and the boy. The man of the family was busy on ] the farm work. thousand strawberry plants were set out, five acres put in po- tatoes for a money crop, five acres in corn. three in clover and three in oats. Good Crops Secured
 Thanks to heavy manuring and con- l stent cultivation, these crops yielded well. and the cash income for the first full yerr exceeded a thousaAd dollars. Added to this. the cellar was full of garden 1 truck, the barn was bursting with hay and cornstalks the bins were full of | nd t1a rtI nf grain.
 | Upon this foundation the business was | gradually built up. Not by chance but through careful planning and hard work Much small fruit was planted and other special crops grown. The idea has al- ways been to grow as much as possible of the supplies used by the family, keep the soil in productive condition and turn off good quantities of fine produce es- pecially those things with which the av- craze farmer wont bother%
 l At the end of the threc-year ease the place was bought. pa,tiy mortgage. i Further repairs We're made and nddi- tional buildings were erected. From the fourth year on MT. Thomas managed to sell from $3000 to $350o worth of produce each season, netting him in the neishbor- hood of s200o per year The older son has been given a complete professional education but is thinking of returning 1 home to help care for the rapidly grow ing poultry business
 Now . Model Farm l The little farm is 2 model All build | irgs are substantial and modern, In l fact the consistent winnings made at the poultry shows during the past few years have created & constant and increasing ! demand for stock and eggs at good prices. This Is now one of the principal sources of income,
 | This simple story is easy t6 teii it wss not easy to live at first. But the point is plain, The country is full of neglected or everieeHsd opportunities, and 1 the right man eaH make good outside of l ths city if he has the right stuff in him,
 Thsrs is aise muah sR havtHg Gse4