LEARNING THE POULTRY BUSINESS 57 
other business which requires more unremitting attention to de 
tails and conscientious thought and action than poultry keeping. 
The following qualities are to be looked for in a successful 
poultryman: 
The first requisite is that of sound common sense. Many in- 
stances will arise where no previous action or condition can guide, 
and where quick, correct decisions will mean the avoidance of 
disaster. 
He must also be capable of planning well and carefully so as 
to figure probable success and failure very minutely. 
Not only must he plan well, but he must be capable of carry- 
ing them out, for one without the other means nothing. 
He should be methodical, so as to develop a careful system in 
all the details of the work. 
He must be alert, capable of. seeing an opportunity when it offers. 
These qualities should be combined with business knowledge, 
more especially in the marketing end of the enterprise. He should 
have steadfastness of purpose,—that is, he should not be change- 
able. This is important in the poultry business, because there 
are so many varying beliefs and systems in the different operations 
of hatching and rearing. If the poultry keeper is not sure of his 
own method, he will succeed at none. 
Lastly, he must be capable of concentrating his time and atten- 
tion on the work. He must have system in all the details; and he 
must carry their essentials constantly in mind, as in this way only 
can he be sure that nothing is neglected. 
Learning the Poultry Business.—A person desiring to learn the 
poultry business to-day has many advantages which formerly 
could not be realized. Among the greatest of these are the results 
of accumulated experience. The opportunities for knowledge 
available to the average amateur who wishes to become versed 
in the details and requirements of poultry keeping may be grouped 
under one of the following heads: (1) Farm experience, (2) prac- 
tical work at large poultry plants, (3) personal observation, 
(4) reading of papers and books, (5) scientific and practical train- 
ing in college or school. 
For the poultryman to realize a combination of all these 
opportunities would be very desirable. At least two of them 
should always go together,—namely, the actual farm or poultry ex- 
perience and as much scientific and systematic training as possible. 
A young man who has had the advantage of being brought 
