FOOD, PURE FOOD, AND FRESH FOOD 29 



chicken feed. There is no reason, however, why the 

 feed should not be produced on the homestead if the 

 soil is suitable. This simply increases the dividends 

 earned and proportionately reduces the family's de- 

 pendence upon income and purchases from the out- 

 side. The labor of feeding and caring for such a flock 

 of chickens is not great, especially if good equipment 

 and housing is provided. A large poultry project, from 

 which money is to be made, is an altogether different 

 affair. The poultry business seems to have a universal 

 popularity. It looks like an easy way to make a living. 

 But it takes much more experience and much more 

 ability than the average man possesses to make money 

 at it. We tried it one year and, while we lost no money 

 on the project (on the contrary, by ordinary stand- 

 ards it might have been considered a success ) , it was 

 one of the experiences which made us decide against 

 the home production of anything for sale. 



A few years after we moved to the country a 

 brother of mine was ordered to the country by his 

 doctor. We invited him to come to "Sevenacres" and 

 suggested that he make his expenses by raising eggs 

 and chickens for the market. So that year we had the 

 opportunity of watching what happened when the 

 flock grew in size to something like commercial pro- 

 portions. The eggs raised sold well and at high prices. 

 The cockerels were all caponized and in the fall sold 

 to a restaurant in the city. Yet when we were all 

 through with the year there was precious little to 

 show for the labor which had been put into them. 



