The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-03-20
THE POULTRY INTEREST.
Difference Between Estimate and Results
Quite Pronounced.

THE POULTRY INTEREST.
Difference Between Estimate and Results
Quite Pronounced.
There are few matters in which such
brilliant promises of large and speedy
profits can be made to appear as in esti-
mates on the probable results of the
poultry business. 1t costs so little to
keep poultry. the market is so steady
and active and the increase so rapid
that after making all proper allowances
for error and disappointment. there is
still remarkable margin of profit left.
And yet when submitted to the practical
test of actual work, it has been demon
strated over and over again that poultry
farming on large scale does not pay.
Either the fowls are too delicate and
susceptible to be maintained in sufficient
numbers. or they require more atten-
ton than they receive, or for some
cause the anticipations concerning
them fail to materalize, and it does not
seem possible to make their mainte-
nance the exclusive or even leading
feature of the farm. And yet on every
well-regulated and well-conducted farm
the rearing OF poultry, both for birds
and eggs, can properly claim a place,
and up to the point of a proper relation
with other farm products it is doubtful
if anything reared or produced
on the farm yields anything
like the per centage of profit
which comes from the poultry yard.
We remember once riding in a railroad
car with farmer who was giving some
what in detail his management, during
which he told of keeping number OF
cows and making elegant butter, which
brought the highest price in the neigh
boring town, after which he made the
somewhat startling statement that he
had a flock of chickens which cost him
little for, keep and received little atten-
ton. but which he believed were paying
him more clear money than his COWS.
There is point to which the poultry
business can be carried with man.
fest profit and advantage on every
farm, and it should be depended
upon and made to yield a very
considerable proportion of the farm rev.
enues.
The trouble, we fancy, is in getting
so many fowls that they must receive
considerable attention, and that success
lies in keeping so few that they require
but little attention. Fowls like to have
as much liberty as possible, and to '.rus-
tie" around and make their own living;
and when the numbers are so great
that they have to be looked after reg
ularly and persistently. like other stock.
and their daily food and drink supplied
and the hours of their incoming and
outgoing regulated, some necessary
condition is apt to be overlooked or neg
lected. or the birds killed by kindness.
If the complete statistics were gath
cred of the value and annual product
of the poultry stock the figures would
show that this interest is very consid-
cradle one and entitled to receive much
more attention than is ordinarily ac-
corded TO it. In Great Britain the agri-
cultural returns for 1884 for the first
time include the number of fowls, the
number returned being 2S,944, 249. But,
except in the case of ireland, the esti-
mate does not include the holdings of
residents in the towns or cottages con-
trolling less than half an acre of ground,
and making allowances for this omis-
sion, the London Lire Stock journal es-
Inmates that 3 complete census of the
poultry in the United Kingdom would
not show less than Al 900. 900 fowls. In
addition to the product of these fowls
there was imported during the same
year large quantity of poultry and
$40. 436. 100 eggs, valued at e., 732, 055,
or about S13,6OO,275. The same paper
estimates the average product of a hen
to be 100 eggs per year. although
relating the experience of noted
fancier who from a lot of so select
fowls obtained an average of 100 eggs
per year; but at 100 eggs per year the
Al, 900, 900 fowls, if all hens, would have
produced, at the same rate as imports
are valued, the enormous sum of $685.
100000 As the stock ought to replen-
ish itself every year, and allowing for
no other income from increase there
would be about 800, 900, 900 to be added
to the total, taking each fowl to be
the rate prevailing in ireland, where the
returns are more complete, which would
swell the grand total to 79,0O0,0OU.
We should be glad to see the figures of
the value of the poultry product of the
United States, and should not be sur
prised if they eclipsed those of Great
Britain, where, taking simply the num-
Der returned, there are only maintained
one fowl for each acre under cultiva-
ton. including pasture. We have an
impression that the proportion may De
larger in this country. But, at any rate.
enough has been said to show that the
poultry interest is very importansonc.
considered merely from financial
standpoint, and without considering it
as food supply.-Breeder's Gazette.
a lEEPlNG.CAR Joke.