Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1874 — Garden Chickens. [ARTICLE]

Garden Chickens.

Those who do not know the luxury of fresh-Jaid eggs, or the tender pleasures of eating a good spring chicken, cannot imagine why so many people who might have beautiful yards and handsome flowers, give up everything for a lot ot chickens. Y r et much as we sympathize with the chicken-fancier in many cases, we do not know that we would have one about if it were to be at the expense of a beautiful lawn and garden and all those natural beauties which make life in, the country so sweet. But our country folks, those of them who read agricultural papers, and thus have more than the average share of intelligence, do no’t have much trouble with the chicken question. Somehow-they manage to keep tlie garden quite private from the birds whenever they wish to do so, and thus in addition to tlie chicken stews and omelettes have an abundance Of vegetables'to eat, and flowers in profusion to decorate the sitting-room or dining-table. Tiltgardens arc surrounded by laths neatlywhitewashed, or by wire deftly arranged-' to keep feathered intruders out, and thus both ends are made to meet wisely and well. It is wonderful how the practical minds of country girls get over tlie common chicken difficulties. Some with scores of fowls running round will have beds of beautiful flowers on lawns in front of tlie windows, where the average mind would give up in despair. We knew one once whose plan of operation was very simple and yet very successful. Her theory was that the fowls only Ranted dust; and ail that was necessary was to keep the fowls oft for a short time till the earth had lost its dust-like character. As soon as the soil was dug up for the flower-beds in the spring, halfcircles of straight branches were arranged like wicker-work around the beds, which served the double purpose of a guard and an ornament. The flowers planted, the twiggy matter cut from the branches round the edges was neatly placed between the flowers, completely coveringthe newly-stirred earth, and bidding defiance to all scratching tendencies on the part of her feathered friends. After a rain and the ground became set, the brushy matter was taken away .Once in a while when the ground would be loosened or weeded, aud there would be danger of an incursion of the feathered enemies, the branches would be placed on duty for a while till the temptation 'was. over. Of course people in the respectable suburbs of large cities will not needtliese remarks. It would not suit in any of these circumstances to have a chicken running around loose. The fancy chicken house is the only place for them. But farther in the country the hints may prove of service. In no condition of life is the principle that where there is a Will there is a way more evident than in the way some country-folk manage, by simple contrivances like those we have named, to have all the flowers they need, and as good a garden as they could desire, without serious annoyance from the chicken trouble. —Germantown Telegraph.