The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-09
By MRS. JOHN c. MOSES

Meat can be produced from poultry more quickly than from any other source. One of the necessities imposed upon the United States by it's entrance into the world War is to produce more meat than it has ever produced before This is essential not only to meet it's own great CT needs because of being on a war isis but also to save the countries with which it co-operates in the war from de- feat through lack of food. In order to leave available for he forces overseas as large a proportion as possible of the output of cured and compact meats it is desirable that there be a decided in- crease in both the home production and the home consumption of white meats such as poultry To that end it is inn perative that the productive stock on general farms and in the back yards of the nation be rather largely increased during the current year.
 CITY DWELLER PAYS HIGH
 Poultry and eggs have never been cheap food for the city dweller. There is no hope that they can be, during the con tinuance of the war and it's necessarily attendant high prices. even IS relative ly cheap as they ordinarily have been. The only possibility of cheap eggs for the city family lies in keeping enough hens in the back yard, where they can be supported principally on kitchen waste, to supply the family table. Keep ing lens in the back yard is at once an economic opportunity for city families and an essential part of the campaign for increasing poultry production.
 What may be done with fowls in back yard depends upon the size of the yard, the character of the soil the con ditions of sunlight, shade and ventila- tion. and the interest and skill of the
 Inc Host and lea st faVorably situated back yard affords an opportunity to keep at least enough hens to supply eggs for the household The number of hens needed for that purpose is twice the number of persons to be supplied. Hence the smallest flock to be considered consists Of foui hens. Where hens are kept only to fur nish eggs for the table no male plrd Is needed.
 STAGE FOR FOUR HENS
 A coop for a flock of four hens should have a floor area of about 70 square feet or about five feet per hen For bird may be a little less, because the snace is used in common and each bird has tie use of all the coop except what her companions actually. occupy. For the ordinary flock of 10 to 15 hens the space allowance should be about four square feet per hen.
 With proper care the k-yard poul- try keeper can keep hens' TOT laylns only confining them continuously to their GOODS. and have them lay well nearly as long as they would be profitable layers under natural conditions. While mems like freedom, good feed and care recon ciIe them to confinement, and mature rugged birds often lay more esss Ill olosa confinement than when at liberty
 If the space admits of giving lhe little backyard flock more room than a coon of the minimum size requlred' the condition of the land will detel mine the form in which the aaol.ional d.. ] shouId he given. If the soil IS ,,ra11 drained and free from such filth ss often contaminates the soil of small back yards. yard for the fowls may be fenced in, allowing 70 to ~ rSa Seuor a',e feet of yard room per bird" me op nortunity for exercise on the iano ~