130 City Homes on Country Lanes 



modify it in certain respects — usually in the direction 

 of increasing the size of the unit flock, or adding small 

 yards at the rear of the house, on the theory that it is 

 a trifle rough on the hen to keep her constantly con- 

 fined ; that she should have a chance to get out occasion- 

 ally and kick up her heels. Mr. Weeks believes that 

 space is used more profitably by making it produce 

 such things as kale and mangel-wurzel beets, and that 

 while the privilege of the run of the yard may indeed be 

 agreeable to the hen, it adds nothing to her health or 

 efficiency. 



The thing that interests us just now is that while 

 we are to deal with the good old family hen, she is to be 

 placed in entirely new environment. Otherwise it would, 

 perhaps, not be feasible to create thousands of garden 

 homes around all the great cities of the land with such 

 density as to enable them to enjoy all the benefits of the 

 needed public utilities, and such other advantages as 

 we covet for the homc-in-a-garden. 



A thoroughly representative experience for our pres- 

 ent purpose is that of John W. Gottsch, of San Ysidro, 

 near San Diego, California. His home occupies about 

 one-third of an acre, and is surrounded by near neigh- 

 bors on every hand. He is busily engaged, not only with 

 his trade as a plumber, but also as manager of a public 

 water system, with many consumers. Necessarily his 

 poultry venture is a side issue, like his vegetables, berries 

 and fruit trees, rather than his main support. He docs, 

 however, realize all the advantages we are claiming for 

 the home gardener of the future — not only by saving 

 rent and reducing living costs to the minimum, but by 

 enjoying all neighborhood advantages and proximity 



