Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-25
Poultry Breeders and Pet Stock Fanciers

Poultry Breeders and Pet Stock Fanciers. Montgomery, Feb. 24 1896. To the State Herald:
 The organization of another associa- tion is now we'll under way and will bud forth in the course of a few more days. Not year ago is it since the first asso- citation was organized in this state, and before it is twelve months old there will be another one in the field of poultry de- velopment.
 The object of the associa ton is to de- velop the culture of thoroughbred poul- try throughout the state, hold exhibi- tions, meetings and interchange of experi- ence one with the other, etc., thereby stimulating it's members and others into better state of activity. The entrance fee and yearly dues will be very small item, and the advantages that can be gained re many.
 Ladies as we'll as gentlemen are ad- mitted as members.
 The association will be governed by it's constitution and bylaws.
 Now, l want to put few facts before you. There are very few, in comparison to the inhabitants of the state, who know that there is such a thing in this state as poultry and pet stock associa- tion, but, nevertheless, since the first one was organized it has been the means of waking up those farmers who had let their fancy drop to one side, made them put on their thinking cap and reconsider this matter, why they should not develop into breeders as we'll as fanciers, and the result is you can find today four times as many have gone into the business for profit, as well as pleasure, that were in it year ago, not counting the individual persons who are raising their, own chick ems on their city lots. So the poultry as- sociation has accomplished one partof its obligation, if no other, and before another year is passed who can tell to what ex- ~tent this work will have been carried out. Furthermore, the demand for thorough bred stock is good deal larger than the supply, and every week and every month In the year 1t will grom larger as people find out that the day is past for raising scrub stock. Glancing over this months issue of the Southern Fancier Journal I note the following: Home supplies of eggs were short in the United States in 1895. or else the demand was greater, 1,7S9,000 dozen being imported in ten months, chiefly from Canada, at the rate of cents per dozen tariff. In 1894 1,069,000 dozen were imported at a duty of cents per dozen. And yet there are people who think the egg and poultry business of the United States is over done, when we are purchasing millions of foreign eggs every year to supply the home demand"
 So there is a business of itself in eggs for market.
 But the man or person who goes into raising poultry for market cannot help but make paying business out of it it conducted under proper management, but unless they are interested in poultry they cannot make a success of 1t.
 Where does Alabama get her supplies of market poultry from? She has to de- pend upon the states of Georgia and Ten nessee. And how many thousands of dol lars are sent away from here. when every cent of it ought to go into the farmers pocket?
 Who is to blame? Nobody but the farmers themselves for not looking intc, and Investigating how they can raise poultry for market. Land there is ard plenty of 1t, which can be bought very cheap, and with large. free. open range where poultry can run at their own pleas ure. Is where they thrive the best. The climate of Alabama is perfectly adapted to the raising of poultry; even the Asiatic breeds do Very we'll is my ex- perience.
 Every farmer ought to make 1t a point to endeavor to raise R specified number of head of poultry the same as he counts on raising so many bales of cotton or bushels of corn, potatoes, etc, to send to market. .
 Cooperation is what is needed, and Alabama will soon be to the front if she