The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-04

The Experience of a Man
Who Tried Both
BY PROF. FREpBR1C H. sroNEBuR,

women, who, voluntarily or driven by the
spur of necessity, have cut loose from
theii accustomed occupations and IA
miliar surroundings and sought inde-
pendence in a new field. Take any list of
leading fanciers or prominent utility
poultrymen. and you will find that sur
prising large proportion of them have
spent many years of their lives in city or
town previously to emoarlzing in the
poultry business.
Many of these people have made
start under most adverse conditions. with
little capital, save an abundant supply
OF grit and perseverance. backed by firm
determination to succeed Sometimes the
fight has been bitter, and the reward in
such cases is correspondingly sweet. Prof
fessor Stoneburns great article relates to
case of this kind and tells how profit
able poultry farm was developed from
an initial investment of s11o.
Few of us are naturally explorers or
pioneers in any line. We prefer to follow
blazed trail rather than strike out into
new fields and take what We find, be it
good or bad. Success achieved in the
tion, and lends encouragement to others
who might otherwise never attempt to
better themselves. This may explain In
measure why our occasional stories of
vlat certain men and women have actu-
ally accomplished in the poultry industry
have been SO we'll received.
Cities necessary. They are rich in
opportunity. They Offer much that the
country cannot provide. But they demand
much, and in too many cases they injure
rather than benefit the Individual. The
average city dweller appreciates this fact
anc' it is the foundation of the 'back-to-
tlie-land movement"
y writer in current poultry publica-
ton aptly expresses the idea thus:
Almost every town or city dweller, II
he will own the truth, longs for a spot
In Gods country where he can watch
his own grass and trees and flowers grow
Yes. and see his own boys and girls and
stocks and fowls enjoying the blue sky
and the green grass and the pure air;
where he can get down on all fours'
and forget the problems and the bills and
tie noise and stencil Of the city-and
just live
But how make the change? The
wealthy man can do as he pleases but
the average man is tied to the wheel of
necessity and must provide a living for
himself and family. 1t isn't an easy mat
ter for a man without funds and lacking
in experience to make living in the
country. But it can be done il one has
tho grit to meet the conditions. work hard
and hold to the idea rega rdless of the
discoura gements and distressing expert
ences he is sure to meet. The following
account of the experience of w. j. Tilley
a prominent poultry farmer of New Eng
land, will bear out this assertion. The
facts in the case were obtained directly
from him.
Twelve years ago Mr. Tilley was work
ing in an office in large city. He had
been at it 13 years. Like most men in
such situations. he found he was making
slow progress financially, and he saw no
prospect of immediate change for the
better. Looking at the matter from all
angles, the question of health being tar
from the least important consideration,
he came to the conclusion that he would
break off square and start again in the
country, where he believed he could be in
dependent and make such progress as his
personal efforts warranted.
Financial matters prevented him from
at once embarking in agricultural pur-
suits. Probably this was fortunate. He
was compelled to perfect his plans in ad-
vance and then carry them out step by
step. He first moved TO a small hamlet,
n tiny mill village, where he could have
cottage and a bit of land, thus actually
tained employment as shipping clerk In
the mill and began his farming operations
IL; very small way, devoting only his
spare time to the work.
Though totally ignorant of the poul
try situation, he had the city mans
respect for fresh eggs and nice table
chickens. He knew the retail prices OF
such products; saw that poultry keep
Ing is 12 months job instead OF
being limited to certain seasons, and
he determined to take up this line.
The start was made in the summer of
1901 in very simple way. Though it
was late in the season to hatch chicks
for winter layers-July-he invested
the whole of $1.10 and began opera
tions. Two sittings of eggs purchased
from a neighbor cost so cents. sit
ting hen cost another so. Ten cents
bought large box. which was con-
verted into a. coop. The second sitting
hen was borrowed
The eagerly expected chicks came TO
light in due time, 3 of them Ten
were pullets. which began laying early
the next spring. They were quartered
I'm a 6XSfoot house built during spare
hours from odd material. The flock
was headed by a choice cockerel which
cost $3.50.
During their first productive year
this pen of pullets paid net profit of
s22.13. In addition. Is nice pullets were
grown. which increased the laying
flock to 25 head.
Another house similar to the first one
was built and half acre of adjoining
land rented. On this real poultry
house was erected and the flock In
creased to 76.
The business proved profitable. and
the profits were devoted to expansion.
Additional buildings and appliances
were secured, and by the fall Of 1865
the flock consisted of go yearling hers
and lis matured pullets.
Interest in the work remained un-
abated. Considerable money had been
made each season. Everything seemed
to indicate that this line offered
pleasant, healthful occupation and
good income II 1t were followed to the
exclusion of everything else. At any
rate, 1T seemed wise to plnnge in and
become real poultry farmer instead
OF a spare time poultryman.
Near at hand was a 55-acre- farm
with fine dwelling thereon which
could be secured on acceptable terms.
The soil was suitable, water available
and a fine grove of old p'nes on the
north afforded shelter from sun and
wind. Accordingly. the arrangement
was made and the little plant moved
over there A large poultry house,
100x12 feet in size. was erected, and
this and the other buildings filled with
healthy layers. Careful feeding and
painstaking attention bfousht eggs In
abundance. and a nice income was se-
cured. The next year another large
house was erected Also brooder