272 HAPPY HOLLOW FARM 



sand good hens under good management by a 

 skilled poultryman who will give the necessary 

 time to it has been proved profitable; and of 

 course that number may be increased with an 

 increase of facilities for care. But between the 

 small flock for farm use and the commercial 

 flock of a thousand birds lies a gap that isn't 

 often crossed. Somewhere between the two 

 extremes every adventurer almost certainly 

 comes to a point where for a time losses must 

 overbalance income. Unless he's uncannily 

 long-headed, or unless he can command the 

 help of some one who's been through it and 

 knows, he'll be quite unable to see through the 

 maze of confusion. 



We had a fine flock when we came to Happy 

 Hollow. That small flock had always paid 

 handsomely. We knew how to handle the 

 birds, how to feed for results, how to select for 

 breeding, and all the intimate details of suc- 

 cessful care. We hadn't tried to build up a 

 large commercial flock at home in Nebraska 

 simply because we hadn't room enough. But 

 we had had it in our minds for years as a most 

 fetching possibility. When we found ourselves 

 actually owning a big farm, that vision quick- 

 ened. Discounting and discounting again 



