Edited by JOHN GILMER SPEED 
The purpose of this department is to give advice to those who have country or suburban places as to the pur¬ 
chase, keep and treatment of horses, cows, dogs, poultry, etc. Careful attention will be given each inquiry, the 
letter and answer being published in due time for the benefit of other readers. Where an early reply is desired 
if a self-addressed, stamped envelope is enclosed the answer will be sent. No charge is made for advice given. 
The Breeding of Fowls 
S HALL we keep chickens ? Of course, to he 
sure, with the qualification that the place be 
large enough to have runs for the chickens 
where they can be hindered from scratching up the 
garden without really being confined. Chickens 
need to have plenty of outdoor exercise to keep them 
in good health. Then again they need clean food 
and clean water and the houses in which they roost 
at night and where the hens keep up their praise¬ 
worthy habit of laying should be kept as clean as 
possible and whitewashed several times a year. If 
you are not going to look after your chickens yourself, 
or if you have not a sober and trustworthy servant to 
do the needful, it will be found to be a disappointing 
business. Women are very skilful in handling chick¬ 
ens and as they are at once more sober and more con¬ 
scientious than men, 
I think I should pre¬ 
fer to have one in 
charge of my chick¬ 
ens than a man. 
Indeed women are 
the great chicken 
breeders in the 
United States; and 
it is a vast industry. 
It is in this way the 
farm wives get their 
nest eggs in more 
sense than one. 
When starting be 
sure to select hardy 
and prolific types; be sure also to get those that breed 
pure to the type; then do not cross them. The 
most foolish thing in breeding is to cross types. In 
an effort to create a novelty by cross breeding more 
frequently than not in the progeny the virtues of 
both types are lost and the defects increased. In 
illustration of this little article I have selected the 
Rhode Island Reds and the Columbian Wyandottes, 
the pictures of both types having been supplied by 
Mr. P. H. Sprague, of Maywood, Illinois. The 
Rhode Island Reds possess many virtues and have 
very few defects. They are surely a very superior 
all around general purpose fowl. Being large, 
weighing five to eight and one third pounds, and 
having lots of breast meat they make an'^excellent 
table fowl. They are especially noted [for their 
activity, which is the 
foundation of many 
of their good points. 
It keeps them 
healthy, keeps them 
laying and allows 
you to force them 
without their getting 
over fat. 
They are extreme¬ 
ly handsome; are 
deep, rich, cherry 
red, with good shape 
and symmetry, clean 
yellow legs, and a 
proud carriage. 
Cock and Hens — Rhode Island Reds 
Bred by P. H. Sprague, Maywood, Illinois 
215 
