few years had a_ strain which 
molted during the spring season 
of low prices, and back to laying 
when prices began to climb. Know: 
your hens, cull out the dwaddlers 
and breed from those which molt 
early and are laying again quickly. 
My neighbors are enthusiastic 
about my Buff Orpingtons, and 
already speaking for eggs for set- 
ting. I expect to buy a few baby 
chicks of the Dark Brahmas, for 
the longer I keep them, the better 
I like them for my use in the gar- 
den; though I do not recommend 
them for a farm range fowl. But 
they have large size, lay well, stay 
out of mischief and thrive in con- 
finement. Being a fancy marked 
bird, it is easier to know one hen 
from another. I like them even 
though have to look out not to step 
on her when out of the coop. 
Ruth, one of my does, freshened 
the 20th, for the second time. Am 
letting the kid, a three quarters 
Saanen, take all the milk it will, 
then I strip, getting nearly a quart 
each milking. The cream is heavy. 
Hope to sell this kid at weaning 
time, last of April. Have four does 
to sell, some family. All will prob- 
ably freshen before hot weather. 
While my boys are away, cannot 
take care of so many. 
Ralph is with our fighting boys 
somewhere in Italy, and no telling - 
when he will be back; but the 
Lord can look after him over there 
as easily as here. 
Will some Peony lover please © 
help me identify this one? Before 
we bought this place, it. was a 
boarding house for convalescents. 
In the yard was a Peony, blooming 
a little ahead of Festiva Maxima, 
. ereamy center, very pale pink 
outer petals. Was in the wrong 
place and I moved it. Has never 
bloomed like that since. I asked 
the name from the former owner 
and she replied that it had been 
sent her with the note that it was 
very new and very rare, but she 
had forgotten the name. That 
would place its receipt something 
like forty years ago. In a bouquet 
I cannot tell the blooms from Fes- 
tiva Maxima, but the plant puts up 
earlier, is now making true leaves 
while Festiva is pink knob. Is not 
so reliable a bloomer, though be- 
ginning several days earlier. 

LAURA D. COLE 
Grannis, Ark. 
