The Farmington times. [volume] (Farmington, Mo.) 1874-1902, 1900-03-29
The iieIpiul lien.

tut ttftFal ACaEs poultry farming TOT
profit has been one Of the leading safm
Industries Of the West, and the import
ancc Of the industry TO the farmer, The
merchant, and the transportation lines
Of the country cannot be estimated.
When other farm crops fail. and things
look gloomy, the wealth brought to
the different States In the West 10y the
''honest cackler" tides the farmer over
many an awkward place, and enables
him to live aud meet his obligations.
The figures regarding the money real
lied FROM the surplus product Of the
'helpiul hen" are startling, aud when
analysed they cause respect for the
lcalhered tribe that makes man feel
like taking off his hat TO the first hen
be meets.
According to Government statistics,
the total value of the surplus poultry
crop Of the country for 1898 was $780,
900, coo, or about "a per capita for
each man. woman aud child in the
country, almost equal to the value Of
the wheat and corn crop together,
greater than the value Of the cotton
crup, enough to run all the schools Of
the country aud leave Sl00, 900, coo
over; enough TO pay the interest on all
the mortgages Of the country aud leave
$500, goo, 900 to apply ON the Prinei-
pal; enough to pay the pensions twice
over aud have millions lett; OF several
times greater than the value Of the fruit
crop of the country.
The magnitude Of the industry y
made more evident IN The fact that the
value OF the 1898 potato crop was
only $50, 600, 600, aud the total value
Of the pig iron output seldom exceeds
600, 600, 900, while the annual output
Of coal amounts only TO about 5000,
900, 200. A. comparison 10 give the
average man some idea Of the immense
bulk of 1920, 900, would state
that IN silver dollars Il would approx
mate &c, 200, 900 pounds In weight,
equal To 500 carloads Of 40, 600 pounds
each, or If coupled together exceeding
, miles in length,
The value OF the surplus poultry aut
eggs Ia "Impcrial Missouri" last yeaI
was about ~, 100000, or about 50 pei
capita for each man, woman and chile
, IN the Stale. A sum sufficient 10 pa!
all the State aud city taxes aud leave .
handsome surplus. No two field crop
cquallcd Il in value, aud II was almos
/ rs great as the combined mineral wealtl
/ Of the State for the preceding year
, Greater than the value Of the ct.d out
put, equal to the combined value O
g the ziuz and lumber, rnd greater thai
, the value Of all forest products.
. These figures are ms remarkable a
they ara siat,itug, and when taken II
e connection with the fact that tht
= "humblc hen provides the farmer au'
many Of the residents Of interior town
with q staple article Of food, entetin,
e very largely into their living, hcg i'm
q portancc "a. a money producer aud as
4 prDyidcr Of standard table Cummod
e it's is made known. She !, like an IN
lcTc,'- bearing n0tc--at work all ih
70 lime-aud as q mortgage iIlcr she Ia
no superior, Is many uf or farmer
+. know, much to their comfort and joy
She pays the taxes, buys the grocer
les and dry goods, purchases sh'c an
B., stockings for the children, helps pa
/; the parsun aud the school teacher, pro
yidrs pin money iur the good house
wife, aud in hundred ways helps th
. farmer In q substantial manner to mcC
T., the obligations Of lie.
II any farmer questions the earning
p capacity II the hen, let him keep
book account with his poultry for fey
- months, giving due credit for al pro
& duct sold rs well as that used iIr HON
e consumption, at honest market prices
!. and the chances are about even that b
G the end hc may have more respect f.
u the hen and less for himself Is q bread
d winner