Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1896-04-24
THE FANclERS.
A Industry That u Greater fhan That
Of Wheat.

Of Wheat.
I;ut few people aside from those en-
gagged in the industry can estimate any
thing like approximately the immense
number of fowls and eggs produced in
the United States. When told that the
value of poultry and eggs of the United
States produced each year is greater
than that of the wheat crop most peo-
Pile would receive the statement with
degree of doubt bordering on disbelief.
Yet such is the fact.
The poultry fanciers of the United
States have done great work in i'm
proving the breeds of fowls and bring
ing out new breeds that surpass the old
varieties in both delicacy of flesh and
increased egg production. Great poul-
try shows have been held in different
parts of the United States and pre-
miums given as an incentive to fanciers
to show fine birds, and in this way eff
forts have been put forth that have
done great benefit. Yet, notwithstand-
ing the fact OF the wonderful proper
tions Of the poultry industry, eggs SUI
fieient to meet the requirements of con-
sumers are not produced. About 1o.-
100000 eggs are imported from Canada
alone each succeeding year. From 1880
to 1890, when the most recent figures
were gathered, there was IN increase in
the number of barryard fowls of 153
per cent. and in turkeys, geese and
ducks of Is per cent. During the same
period egg production increased 70 per
cent.
In 1890 there were 2JS, 412,155 barn
yard fowls in the United States, and OF
turkeys, ducks aud geese 26. SIG, 700, or q
total of 2SJ,2SS,7 100 fowls. In these fig
ures given fowls consumed during the
year are not included. These would
amount to fully one-third more, max
ing the sum total $50, 3s4.o33, which at
the low estimate of 35 cents each would
amount to S133, 134.726.55.
The dflfgent hens in 1890 laid S17.-
Gil .146 dozen eggs. In the eastern mar
kets the average price was IS cents:
at Atlanta, Ga, "a cents, and at Cincin-
natl, 13 cents. But to make an intelli.
gent average price per dozen it would
be about II cents. Now, SIT .211. IS doz-
en- of eggs at II cents per dozen would
be sl3s,sa5 .so+.s2 Adding to this the
| value of the poultry, St33. 49,. 1865. tn.
| sum total OF fowls and eggs was S21122,
| C5O. 621.37.
| But this is not all. Thousands Of fine
| bred fowls were sold at from IS to SIS q
| trio. II this ratio of increase in barn,
yard fowls from 1890 TO 1895 were equal
to that between 1850 and 1880 (i53 per
cent? the number OF fowls and the
number OF dozens of eggs produced in
1895 was simply amazing. The increase
in eggs, as will b. seen between 1880
and 1890. was IS per cent, and it is fair
to say that with the rapid increase in
| population between the years named
the proportionate increase between
1890 and 1895 was fully maintained.
The United States department Of agri-
culture has given the crop OF wheat OF
1895 at 425 900 900 bushels. Calcutta ting
the acreage price OF wheat (the differ
| ent grades and prices paid to farmers)
at about so cents, the value OF the wheat
crop to farms in 1898 was $2l2. 500 900
Deduct this from the value of poultry
and eggs-S272, 900 2t.31--the balance
in favor Of the latter as against the
wheat crop is S59, $50, 621.57.
| From these figures it will be readily
| seen why there is SO much interest
taken in poultry and why there are SC
many fancierS' associations. - Toledo
| Blade