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.’HE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS—POULTRY, PET AND LIVE STOCK SECTION.
3
SMYRNA GREW AROUND
THE CHICKEN INDUSTRY
Finest Plant in Dixie a Few
Miles From Atlanta on Ma
rietta Trolley—Worth a
Day of Anyone’s Time.
By CLAUDE B. NEALY.
Smyrna, Ga., Feb. 4.—The chicken
hatches a town.
Incredible, impossible, you will no
doubt exclaim.
But. nevertheless. It Is a fact—even
tho startling.
Actual evidence can be found right
here. In fact, Smyrna itself is the evi
dence.
For this beautiful little town of 1.000
inhabitants, situated IS miles from At
lanta. on the Western and Atlantic and
the Atlanta Northern Interurban rail
ways. can trace Its present prosperity
and progress directly to the chicken—
literally builded upon the fine feathered
fowl, as it were.
In other words, Smyrna, as its lead
ing citizens agree, owes its rapid and
substantial growth of the past few
years to the chicken industry—to the
marvelous success of Belmont farm.
This celebrated farm, which is now
devoted practically exclusively to
chicken raising and which is known
the country over for Its fine fowls and
heavy egg production, lies half a mile
north of Smyrna in a beautiful section
of rolling country and bordered on all
sides by a picturesque landscape.
It is recognized as tho finest poultry
plant in the South today, and. for that
matter, one of the greatest in the en
tire United States. Its fame has spread
far and wide, and wherever there is a
chicken fancier, there you will find a
person who cherishes and prizes the
products of Belmont farm.
And it is this farm that has made
the hustling town of Smyrna,
Proud of ths Farm.
The people of the little town are
proud of Belmont farm and are enthu
siastic over its success. For they ex
pect still greater things in Smyrna, and
they feel that the fame of this magni
ficent poultry plant will continue In
the future os it has in the past, to exert
Its magical influence in the attainment
of this further growth.
When Belmont farm was founded,
eleven years ago. Smyrna was counted
in the list of “unknowns” and was what
might be termed a mere “stopping place
in the road.” The inhabitants num
bered something like *00. perhaps less.
Then it was that his kingship, the
rooster, began his remarkable reign.
Today, less than a dozen years from
that significant date. Smyrna boasts of
a happy, prosperous and progressive
population of 1.000 or more, with eight
first-class stores, besides markets, and
a handsome bank in course of con
struction. And not only this, but it
has a splendid public school, attended
by 200 pupils.
That the chicken industry in I he
basin for this phenomenal development
is clearly evident from the assertion
that fully 05 per cent of the total pop
ulation was attracted to Smyrna, mag-
net-like, by Belmont farm. Smyrna,
with no other particular drawing qual
ities. would no doubt still be nothing
more than a breathing place for loco
motives had it not been for the far-
reaching splendor of Belmont’s fowls.
All of which goes to show that the
chicken Is to be not merely a delicious
viand for the table, or a money-pro
ducer ' for the fancier. Its power Is
more extensive—it is destined to be
come a magnificent developer—a build
er of cities.
Mr. Brown's Work.
The splendid proportions attained by
Belmont farm. Its pronounced success
In chicken breeding, and Its greater
possibilities, already looming in the
future, are due to the ginger-like en
ergy. untiring efforts and tenacity of
Its manager. Loring Brown. Mr.
Brown has made a life study of the
chicken and the poultry industry.
With an inborn love for chickens.
Mr. Brown is never happier than when
mingling with his prize birds and thou
sands of other fine fowls. He asso
ciates with them day after day and
finds it, an Intense pleasure. Priding
himself on his superb stock of fowls,
nothing is too good for theip. They
get the best'and they get it freely, too.
Thoroughly acquainted with every
feature of the poultry business, down
to its minutest detail. Mr. Brown can
tell you anything you want to know
about chickens—he has the complete
history of the poultry game, extensive
as it is. on the tip of his tongue. By
reason of his unlimited knowledge, Mr.
Brown Is constantly consulted by fan-
*clers nil over the country and Is fre
quence to act as judge in poul
try *» And. with it all. he Is clever
this land In the three years to pay for
It, and has perfected the greatest va
riety of cotton and corn ever propa
gated. Mr. Morris says he gained a
better and more comprehensive idea
for selecting his seed and thus im
proved his cotton and corn by care
fully watching Mr. Brovc*h’s scientific
methods of mating his chickens.
3,000 Hens Are There.
The present farm contains 36 acres.
