The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-12

be produced. To keep my men busy throughout the year 1 soon found that some crops should be raised that would be in demand by the housekeepers Of my nearby city. Tomatoes sweet corn and turnips have proved my best crops from a money standpoint. The team that hauls my supplies and takes the pears and apples to market can just as well carry along the vegetables also.
 Each branch helps the other. In fact my Golden Bantam sweet corn has served as an introduction to more than one buyer or apples and pears. My largest customer for table eggs was secured through my being able to furnish a sure supply of fine vegetables through the autumn months. Market gardening, fruit growing and poultry keeping make a splendid combination for the owner of a small farm. The sale of butter or milk might be added in some cases: but am frank to say that the dairy side of my farming operations has been carried on at a loss.
 The easiest and best returns from poul- try on the farm are from business bred stock You may get Into the fancy side of work in time, but the foundation work should be put into the producing of fine dressed poultry and fresh table eggs.
 know something of both the fancy and utility sides of the poultry industry. and I advise making the most of strains Of poultry that have been carefully bred along utility lines While I have had some show-bred birds that have been splendid layers, it is fact that the near CT l have bred to Madison Square Gar den requirements the less I have been able to make from the sale of table eggs. You need to have size and vigor, as well as egg-bred qualities, in every hen that goes into the laying flock on the farm.
 The big egg farms of the east are largely stocked with White Leghorns. This Is especially true of the farms of New York state and New Jersey. In New. England you are more likely to find Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks or Rhode Island Reds. partly because of the local demand for brown shelled eggs The New York market with it's call for pure white eggs, has set the pace for good White Leghorns In the future l doubt if the color of eggshel will much affect demand or price. Size and freshness will have more to do with price paid for eggs the next 10 years than other points.
 The profitable commercial poultry farm or the future must breed it's stock to good utility lines planning for rapid growth of the chicks, as well as big egg yield from the hens. and use the modern methods that have been well worked out in late years.
 Farm poultry needs to be housed in buildings of moderate cost simply con structed convenient and efficient The square house. 20 by 20 feet, gives the most for space for the money expended It can hardly be too low in height, provided it gives head room for the attendant who must care for the poultry There needs to be some opening in front to give the pure air that poultry requires TOT vigorous health and good work. I do not use as large wire-covered openings now as did nve years ago. What you need to do is to provide ventilation enough so that the hens will not be compelled to breathe any air that has been breathed before. When you get enough circulation of air through the house to accomplish that you have reached the limit. Ventilation beyond the point gains nothing and does cause the loss of some food which Is burned up In the body to keep the layers warm in winter weather
 There is usually some field on the farm where the poultry houses can be scattered to avoid the necessity of using fences. If garden or orchard is near one must decide whether to fence these in or the hens out. On my own farm of 70 acres l have found it best to provide the laying stock large yards. but give free range to the chickens until they are SIX months of age. Fences are costly. are some trouble to maintain and should be planned to save first expense and fu- ture maintenance
 Most stocks in large yards. especially the heavier breeds. will be retained by 1our-1eet wire. fence, without bottom boards The breeding fiocks may require higher fence and some means of pre- vening the males from fighting such as bottom boards or inch mesh wire at the bottom. If you breed as I do, largeiy from yearlngs and 2-year-old hens the rour-feet netting is plenty high enough when you have added to feet of boards at the bottom.
 Simple feeding methods pay best. and simple feed rations fit best into the work of the farm. None of us would care to go back to the wet mashes of some years ago. which involve the labor of daily mixing and feeding. l depend on the hop