IfjO MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



POULTRY AND HORTICULTURE 



BY N. J. SHEPHERD, ELDON, MO. 



Reckoned as small industries and yet of vast importance, to the 

 owner of a small acreage and within a reasonable distance of a good 

 market, either one or both combined will afford a good living. To a 

 certain extent like all other specialties, at least some experience is nec- 

 essary to secure -the best success. And the advice would be to com- 

 mence on a small scale and increase as experience is acquired. 



The best success in either is only attained by close attention 

 to details and while in exceptional cases, profitable success has 

 been secured, when conducted on a large scale as a rule the best 

 profit in proportion to the amount of capital invested, is in favor of 

 small, closely managed places. 



By combining, plenty of work can be had all duiing the season and 

 there is less risk than when the sole dependence is placed upon one 

 crop. When, with a little care in managing, there can be something to 

 sell at nearly all months during the year, is, of itself quite an item. 



Many a farmer owes his success to the fact that his wife raised 

 poultry and to a considerable extent paid the running expenses of the 

 family by selling eggs and poultry. On what we term a small scale 

 there are no more risks with small fruits or poultry than with any crop 

 or stock on the farm unless we fail to give proper attention. The prin- 

 ciple reason why so many farmers do not make a success with either is 

 that they expect them to look out for themselves. There is no question 

 but that if given the same care and attention that is given other crops 

 and other stock, they can be made fully as profitable. Giving special 

 attention to any farm crop or any kind of stock will as a general rule pay 

 a profit above the average, while in every line of farming men fail to 

 realize even a fair per cent of profit and the principal reason is they fail 

 to give the care and attention necessary. The purchasing of a small 

 number of chickens and turning them loose on the farm or investing in a 

 number of small fruit plants of different varieties and setting them out 

 and then letting them look out for themselves ought not to be construed 



