The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-06-27


There Is no department of the great
Minnesota State fair that appeals to so
many city people as the poultry show.
If the figures could be shown the num-
Der of chickens that shell out material
for custard pied and omelettes while
making their homes on the back end Of
city lots would be astounding, and
when 1t comes to villages two-thirds Of
the population have the Chicken
fever" and keep chicken ranch on
their premises, which supplies half the
living of the family in many cases.
Sometimes the head Of the family con-
descends to take an interest In feath-
cred friend, but more often the wife
looks after her pets with a faithfulness
and interest that insure success-eggs
and acknowledged chickens to embel-
l1sh the table When the Conference
holds session In the town or the sew
ing society spends ain afternoon and
chicken salad is in order.
Larger live stock cannot be kept in
town. and the pig, which In "Ould' Ire
land, pays the rint," is banished to the
farm proper, while the rooster is toler-
ated and answers for ain alarm clock,
and the precocious pullet, bred with in
of distinguished ancestors as a duke or
an earl, begins her lay In February and
keeps it up until November, for be it
known that these villagers are not con-
tent with common dung hills" but
must have the best blood in the land.
1t is one Of the peculiarities of the
Live stock business that the smaller the
stock one invests in the bigger the en-
thusia.sm Of the investor. OF all the en-
hr~eua fy,rr ID
certain that the Chicken cranhs'' are
the greatest, and get the point Of the
score down the finest. On the farm it
is different, and the average farmer
pays little attention to his hennery. The
larger operations Of his farm, while
probably bringing less net profit in pro-
portion to cost, command his attention;
or If his taste runs to Live stock, his
interest is centered in horses, cattle or
sheep. But this condition of things
leaves to the women folk and the chill
dren the farm poultry, and when the
family goes to the great fair, the wom-
EN- and boys find the poultry show,
while the "old man. goes to the stables
and watches the Judging in the various
rings where prize horses, cattle, sheep
and swine crowd and below, bleat and
squeal, While the judges bestow the rib
bons and the happy owners swell with
pride.
This widespread interest in poultry.
as well as the handsome prizes offered
aind paid in previous years, has given
the poultry department a surprising
growth. Those who attended the fair
of 1897 will remember that the mana
gers were obliged to take a larger build
Ing for the show than had been used
for previous fairs. and that even then
they were compelled to secure tent
for the Overflow" They will also re-
member how the crowd filed the aisles
and how quickly the fine birds were
picked out and commented upon by a
large number Of the visitors, showing
that the visitors were many of them ex-
perts and knew what they were talking
about.
1t has been the policy of the present
managers Of the fair to give the people
what they want, and when any depart
mert has shown disposition to grow
they have encouraged it and found
room for it, and those who visit the
fair In 1898 will find that the poultry
department has been given the atten-
ton it deserves.
The new features will be noted In the
premium list, and are as follows:
CLASS ea-DoMEcTrrS mourn