The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-25
BACK YARD FARM IS
BEST FOR BEGINNERS
Poultry Raising on Large
Scale Is Hazardous Oc-
cupation.
EXPERIENCE IS NEEDED
~ DR. r. ,. MEMS.

~ DR. r. ,. CLEMENS.
Probably no branch Of live stock keep
ing has suffered more by reason OF the
lnexper,ence Of those who enter into
this industry than that Of poultry keep
ing. The slogan Of back to the soil'
has had its influence upon all classes OF
workers. both men and women. and the
majority Of these have decided that
their particular case will be improved
BY entering into tho field Of poultry
culture.
Persistence and patience are bound to
bring success In poultry keeping. pro-
vided the operator follows the rules
| which are the result Of experience and
thousands of dollars expended during
the past few decades by the foremost
poultrymen in the world
IN. universal opinion Of these men
po,n.s to the fact that Il II from
small, start that the greatest measure
| o. success 10 TO be gained--in fact II
| IL the back yard" poultryman VINO
| usually atta,ns the most success ana
later is the best informed In the In
dusty
| Most OF tho failures in the poultry in
dustry may be attributed TO too much
motley an. lack of experience. The
call OF back TO the soil has been
| heard by men who Rave been sue
! cessfui In other lines OF business and
| have amassed a moderate fortune. They
| have answered the call by disposing OF
the successful business and emoarking
| In the poultry Industry on large scale
| Many OF them lost sight or the fact
| that they practically grew up with their
| former business from the humble posi-
! ton OF an office boy or a shipping clerk
and in the course of many years they
/ became acquainted with and mastered
| tho details necessary TO meet compeu-
| ton and eventually place them In an
| Independent position.
| They forgot tina; their start was made
on very small capital and that IL re-
| qu.red persistence and patience for them
TO meet their obligations, but neverthe-
| less when they answered tho call back
I TO the soil" they took a large portion OF
| their incomes and plunged into new
field with n modern equipment, but little
practical experience.
| There are many instances OF these
failures where large plants have sprung
| up in short space or time, ana modern
buildings and equipment have been In
stalled, but the owner. not being desir-
Gus OF giving IL his personal attention
and directing tho operations from per
sonal knowledge mas been compelled IL
employ experienced help at large sal
aries The heavy expense thus en-
tailed was more than the plant was
able TO stand.
For the prospective poultryman lack
OF capital IL rather more helpful than
detriment. II forces him to begin In a
small way and gradually acquire knowl
edge with the moderate Increase of his
stock He Is more able to appreciate
tho value OF his equipment IL teaches
aim to dispense with many useless anc
, expensive appliances and TO use onl,
those which will assist In saving labo
or those which Will add to the healtl
and produCtiveness Of his fcCks
There is no one best breed OF fowls
nor IL there any particular variety %
poultry which Will insure a profitable in
vestment. 1t Is mostly "A matter of pref
,rence on the part OF the operator and /
usually takes more than one season 70
him to determine which breed or variet!
IL best suited to his desires or require
ments.
There is no better way to take u,
poultry keeping than 20 begin in a small
= way--preferably in the back yard Of tn
dwelling where tho fowls will be easy o
access and where the equipment will In
volve tho least outlay OF capital TAX
i up IA a hobby with "A purpose In view
study the various results OF the differen
methods OF feeding and the best mean
4 maintaining health IN tho flock.
Secure trio OF fowls OF tho breed o
= variety which most appeals to you
: ideal There can be secured from thes
,nough eggs in one season to make sum
Client increase In the flock and at tn
same time II gives you an opportunity Il
; study the various characteristics OF TN
I parentage OF the future fiock
, II the females OF this trio are care
fully trapnested. considerable informa
ton may he gained regarding the egl
: production OF the flock. Select tho hes
eggs for Matching This may be don
5 either by "A sitting hen or a small In
| cuhator
Z In case an incubator Is used II will
, be necessary to provide a brooder. an,
, then all that Is required Is to properl
feed the chicks till they grow TO ma
turty.
The lessons to he learned In this In
,tlal stage OF the poultry industry ar
> usually the hardest There are man
, failures and disasters met while raisin
a small flock, hut these will be beacon
to steer YOU clear OF further disaste
when there is IA greater amount OF capt
tai involved
4 While the mock ~ increasing ana tn
poultryman IL acquiring practical eN
perience. II Is also the time when he /
- most profited by reading and studyin
~, current poultry literature. 1t gives hir
n an opportunity to learn methods use
v by others most OF which have prove
successful to them, hut are not alwaS
successful to the novice. Re careful c
too much radical experimentation.
Z may be alluring to institute ne,
o methods but II will he found that tn
q greater number of these have at son,
p time or another been given "a trial an
/, found wanting.
= Avoid borrowed capital; do not er
large too quickly. AZ the gradual II
crease In number OF the flock wi