The Florida agriculturist., 1907-10-16
PRODUCING SOUTH SHORE
ROASIERS.
A Profitable Industry Developed by
SOutn-EaSrern Massachusetts
Farmers

meInOu uSeQ III producing what are
CaneQ SOFT rOaSterS tor New YOrk
narneI. olmllar chickens would hnQ
prOnIaUIe sale III almost any city OF
tn1S state ana could be readily shipped
to Atlanta, Savannah or Charleston.
Our climate would permit us to grow
them much more economically than it
can De uOne at the North.
Ihe business ct finishing poultry
tor city markets has been brought
Gown 10 line point in many parts
OF N eW EngIanu. In the small section
OF northern plymouth ana eastern
NOrlOIK COunueS, Mass, along the
south SnOre OF boston pay, has grown
up very prOntaDle INDUSTRY IN rear
ing anu raising chickens tor the BOS
ton market. these fowls are market
eu IN spring ana early summer when
they nave reached the heaviest
weights ana before the flesh hardenS.
1he lana is admirably adapted to
poultry raising, because 1t is OF a light
ana Well-uralned nature, yet capable
OF raising a ta1r amount OF grass. 1t
is essentially a section Of small farms.
Farmers have taken up poultry rails
ing, because on a few acres with
small capital one man can care for
enough poultry to produce a comfort
able living.
Probably the largest grower in the
district is Herbert Dana Smith, who
has capacity of between 5000 and
6ooo fowls. In addition to his own
labor, he employs one man and at
times two, because he GOES some out
side Jobblng in piping brOOder hOus-
es, etc. MIR. Smith, who was fore
man in a hosiery mill, started a dozen
years ago by buying a gOOd-s1zed
1arm. He has invested about $4,000
in buildings, incubators and equipment
and keeps his own laying stock Of
about 400 head.
IncubatOrs Run all Winter.
His incubator cellar holds eight
machines, two Of his own make hold
ing $50 eggs and six Cyphers 3So-egg
machines. From six to seven matches
are taken out Of each machine. The
record Of one machine shows that it
was set September Fl and hatched
238 good chicks. 1t was again set
November I and Matched $50 chicks;
November 27, 225 chicks; January 23,
232 chicks; February IS, 2I4 chicks;
March 10, 2I6 chicks; April 2, filled
with 400 eggs for the last hatch.
The early matches were Brahmas,
with purchased eggs. Mr.. Smith in
tends hereafter to use only Barred
Plymouth Rocks. 1t is the opinion OF
have decreased in size until now they
average no larger than the kocks,
which are better layers and mature
quicker. Although White and Barred
are both kept, the Whites are the
faVOriteS.
Producing the Eggs is a Splendid
Business.
Many Of the growers buy all their
eggs of farmers and cOttagers who
make a business of producing them
for Matching. The ruling price is
so cents per dozen, AS the meoium-
sized Light Brahma cockerels are
more active and vigorous and the
medium hens are better layers,
the size has not been kept up by
breeders. The rOaster growers are now
ing their own laying stock or largely
giving up this breed
There are very few Wyandottes or
Rhode Island Reds in this section.
The Wyandottes weigh fully a pound
less than the Plymouth Rocks, and
lay smaller egg. The Reds are not
liked at ALL One Of the leading deal
ers says that ''the Reds are no good
after they pass broiler age, because
they quickly become narrow breasted