Mr. Brown having systematized his
business in such a way os to render it
more compact, more easily accessible
in all details, and reduce the necessity
fdr greater acreage. More than 3,000
laying hens inhabit these 36 acres.
A reporter for The Georgian, accom
panied by The Georgian’s staff pho
tographer, spent several hours on the
farm, and thru the hospitality of Mr.
Brown was shown thru the entire plant
and every feature and detail explained,
which, it might be added, affords as
much or more Interest an4 enjoyment
as the same length of time spent In a
regulation poultry show. For here you
see prize-winning chickens of all de
scriptions—birds that have won rib
bons and trophies in some of the great
est shows ever held in this country.
Aftho half a mile beyond Smyrna,
the visitor to the farm can alight from
interurban trolley directly in front of
the farm at the station of Belmont.
Approaching the farm, the visitor Is
first greeted on the right by an exten
sive alfalfa field, reminding one of
scenes in southern California. Mr.
Brown is partial to alfalfa and urges
that the farmers of Georgia would do
well to plant more of it
Inside of the reservation Is found a
model and up-to-date poultry plant
There are *7 buildings, conveniently
grouped, including Mr. Brown’s hand
some new two-story brick residence,
sixteen colony houses, a main chicken
house and other essential structures.
The main building contains 115 rooms,
with a capacity of 2,000 grown birds.
It is so scientifically constructed that
the sun shines in every room at some
time daring the day and every room U
thoroughly ventilated.
"Chickens must have plenty of sun
and fresh air." said Mr. Brown in ex
plaining the construction of this build
ing.
The arrangement of the building is
such that all of the feeding, watering,
cleaning and gathering of eggs—all of
which appears a considerable job—can
be done by one man.
Directly behind this building are the
-runs.'* which permits the birds even
greater fresh air freedom than In the
building.
Finest of Poultry-
In this building can be seen probably
the greatest outfit of fine fowls to be
round anywhere. The majority of the
pens of breeding birds contain prise
winners, have produced prise winners,
or the direct descendants of prise win
ners.
Here are to be seen handsome White
Leghorns. Rhode Island .Reds. Barred
Plymouth Rocks and Indian Runner
ducks, all by the hundred. Each class
represents the finest of stock: In fact,
you see nothing but fine stock on this
Mr. Brown attributes his great suc
cess to the careful and studious mating
and breeding of his fowls
“My stock now Is more than 100 per'
cent better tban when I started in this
business." said Mt. Brown. “I have
lost no chance of Improving the breed
and the result Is plainly evident. I
have always had three Important
polnta in view in mating and breeding
my chickens—first, to make them heavy
egg producers: second, to give them s
good constitution, and. third, to de
velop fancy show points.'*
With his long list of prize winners.
Mr. Brown has won the remarkable
distinction of having captured more
than 110,000 In premiums within the
past ten years—this In competition with
the world's best. On one occasion Mr.
Brown entered 53 of his ribbon bring-
ers In a monster poultry show in St.
Louis, in which 10,000 birds competed.
When the awards were made. Mr.
Brown brought away 38 ribbons. So
proud is he of this great showing that
he has had the ribbons framed and they
are displayed on the wall In one of the
rooms of his residence.
If all of Mr. Brown's prize ribbons
were put together, they would cover a
high building.
The products of the farm are shipped
to all parts of the United States, and
because of the great demand being
made'on the farm Mr. Brown is plan
ning to double hla Incubator and brood
er capacity within the next season. The
capacity of the buildings will also be
Increased to accommodate Just three
times as many fowls as at present.
The Incubator Colony.
The incubator feature of the farm la
one of its most Interesting. Twenty
large machines are kept in operation
during the hatching season—January,
February. March and a part of April—
thousands of eggs being in the ma
chines alt the while. After the chick
ens'are hatched they are removed to
(By J. H. Crowell. Special Contributor.)
At this season of the year nearly
every topic concerning the breeding
and raising of One chickens has been
threshed over by the leading experts
in the business until little is left to be
said by a plain practical old man. Still
I will give you some practical points
that I have gleaned from long expe
rience.
I have read recently many articles
from the scientists In our business in
the leading poultry Journals, and they
all deal in conditions of a climate to
tally different from ours, and can only
be used by those who are backed by
plenty of money. My methods may ap.
pear so simple to many that they pass
them over as child’s play. I am writ
ing to benefit the Southern amateur
and the plain farmer. Now supposing
that you have built ’you some nice
cheap houses made tight on the north,
east and west sides with the south cov
ered only with poultry wire one or two
Inch mesh with a waterproof root and
you are ready to begin business. This
should have been done in December,
and costly houses are not necessary.
