The next most expensive piece of equipment will be a line of about eighty rods of 3/4 in. gas pipe and about fifty elbows and twenty-five galvanized iron pans. The cost of installation will depend largely on how deep it is necessary to go to get below the frost line. One hundred and seventy-five dollars should cover cost of material and by the use of a plow the line ought to be put in for twenty-five dollars. The source of water, and the cost of getting a head, will necessarily vary with the location. The installation of a wind mill and tank to hold supply for several days, or of a small gasoline engine, would cost in the neighborhood of one hundred dollars, but it is a luxury that may be dispensed with if the well is not too deep. The houses for the hens, of which there are twenty-five, are constructed in accordance with some of the plans previously discussed. The cost should be about twenty-five cents per hen. At least twice as many brooders as colony coops will be needed as there are hen houses, but of the lamps and hovers not over twenty-five will be required, as the chicks soon outgrow the need of this aid. This makes a list of equipment required for the keeping of two thousand layers and their replenishing: 25 acres of farm land, at $50 per acre $1250.00 250 rods of fence 150.00 One farmstead 1000.00 One team, plow and farm implements 300.00 One watering system 300.00 25 hen houses, at $20 500.00 50 colony coops, at $2.50 150.00 25 lamps and hovers, at $5 125.00 -------- $3775.00 [Transcriber's note: "50 colony coops, at $2.50" is $125.00, not $150. The total should therefore be $3750 rather than $3775. This was, presumably, a printing error, because the correct total is used in the further calculations below.] This is a good, liberal capitalization. The business can be started with much less. Figured interest at 6 per cent. we have $225.00 per year. The upkeep of the plant will be about 15 per cent. on the capital, not counting land. This equals $375, which, added to interest, gives an annual overhead expense of $600, which is our first item to be set against gross receipts. The cost of operation will involve cost of chicks at hatchery, purchased feed, seed for ground, and feed for team.