The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1881-04-21

| WnaC were WilCeu W supply VIC lO0t'I
demand. In this market there have
been scarcely any eggs except that
were preserved by some process.
Other circumstances have tended to
make eggs scarce and high: It is
represented that the mortality among
fowls has been almost unprecedented,
chiefly on account of the cold weather.
In times of great prosperity more
eggs are eaten, and we have lately
enjoyed the blessings of good times.
AS civilization increases and cities
become larger, the consumption of
eggs is greater. Great difficulty is
found in supplying London, Paris, and
other large European cities with eggs.
Even New York receives eggs from
Canada. New Brunswick and Nova
Scotia. In all our large cities the
trade in eggs has increased wonder.
fully during the last few years.
AS with eggs, so with the birds that
produce them. All kinds of poultry
have been scarce and high. A few
years ago, chickens and turkeys, if
bought of the persons to whom they
were consigned. were cheaper in the
market than beef or mutton. But
during the past winter they have been
beyond the reach of persons of moder-
ate means. AS game birds decrease,
the demands for domestic fowls in
creases. During the past year there
have been very few quail or prairie
chickens in the market, and there is
little prospect that they will ever
again compete with fowls raised by
| farmers. Most that the hunters have
spared have persisted by the cold of
the past winter.
The prospect for poultry prosperity
was never better. Spring chickens
will undoubtedly be very high. The
demand for eggs the coming season
will be large. The profits made by
persons who preserved eggs last sea-
son will induce many to go into the
business this year. Farmers. espe-
cially those who live near railroads,
would do we'll to give more attention
to fowls. Most OF the experiments in
| raising poultry on 4 large scale in this
country has been unsuccessful. \
large number Of exclusive hen farms
have been abandoned to other pur-
poses after short trial. The incu-
bator promises we'll. but it rarely ever
fulflls it's promises. 1t is extremely
doubtful whether all the chickens az
tilcially Matched in this country
would sell for enough to pay for the
machines employed to hatch them.
The incubators may lie all right, but
the management of most of them
must have been wrong, or there would
have been better results attending
their Use. They are generally en-
ployed as toys till the novelty wears
off, when they are consigned to Il gar
ret or wood shed.
The m nket must chiefly rely on the
farmers for it's supply of eggs and
poultry. \ certain number of fowls
can he raised on every farm with very
little trouble and without seeming
expense. Fowls. if they have suf-
ticirnt range, will derive Il large por-
ton Of their living from insects,
waste grains, and the ieavings Of the
table. by raising buckwheat. sum
flowers, and other ''catch crops, 4
large amount of chicken food of eX-
cellent quality may he produced at !.
very small cost. Considering the
trouble required, there is generally
more profit in fowls than in any kind
of stock kept on the farm. and nearly
every farmer could double the num-
Der Of his hens. ducks. geese. and tlr.
keys without noticing that he had
added to the the list Of his eNpendi-