Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1913-05-02
PROFESSOR ATWOOD
DISCUSSES QUESTION

SHY WdDtS 70 tHtSitsA Sftat arm
ers IN rie Business ard Not Build
UP Big Plants--Eastern Panhandle
Probably Leads in the Industry.
Prof Horace Atwood OF the Poultry
Department or the state University
was in the city for a short time IN
the interest Of his work MIR atwood
had just visited the Nil5wwan poul.
try plant. MIR. Mcneil near Moore
field. This is perhaps 5he largest
plant In the state ami yields It's own.
er thousands Of doi'7gs annually
Mr.. Mcneil has In his charge from
1890 10 2,o00 layers, and already this
season there has been hatcbed out
5000 little chickens, and expects
thousands more before thu year ends.
Prof. Atwood also visited Mcdonald
Brothers az Shenandoah Junction who
are planning TO give considerable at
tention to the raising Of poultry.
While in the city today he met a mum
Der OF citizens and discussed with
them the poultry question, and It IS
very evident that those who are inter.
ested in the business will give II more
attention in the future.
when seen by a Representative OF
The World Prof Atwood discussed
the question at length, saying that
the department did not desre to build
up big poultry plants in the state but
to stimulate interest among the small
farmers.
I'VE are attempting at the Expert.
meut Station" said prof Atwood, ito
stimulaee the Keeping of mors ard
better fowls in West yirsinia The
last census report shows that W. have
only 81 fowls per farm flock. the ay.
erage OF the state. In the adjoining
states with no better natural condi
tions the farm iioeks average twice
as large as they do in West Virginia.
We have a splendid climate here,
cheap land and good markets. and all
the natural conditions are favorable
for the building mp OF a profitable IN
dustry,
Fowls when kept on the average
farm should give net profit after pay.
ing for all feed and labor of at least
81 per head per year. We have in
the neighborhood of 3,330l000 fowls
in the state. and II these we're handled
intelligently they would give net
profit OF that many dollars.
Now, we are striving not to build
up great big poultry plants where
several thousand fowls are kept, but
to Interest the small farmer in keep
ing not 81 fowls but leo or more fowls
per farm flock a farm OF 20 0acres
in order TO have the poultry depart
ment in harmony with the other de
partments ought to have at least 200
layers.
we are trying to stimulate the
keeping of more poultry though bulle
tins published by the Experiment Sta
ton of which several are now ready
for distribution which may be OBJ
tanned free Of cost by writing the Ex-
pertinent Station The West Virgin.
ia State Board of Agriculture has al
so published several reports on poul
try all OF which may be obtained for
the asking
'@The Experiment Station also viii
distribute again this fall single comb
White Leghorn cockrels to the farm
ers of West Virginia at very nomi-
nal price in order to improve the egg
producing qualities Of the farm fiocks
in the state Anyone who has any
trouble with respect to diseases or
difficulties in handling their incuba-
tors or breeders are urged TO commun.
icate with the Experiment staron FOR
advice and assistance
Prof Atwood left for his home on
train No IS, but expects to make an
other visit to this section soon.