Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-07
PATRIOTISM IN BACKYARD
AND BARNYARD POULTRY
d o m estic War Off e nsive
Against a Probable Red Meat
Shortage.
Eliminate Waste in the Gar
bage Pail Feed the Scraps to
Hens.
BY MYRh KELSEY cox
Practical Poultrywoman

The government is concerned with
the visible food supply and urges
economy, use of substitutes and in
creased production. Not only in
dividual advantage, but patriotic
privilege urges augmented tloeks.
Farmers and owners Of suitable
backwards have the means and OPP
portunity Of aiding reconstruction in
relieving the stringency. For 1919,
then, more poultry and eggs
We have been accustomed To com
plain about the high prices Of food.
War has taught us to think IN terms
Of quantity instead Of cost 4 body Of
men backed hy the government-fo food
conscryatlonists they call Themselves
have been hammering into American
consciousness the knowledge that food IS
scarce. There are two ways OF helping the
situation, in the service of which every
person in the republic can enlist We can
save and we can produce more.
One Of the hardest lessons to learn,
reversing all precedents, IS economy in
the use Of food SO truly IS tins the
land of plenty that we could hardly ac-
cept the necessity Of wholesale saving.
Long ago the Frepch housewife boast
ed that she could maintain her house
hold on what her American friend
tossed into the garbagc-pail. Be that
as it may, bread portions, sugar allot-
mcnts and meatless days are teaching
us values which it IS safe 10 assume
will not be forgotten in peace times
The soIicitude Of the allied nations
that food should be sufficient IN guam
tity, reasonably-priced, AMI Justly por-
toned is evinced IN the appointment
of food chiefs These direct their ap-
pcals urgently 10 the producer for greater
production Despite regulations, the
Banquo's ghost Of q serious shortage per
sists We must continue 70 save and n
produce.
NEED MO MORE POULTRY.
Meatless DAYS still threaten. II Is
no secret that the meat supply is insult
icient The shortage and high prices
will curtail many familys ration next
winter Particularly Is this true re-
specting beef and pork, both of which
are not quickly produced. A Juicy
beefsteak arrives at the end Of we'll
fed three years, and n fine ham from
eight months to a year. Substitute
must be found, quickly produced and
ready At hand This means poultry.
More poultry IN backyards and
barnyards might we'll be D new slogan.
Fowls and eggs are wholesome and
may be raised in such numbers az 70
relieve the meat situation sensIbly. While
these fowls cannot be maintained for
nothing, the return for the general out
Iay will be much more than If one sub
tracted BY purchase from the general
supply Of poultry
Not every backyard is eligible for
pollltry-raislng The pin cushion that
did DUTY rs a War-garden Is hardly of
q size But how many vacant lots con-
veniently near. and comfortably sized
kitchen-vards are there where a half
dozen hens might We IN laying. The
yard should be sufficiently roomy. and
well-fenced No one has the right to
harbor creatures that freely uespass
upon neighbors who eschew poultry
and choose gardens The first requi
site then, is tight fence, the second.
a decent coop which may be Kept SAM
tarily 4 low-drying IndraIned plot
which becomes mud-puddle IN RAIN, Is
for poultry and menace TO
health
Anyone can daily with some kind Of
poultry on some scale, 10 advantage TO
himself and the public food supply,
Ii MS DacNhaTO conforms u 4tldlAe-
rnents. thus serving self and patriot
ism The first decision Of the anna
teuY. is What kind Next. How
many" The latter IS by far the more
\ very small flock IS al
ways more profitable.
The finest yard viii support two or
three hens, and it IS surprising what
good hens will yield The backyard |
flock fourishes best in small towns, /
where meat Is more costly and harder |
o secure and In suburbs,
The amateur usually chooses hens +
or the sake of the eggs a wise choice. /
\ large lot viii support four to dozen !,
lens. SIX Is a good number. The time |
o begin IS early fall, investing in six |
pullets Of any good breed. /
Rocks, Rhode Island Reds and Orping /
ons are preferable to the Leghorns, which |
re small of body when eventually used
or the table
MODEST POULTRY PLANT.
Souch noisy fowls as Pekins and guineas
hould not be considered where neighbors
re near, and are rarely practicable, al
hough the ducks may be successfully
aised Chickens are best all-round poul-
~ \ few baby Nuscovys secured IN
,Ily may be developed INTO fine fall
aasters. They have the Qualification of
eing quiet \ pigeon-ioft is possible
18th the drawback that II REQUIRES a larger
lvestment and more work. For a per