Evening journal., 1914-02-18

We may consider the erudition OF the
eiIete East as far exceeding that of the
glowing West, yet East and West join
hands upon the subject Of the culture OF
the hen. To her. whose son never sets,
we render the homage due the Queen OF
Shell Games, and peeking into the flu
ture, when we shall meet her in her
final pot-pie. we express the hope that
our teeth may find her as tender as her
memory.
Although for me no longer comes the
plaintive note OF the mother hen calling
for food food for herself and her
little ones--l am inclined to set down
some OF my experiences as a guide OF a
warning-to Others who may be sim
ilarly tempted
Who would imagine for one instant
that success In raising chickens may
depend upon whether the litter is six or
eight inches deepy II sounds like so
much ohah 90 tho uninitiated.
And what does a balanced ration
suggestg After my bookkeepcr reported
that our sole discovcrsblc balance was
tie one We owed the foedman ! dispens-
ed with his services.
Then there was the problem OF
whether to feed the chickens wet" or
dry mash, and one could never tell
what minute he would be on the wrong
side Of the local option laws.
lhit speaking Of memory, If IL we're
possible TO smell memory, ! imag
inc the letter received the other day
would assist in that accomplishment.
we are taking the liberty said the
letter, "oi enclosing you a sample OF
pure beef scrap for poultry"
They took the liberty all right; the
sample was enclosed But just what
] have done TO merit this attention, in
such redolent fashion, | am at loss
to determine When man sees the
error of his ways and tries 20 bury
the past, il seems the height or depth
Of cruelty 20 bore holes into the grave
of the past just to demonstrate the
need OF ventilation there. The writer
ot the letter above mentioned also
states with great restraint that this
Z beer scrap sells for S55 ton. cash
with order OF sight draft, bill OF ladine
attached. Nay may. and ouce again;
Nol
lon may break. yuu may shatter the
vase it YOU will,.
nui tlc scent oi the beef scrap will hang
tound il still
80 uust that no friend OF mine will
order amy OF this smelly stuif ON my
account Let the reeky recollections OF
the past remain innocuous.
But to assist the gentle reader TO APP
proaeh the subject OF the hen without
prejudice, yet with open eyes, | win at.
/ tempt to set down experiences which
will carry their own object lesson.
In the first place I bought ready
made lock. With the flock came the
Z lay OF some ancient minstrel who sang
OF a tradition that they began life as
Rhode Island Reds. This may have
/ been true. BY tho time they reached
me. however. a good deal OF the red had
faded out, bleachcd by the sands OF New
Jersey and mingled with the coal dust
I of Pennsylvania. in the journey TO my
humble chickenry.
Thirtv-three chickens there were and
/ ] bought them by tho pound, together
with their house and wire enclosure
Don't overlook the wire enclosure. which
is sometimes called fence. II one hat
a truck garden the wire enclosure is
important 60 show the chickens where
thcy bclong after they. have spent thu
dav visiting the vegetables.
! As was trying TO raise tomatoes
found il dyertng, quite, to note that
as fast rs tomato began TO blush th'
chickens attempted TO cover up its con
fusion by eating out the blush. IL wa
effective. And when. in an unguarde'
moment. added some Black Minorcai
10 my chicken department, peace wen'
out Of the window and took the to
matoes with it, But I hasten too rap
idly. In giving help to others, from m,
own rich experience, il Is important .
move atstep at a time, and was speak
ing of the Rhode Island Reds.
Two reasons sufficed to sound their
death knell. although they gave us
some good chicks and a fair supply
Of eggs, and we felt that with near
er ancestry they would have given a
satisfactory account OF themselves.
And before saying farewell % them
this seems TO be the proper place to
record something OF the most re-