The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-09-13
LOWLY HEN IS LEADING THE HOG
 AS WAR FOOD MAKER OF COUNTRY
Will Produce Meat and Eggs Anywhere Even If Cooped Up in City Back Lot-Beats Some War Gardens Takes But Ltte Time or Labor and Is As Interesting ks Dog or Cat to Those Who Love Pets.

Next to the war garden, the most important use the dweller in the sub urbs can make of his back lot is to fill it with hens. As war winning and food conserving agency Adrninis- trator Hoover and Secretary of Agri- culture Housten have put the hen right up abreast of the hog, and for some localities the hen is in the lead. One hundred hens on every farm to produce 5000, 100000 eggs year and many tons of flesh food was an early war slogan. That was supplemented with Ia dozen hens on every subur- ban homestead" and now the city Jewellers are urged to raise chickens.
 It is realized that thousands of per sons who have little room in town are not fitted by temperamentor oc- icupation to make a garden. Some have not the time required and some Hack physical capacity. But there are few humans who do not naturally turn to animal pets. Some keep dogs, others cats; why not hens, which are as susceptible to kindness as any four footed creature, and as full of interest for those who enjoy nurturing living things, and besides all these arguments in favor of the hen, she is profitable where the dog or cat is bill of expense.
 In everey household, no matter how economical the housewife, there is a certain amount of table scraps and kitchen waste which has feeding val ue, but which, 1T not fed, finds its way into the garbage pail.
 Poultry Is the only class of domes- tic animals which is suitable for con verting this waste right where 1t is produced in the city in wholesome and nutritious food in the form of eggs and poultry meat
 Each hen in her bullet year should produce ten dozen eggs. The average size of the backyard flock should be at least ten hens. Thus each flock would produce In year 100 dozen eggs which. at a conservative value of 50 cents a dozen, would be worth $50.
 By keeping a backyard poultry flock the family would not only help in reducing the cost of living but would have eggs of a quality and freshness which are often difficult to obtain; besides, eggs produced by the backyard flock cost very little, as the fowls are fed largely upon waste ma terials.
 The keeping of small flock of laying hens on a town or village lot or in a city back yard is an important branch of poultry keeping. Though the value of the product from each flock Is small the aggregate is large A small flock of hens, even six or eight, should produce eggs enough for a family of five persons throughout the year, except during the molting period of the Fall. By the liquid glass preservation of surplus eggs ir Spring this period of scarcity can be provided for. Eggs are a highly nu. tritieus food, and are so widely used as to be almost Indispensable, and ar occasional chicken dinner is relishet by every one
 Objection is frequently raised to the keeping of poultry in towns and citie. because of the odor and the noise o, roosters growing in the early morn ing, but there is necessity for tn, Hook to be nuisance to neighbors If the dropping boards are cleaned daily there will be no odors. Unles 1t is intended to hatch chicks 1t is un necessary to keep a male bird. Tn fact that there is no male in the flocl will have no effect on the numbe of eggs laid by the hens and the dual ity will be superior.
 The flock must be kept confined otherwise the hens will stray int netghbors' yards and gardens, wher they may cause damage and are sur to cause i'll feeling.
 In especially prepared advice to cit ,hen keepers, the Department of Ag,ri culture gives advice as to the bes E41nds. Househrolders usually desir not only eggs. but also an occasions chicken to eat. For this reason on of the general-purpose breeds, sue as the Plymouth Rock, wyandott, ,f1hode Island Red, or Orpington. preferable to the smaller egg breed, such as the Leghorns. Not only d ithe mature fowls, because of the larger size, make better table flow, than the Leghorns, but the uoun chickens make better friers and roast CTS. If, however. the production ( eggs outweighs the desire for an ot 'casionaa table fowl the lighter eg breeds will lay as many eggs on le. feed. It is by all means advisable 1 keep some pure breed or variety.