START THE BOYS 217 



years. It is knowledge that he cannot obtain through 

 books or verbal teachings; it is good, sound, prac- 

 tical experience, which only comes from the daily 

 routine necessary in successful poultry keeping. It 

 gives him actual business ideas not to be gotten from 

 his studies or from running about the streets with 

 other boys. 



The average boy will take readily to the work. 

 To him chickens are pets, to start with; he likes 

 them because they are alive; he takes an interest 

 in feeding them, watching them run about, and 

 soon learns that they appreciate kind treatment. 



If the boy gets to that point, and most boys 

 will, you may rest assured he will look after his 

 charges and not neglect them at any time. Of 

 course boys are boys and need watching, but there 

 is little watching necessary when they keep chick- 

 ens. 



Most boys want pets some dogs, some cats, 

 some rabbits, and so on; something alive. Then, 

 why not give them pets which not alone pay for 

 their keep, but also net a profit and help reduce 

 the grocery and butcher bills. There is something 

 to such pets yes, more to it than most fathers and 

 mothers realize. 



I venture to say if more boys in the larger cities 

 had pets there would be less bad boys and less 

 criminally inclined young men. If the boys had 

 poultry to look after at home they would not be 



