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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.