You have supplied them with good
nests, with plenty of One hay In them
to prevent breaking your eggs, and to
keep them clean and warm. —
Now for the care fo the breeders.
After careful selection of the very best
type of the birds you are using, you
have your yards well arranged and
sowed in wheat rye or oats. Wheat Is
preferable, so that now you have plenty
of green food, which Is absolutely es
sential unless you can supply it in
abundance fin some other way.
Now for the feed. Remember. I am
not a scientist and know but little
about balanced rations, but have learn
ed a little from experience. I never
confine my birds to any one field, but
use all the variety I possibly can and
let the chickens do their own balancing.
I use corn, wheat and .oats mostly, as
they are about all I can get in south
"eorgia without too much expense. I
use only the soundest and best grain,
and give it alternately in the morn
ing. I find the large yellow seed oats
one of the best feeds and use them lib
erally. In the evening about an hour
before they go to roost l give them a
mash composed of corn meal and tho
best grade of wheat seconds or shorts
In equal parts Just wet enough to stick
together, yet thoroughly mixed. Of
this I give a liberal feed so that they
may go to roost with full craws. I do
not feed more than twice each day.
letting them eat green food all day or
scratch for bugs. If closoly yarded I
give finely chopped, lean beef with a
good deal of bone in it twice each week.
Thin fresh meat ration Is fine at ail
times and causes them to lay well.
Never use any unsound or Inferior
grain or food of any kind. I give my
breeders about alf they can eat twice
a day and never get them too fat to
give me all the eggs I am looking for.
Next and the greatest essential is
cleanliness in all things. Bach one of
my houses is swept as clean as possible
every morning by a little after sunrise.
For convenience I keep a, good broom In
each house. I go Into the 'street or
road and get the dust that has been
finely ground by the wheels, getting It
while dry and sprinkle every floor once
or twice a week. This makes the drop
pings sweep off clean, because It docs
not adhere to the floor. It leaves the
house clean and destroys all odors.
There Is no more odor In one of my
houses than in a bed room, and besides
this the dust Is aj> excellent mite and
louse killer. Once a month I remove
all straw or litter from nests and with
a sprinkler, wet the walls, roosts and
nests thoroughly with kerosene oil and
am never troubled with vermin on my
fowls or in the houses. The cleanest,
purest water you can get in clean ves
sels is another necessity. I use gran
ite lined, large pans, holding one and
a half gallons of water, and these arf
filled with fresh water every morning.
I like them because they are very dur
able and so easily cleansed.
I can not give every detail in man
aging my birds, but these suggestions
if followed out will insure healthy, vig
orous birds, free from almost every dis
ease. I seldom have a sick chicken,
and unless It has been hurt I kill it
immediately. I have never had a case
of cholera or roup among my chickens,
nor a grown one with sore head or
scaly legs. They are practically Im
mune to disease.
These points are learned from expe
rience and there is no theory In them.
Now let us sum up the actual necessi
ties in successful breeding of poultry.
First, and of great Importance, Is as
near perfect cleanliness in all things as
(possible.
Second. Plenty of sound food In as
great variety as possible. Including
fresh meat and green food.
Third. Clean, fresh water in clean
vessels every day and In abundance.
Fourth. Guarding against vermin of
all kinds by a very free use of kero
sene oil. Remember the poultry busi
ness requires systematic work daily,
and not by fits and starts, and Is
pleasant work if one loves tine fowl*
and desires success.
I am in my 73d year and have been
breeding line fowls over 50 years and
have not learned all about It. but ant
as enthusiastic as ever and am contin
ually learning something. I ra too poor
to rank among the notablea, but my
chickens get the ribbons all the same
If I do have to run on a cheap line, and
I am endeavoring to help those In like
conditions and afraid to undertake
the business. There Is more money In
it now than ever to the young man. and
the possibilities are not yet achieved
but growing dally. -
Parrott. Ga.
(By Cal Huaselman, Lantana, Va.)
It is time to get busy if we expect to
have a flock of good laying pullets next
fall and winter. It takes live months
to grow the small breeds to laying size
and seven to nine months to mature
the large breeds. It is very hard to
start pullets to laying during the three
winter months, but comparatively easy
to keep them laying If one gets them
started during the fall months. Every
broody hen should be given a good nest
and *.clutch of eggs during the month
of March. Dust them with some good
lice powder when you give her the eggs
and again a day or two before the
chicks hatch. Lice are the cause of
nearly all the trouble and loss in rais
ing chicks. Head lice, body lice and
mites destroy more ebicks than gapes,
hawks, rats. etc. Keep the hen and
nest free of these pests and one can
raise the chicks. Where one has anon-
sitting breed. It Is almost necessary to
use incubators. I would prefer to buy
broody hens of some large breed If I
could get enough of them, and get
them healthy and free from lice. But
I use the Incubators as a necessity.
