1905 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



1307 



y^\ Bx FranR MT Glade.. 



In all the history of Gleanings there never 

 was anything in it which contained more truth 

 to the square inch than the note by the editor 

 to one of Dr. Miller's Straws, on page J062, 

 relative to "Profits in Poultry." I only re- 

 gret it is in such an obscure place, and may 

 be passed over by the hasty reader. Such 

 statements should have a conspicuous place 

 for every word is true. I never heard of any 

 one paying ofif a mortgage by raising chickens 

 to sell to the huckster, nor do I believe such 

 a thing was ever done, because they cost too 

 much. I gave the business a four-year trial 

 with the renowned Barred Plymouth Rocks. 

 I had to buy all the feed ; kept a strict ac- 

 count, and I didn't make a cent. The last 

 year I set 45 hens on 060 eggs, and hatched 

 330 chickens, and raised only about 200 of 

 them that fall. I culled out 50 of the best 

 earliest pullets for winter layers, and didn't 

 get an egg til! March i, and by April i a third 

 of them wanted to sit. So I just loaded them 

 up and hauled them to Columbus and sold 

 'em — yes, sir, sold 'em, and quit the whole 

 business. Plymouth Rock chickens are the 

 best beggars on earth. They have it down 

 fine. They just stand about the door and beg, 

 and beg, and cry, and if you make up your 

 mind not to give them so much they will put 

 on such an air of helpless injured innocence 

 that you feel like a heartless wretch and give 

 them more feed, and they eat and eat, and get 

 fatter and fatter, and a fat hen will not lay 

 many eggs. 



Now, when it comes to giving advice to 



"I didn't make a cent." 



those who are not familiar with either bees 

 or poultry, as to which of the two is more 

 profitable, I say bees, every time. In fact, 

 there is no comparison, as bee-keeping is so 

 far superior to chickens in every way. 



THE WORK WAS PLAY COMPARED TO RAISING CHICKENS. 



