6 THE TKAP NEST TEXT BOOK 



There are several theories touched upon, some of them briefly dis- 

 cussed, in this modest little book. While I regard good theory to be 

 better than bad practice, for any student", still I appreciate that 

 unproven theories should be approached cautiously. 



The test of time must be applied to every new theory as well as to 

 every old theory that has been brushed up and offered once more. 

 The old veteran will see them through. However firmly I may hold 

 to certain views outlined herein, I do not expect others to wholly or 

 even partially agree with me unless their own convictions will permit. 

 My business interests have not, to my knowledge, had the most remote 

 influence upon my opinions. I think some things that I have written 

 may be opposed to my interests but I rather like to give my pen the 

 right of way and let it go. 



I am not a mind reader so the man who "always knew that" will 

 not be given credit for such of his "original ideas" as I may have used. 

 I give credit-wherever I know that credit is due and hold the rest in 

 trust for the owner who succeeds in proving his claim. The first per- 

 son singular will be used quite frequently without regard to precedent 

 or contemporary opinion. ' There are but one of us and I am he, in this 

 book. 



Should the reader meet with anything that he does not like, a little 

 skipping will discover something different. Our human nature is such 

 that we applaud what others applaud, or what agrees with our present 

 convictions, and condemn the rest. 



If we are all right, then poultry knowledge is the most paradoxically 

 mixed up mess of modern times. 



My instructions for preparing and using the Ideal Trap Nests and 

 the drawings that illustrate them are as simple and as easily to be 

 understood as I know how to make them . Brevity is said to be the soul 

 of wit but contemporary poultry literature shows that accuracy of 

 statement can be very easily sacrificed to brevity. I am not one of 

 those who believe that "all there is to know" about poultry raising, 

 for profit or anything else, can be couched in language so simple that a 

 child can understand. 



I have tried to avoid unnecessary amplication in my choice of a not 

 very large number of words in expressing a few of my ideas in regard 

 to a part of what there is to know. A quart of milk cannot be deliv- 

 ered without a suitable vessel to put it in. Iain dependent upon the 

 Thoughtful Header for an understanding, on his part, of what I have 

 to say. 



This book is not designed to be an encyclopedia of poultry wisdom. 

 There are books that claim to be. There arc many things connected 

 with poultry keeping of which I shall say nothing. It is of no conse- 

 quence to the reader how much or little regarding those things I may or 