Is very important to have good eggs
for hatchings, eggs from well matured
and healthy stock. Given such eggs,
almost any of the incubatora will hatch
3-tmo-t farm was founded by Colo- . . , . . —
nel Ed L. Wight, then of Albany, but I th <* brooder house, which Is heated with
now of Atlanta. The original farm of, hot water, and remain there until they
more than SO# acres was situated on lwo months old.
the east side of the Western and At
lantic railroad. Just across from the
present farm, and cost less than 35,000.
Three years ago when Mr. Brown
changed the plant to Its present loca
tion 190 acres of the original farm were
sold for $19,000.
The purchaser. J. Gld Morris, recog
nized as one of the finest farmers In
this section, has made enough off of
The little chicks are then taken to
the colony houses, about 300 to each
house, where they have free range,
fresh running water and plenty of
growing alfalfa. They are here hopper
fed. with the best of feed. The princi
pal feed consists of oats, uiralfo, wheat
and corn. When the pullets begin lay
ing they are then, removed to the main
laying house, where they arc kept till
sold, producing eggs by the "hundred
every day. The eggs are shipped to all
sections of the country.
One customer alone. Mr. Brown says,
bought more than $3,000 worth of eggs
last season, and will order a greater
amount this season. The total sales of
eggs last year netted more than $8,000,
more than 50 per cent of which were
sold for hatching purposes.
A setting of eggs ranges In price from
$3 to $5. and for $15 you can get a trio
of fine chickens—all of which means
that for this small sum you buy and
get the benefit of Mr. Brown's lifetime
experience.
Mr. Brown originally conducted the
largest dairy' and owned the largest
herd of Berkshire hogs In the South,
but finding the poultry business far
more profitable, he Is rapidly abandon
ing these features. At one-time 18S
cows were milked on the farm. Mi*
Brown has sold all of his hogs to Dr.
W. B. Hardman, of Commerce, and has
disposed of a large percentage of his
cattle.
“The chicken Is the thing,” says Mr.
BfOwn.
a fair per cent of the eggs. It is really
more important to have good eggs and
a suitable place to set the' incubator
than the particular make of machine.
Almost all of them will do fairly good
work If we have a cool, moist, dark,
well ventilated cellar to set It In. They
all take about the same care and at
tention and use about the same amount
of oil, and every manufacturer claims
that his particular machine Is the best.
I have made Just as good hatches In a
$7 incubator as in a $40 one. This is
not the rule, but where one thoroughly
understands artificial incubation it is
very easy to hatch chicks by the 1.000.
To raise them to broiler size la not so
easy. It Is very Important that they
should be hatched right If we want to
raise them. If they arc strong and
sprightly when hatched It Is easy to
raise a good per cent of them. I like
to take them out of tho machine as
soon as they are dry. None of the In
cubators have sufficient ventilation at
hatching time and many chicks are in
jured at this stage of the hatch. The
chicks pant for breath and become
overheated and weakened, then we take
them out of the close hot egg chamber
and dump them into a brooder that
may be 15 to 30 degrees cooler than the
egg chamber: the chicks are chilled
and ruined. Take them out as fast as
dry enough and keep them warm. Do
not feed them for 34 or 36 hours; give
them clean, fresh water to drink. I
feed hard-boiled eggs chopped fine,
shell and all, and oat meal flakes or
pinhead oats the first week, then corn-
bread. cracked corn, and at two weeks
old they will eat whole wheat. I do not
know of any better feed for chicks than
whole wheat for at least half the ra
tion. I can not recommend any of tho
prepared chick feeds. These feeds are
a mixture of old vegetable ami grass
seeds that have lost their vitality and
color. I prefer to buy or raise my feed
In the natural grain. Select good sound
corn, wheat apd oats. Have some of
the corn cracked into bits about like
clover seed: have some ground fine;
have the oats ground; sift the hulls
out of the oat meal: mix this with
equal parts corn meal and bake Into
dry. hard bread: break this fine and
feed as a part of the ration. Feed in
cut hay. straw or chaff, so the chicks
must scratch for every morsel. Feed
whole wheat, cracked corn and this
meal bread; keep the chicks dry and
warm and free from lice, and they will
be healthy, happy and profitable.
