West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-07-09
MOUNTAINEERING.
Profits Large in Proportion to the Amount
Invested ia This business


But few fail to realize "A profit from
poultry, though often it is supposed
that loss occurs. In fact, it is almost
impossible to incur loss under good
management, and it requires but very
little management to give profit If
one should invest ten dollars i'm a flock.
including food and other expenses, and
realize eleven dollars, or only one dol.
lar more than the outlay, it would give
a profit of ten per cent. Yet, but few
would be satisfied to expend ten dol
lars for food and receive but eleven
dollars from the hens, although in
some branches of business the proper
tlonate profit from investments is
smaller.
Familiar rs some are with BARNARD
fowls, yet they know nothing of the
merits of the different breeds. A
chicken is chicken" and the very
fact that there are so many colors.
shapes and sizes assists i'm the dclusion.
There are at present two classes o.
poultry raisers, the one giving no care
at all, and the other pamperin~ the
Hooks to an unnatural condition. Mis-
management arises i'm the one case
from not regarding the poultry as be
ing OF sufficient importance TO receive
care, while in the other it is due to
overlooking and deprivation of exer-
else.
Yet we must include labor as an eb-
mcnt I'm the cost of keeping poultry
and the excess derived over and above
the expense is not all really profit: but
1t is safe to claim that all labor rightly
bestowed will be amply repaid if the
uock Is large one. Small llocks are
proportionatoly more profitable than
large ones, because they utilize much
of the waste of the house; but by "A cor
rect knowledge of the proper conditions
for keeping poultry there is no reason
any number should not be kept. Here
totore the drawbacks have been the
desire To keep too many together i'm
order to economic room. which entails
competition and inequality in allow
ance of food to- each individual. Then
there is the failure TO supply meat
plenty of water and warm quarters. TO
say nothing of neglect i'm cleaning the
houses and yards When the hens are
as carefully attended TO a. the COWS
and pigs, both as regards regularity of
feeding and labor of cleaning the
houses, they will give better results.
"A large number who do not keet
accounts would be surprised at the val
ne of the eggs and carcasscs consumed
IN the family compared with the OK
pense; vet. because "a large proportion
OF food has been purchased, the hens
are regarded n Improbable a strict
account of all receipts and expenses
would show gain of one hundred per
cent. IN many cases. The profit from
| poultry does not depend upon the gross
amount. but upon that produced over
and above the OUTLAY, aud such profit
may be but a small sum, yet be a large
| percentage on the amount invested.
The markets should b watched i'm or
| der TO secure the highest prices. and
business methods should prevail.
The reason why poultry-kccping is
sometimes apparently improbable is
! because the average pOultryman is
| not familiar with the breeds; does not
| iced 70 variety, uses no Drccautiou
/ against cats, rats. hawks and other enc
| cmies does not keep the houses and
/ yards clean; does not provide plenty of
/ water: feeds too much concentrate /
/ food, and keeps the hens i'm I'm up-
| healthy condition When these evils
| are romcdicd and the pouitryman will
/ compare his investments with those of
people engaged in other pursuits. the
| comparison will be I'm his favor.
I RUrW NcW JOrkcr.