House and Garden 
A BASKET OF EGGS 
Gathered on New Year’s Morning 
PRIZE PIGEONS 
retorted: “You are of the same opinion as are my Southern relations, 
who think that because I am a descendant of General Lee I am disgra¬ 
cing my ancestry by going into trade. They are perfectly disgusted with 
me. You must visit me in the early morning. Then you will find me in 
a short kilted linen frock and stout shoes, attending to the details that 
mean success in the business. Do not think that because I sometimes 
wear a stylish gown or attend a function once in a while, that I am not 
a business woman. I am working hard at my trade and what is more 
I am making it pay. I mean to get all the women possible into the 
raising of chickens. Of course, there is much to be attended to daily, 
and sometimes I do not take time for my regular meals. I always 
superintend the sales of eggs for setting, and I mate all fowls myself. 
“An amateur who first notices chickens at a show would not imagine 
how much toil there is in preparing the birds. They must be fed for 
several weeks on various foods to get them in the best condition. Raw 
meat is given to brighten up their feathers, make their eyes clear, plump 
them up and put snap into them. 1 heir legs must be bleached and 
combs treated, after all of this they must be given a regular bath of soap 
and water, which they hate as a bad boy does his daily ‘dip.’ By 
attending to all these little matters myself I have the management of the 
place at my huger tips and am ready to take charge of any department 
the minute a man leaves. I really enjoy the business, but the principal 
reason that I have carried it on to a successful issue is because 1 wished 
to prove that a woman is fitted to take entire charge of a poultry farm, 
unaided. 
“See my arms; although they are not very muscular,” stripping an 
elbow lace sleeve back to show the soft flesh, “ I can handle a big bird. 
It is surprising how many women come to me for advice. The only 
amusing part of it is that they insist upon seeing my mother or my 
sister and will not believe that I am at the head of this establish¬ 
ment. They think that they cannot start a setting hen without my 
advice. It means a good living for some of the women who are not 
strong enough to do hard work but who are industrious enough to 
keep at it. That is a characteristic of the sex—they stick to a thing. 
I learned all about the chicken trade myself, but of course people are 
constituted differently, and” with a half sigh, half laugh, “my time is 
at the disposal of every woman who wants it ; I wish only that each 
one was as well established as myself. 
“Why, one woman whom I started with a setting of eggs when 
she had only a piano box as a shelter for the motherly hen, now makes 
fifty dollars a month clear from her hens, and she began a year ago, so 
you see what may be done 
with intelligent and indus¬ 
trious care. ” 
It is very natural that Mrs. 
Burb ridge should think Cali¬ 
fornia the ideal place for poul¬ 
try and she has proved her 
faith by purchasing another 
ranch out in the suburbs, to 
be used as an “overflow” 
from the home place on West 
Adams Street. She believes, 
however, that the domestic hen 
will repay the care that is given 
her by a golden harvest, no mat¬ 
ter in what portion of the United 
States her home may be. 
PIGEON LOFTS AT ORPINGTON RANCH 
226 
