Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-10-21
Study, Patience and Intelli-
gence Will Soon Master
Mysteries
Thousands Are Finding
Health, Pleasure and Profit
in This Fascinating Indus
try
BY G. r. Smith
lIthor and Pra ctical Poultryn1an

AuIHOT ana fTdCtlcdl fOulITyIIldn
The call of the hen is abroad in
the land. 1t is Turing, persuasive and
eloquent. Thousands are listening to
it, and in most cases this cali is
compelling: the realization often
proves more pleasant than the antici-
patton.
Multitudes are drawn toward the
culture of fine fowls. They are fair
/ ly impatient to get at the business
but they are first asking very sen,
sible question, How snail L oeein
It is very important that this query
should be we'll answered. A leap IN
the dark here will be bad for the leap
er and bad for the work itself.
This Spring will be an excellent
time to begin, yet it is none too soon
at this moment to get plans on paper
and theories by the end.
In the first place = one must have
the real chicken fever" There is
not much doing without this. A zeal,
whether according to knowledge or
not, is the first asset In the business:
No man has the root of the matter
in him until he prefers to think more
about chickens than anything else.
Tnere is a ih hiiN
breeding of fine chickens than the un-
initiated suspect. 1t is a nationwide
game. Yes, it is Worldwide; for be-
fore Europe was torn by the present
cataclysm, international poultry con-
ventions were being held. This world
wide movement will advance with IN
creasing speed when the people again
have peace. Meanwhile we Ameri-
cans must make the most of our op-
portunities.
Chicken fever used to be laugh
ed at as weakness. To-day 1t is ap-
plauded as an eminently worthy and
timely zeal for an avocation that chal-
lenges the best there is in the biggest
brains and the fattest purses. 1t is
no child's play it is a mans job.
Read and Acquire Theory
Every human likes pet, and this
is the real secret of the poultryman's
enthusiasm. There is a native love
for every beautiful animal, although
this love may lie dormant for years.
Thousands of people know nothing
about beautiful fowls. and therefore
care nothing about them.
Cultivate in your soul worthy
zeal for the peaceful bird that not
only lays and pays. but fills the eye
with beauty, and satisfies the mind.
Study poultry books and magazines,
the standard of perfection and the
agricultural bulletins; note the pic
lures and descriptions of each breed
of individuals, trios. pens and flocks.
and from these select breed that is
best suited to your particular locality,
ideas and purposes.
From books and papers you got not
only enthusiasm, but wisdom"
which is the principal thing. You'll
find this especially true in poultry
culture. It's not only the man who
e. I.,,k l.
will get most pleasure and most profit
from the breeding of good fowls.
Peruse the books and papers, there
fore, as the lawyer and the doctor,
the preacher and the professor daily
search for the latest findings of the
foremost specialists in their respec-
tive lines. You cans get too much
theory IL 1t is of the right brand,
before you begin.
Choose a Breed That PIcases
Do not begin with mongrels. You
may get as many eggs; but your in
terest In poultry culture will soon
weaken. Choose a breed. There is
something about thoroughbred stock
that fascinates the eye and compels
and holds the interest. Domestic
blooded fowls are not registered; but
If your pen is of pure bred stock,
your admiration of 1t and your zeal
for its care and its increase will be
tenfo1d greater. Insist on the highest
type OF aristocracy in your poultry
yards A little caste among your
birds will mean more cash in your
purse and more courage in their cul-
ture.
Decide definitely what you want to
do. Study the breeds exhaustively-
there are scores of them. Their tenn
poraments are as various as the tastes
of the people. There is the heavy,
slow. sociable and easily controlled
Light Brahmas, the largest breed in
the world. and second to none in
beauty and in dignity of bearing.
There Is the sprightly and beautifully
spangled Hamburg at the other ex-
treme in size and temperament. IL
you want eggs first. last. and all the
time." pick from the Mediterranean
class. They are beautiful, they do
not get broody, they are famed the
world over for their laying qualities: