The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-01-14
TIE EGG CROP BETTER THAN
COTTON.

IN MS very interesting alQ instructive
speech at the opening of the fifth annual
show Of the Poultry Association General
Julian S. Carr, of Durham. ~astonished
those who nave been accustomed to re-
gard the egg and poultry industry as a
small adjunct Of the farm. He traced
the history of fowls, how they were
try has grown into large proportions.
He pointed out that poultry farms en- I
large scale have rarely succeeded inan-
cially and was inc.tnei to lie lieyo that
the %pinciple many a little makes Il
muckle" was specially true in raising
poultry. The following extracts fron Gen
eral Cars address shows tho large pro-
portions TO which this industry has
grown:
A yet the returns Of the census or
1900 are not available, but as far back
as 1890, the number in North Carolina
Of chickens was 1907, 500; turkeys. i9-,-
1G0; geese, 376, O00; ducks, 169, 400 and Of
dozens OF eggs II, 1856. 600, quoting in
round numbers. The total exact number
enumerated was $3.50. Alb. The value of
the eggs was $1,175,5 500, and the total
value, 5000, 494. But it was we'll under
stood from comparison in other lines
that dread Of the tax collector. and the
want Of proper records Of the eggs and
fowls consumed, had induced an emu
meration by the householder far below
the reality. We shall see thai this esti
nate is probably much less than half
the DTpcpnt va Ina Of th,r iptaroct IN
our State. Let US note the progress
throughout the country.
In 1885, when about 26, 1000, 900 dozen
e were sent to New York, their nlue
was about SO, 00O, 900, or nearly so. Ac-
cording to the reports OF tn. produce ex
change, about $751; coo, 900 was spent in
New York, Philadelphia and Boston alone
for eggs. and SO much more for poultry,
making some S32, 600, 900 for the three
cities. In 1856, cur XpOrt were 252, 900
dozen eGgs, and imports, 1902, 600 dozens.
But in 1897 the receipts Of eggs from the
Union in New York had risen to S3, 100, 600,
or more than three times the whole num-
Der Of Il years before, the imports had
dropped to 100000 dozen, or one thirty
second, and the exports had risen to L.
100000, or five times the former export.
AND this is going on, at a rapid rate.
Not only has the number increased.
but the commercial value has greatly
advanced. The introduction Of canning
methods, but more especially the adop-
ton OF cold storage, has SO steadied the
market that destructive gluts in the
center arc no longer feared. Prices are
steadily maintained, and constantly
tendiGg upward. Well established stand
ards. better care IN breeding and man
orn.,lr>F- -ro, o~{I~ So
ing eggs, Oh the enc hand, and the large
increase Of urban population, on the other.
have quickened effort. and tended to bet
ter financial returns. Even in bleak Can
ada, 4 fowl upon an average is expected
TO produce 81 a year net profit. Is that
so bad, when at the present prices Of
cotton, our bureau of labor statistics de-
clares that $3.50 profit is all that is made
upon a bale Of cotton in North Carolina,
IT the year 1902?
Taken rs an aggregate it IS i~nstric-
tive TO compare the figures Of the value
of some great interests and ~expendi-
lures in the United States, in the year
1895. as summed up BY the State Board
Of Agriculture Of Kansas, I omit all but
round numbers:
Value of tobacco crop +. IS 35.oT4, COO
Total interest OF mortgages :. 10. Us, 900
Value OF potato crop =. 1888 GEO
Total pensions j.. 13n, ESQ. 600
Value cf cat crop >. :. 1863, eo5. 900
Total school expenditures 80. 1929, 900
Value of swine q. =. 1Se.529, 600
Value CT wheat crop -. :. 237 ,93S, 600
Value Of cotton crop -. :. $50, 1874 GOO
Earnings of poultry -. :. 290, 000 GEO
Another authority. the we'll known
American Agriculturist. has ascertain
cd that in 1897. there was a permanent
investment in this industry throughout
the United States Of s340 ,000, D0o, devoted
IL poultry and egg production.
'Tha North Carolina has received her
share o. this great increment, in an in
dustry shared by the humble cabin of
tho field negro with the largest land
holder amongst Us. must be evident when
We note her gratifying advancement in