The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-19

\ vice, WHlCn Will serve as Il SAFE J
! guide to poultry profits.
( We suggest that our readers
: preserve these contributions for I
! future reference and use. A
I scrapbook containing the entire Z
) series will make complete, )
I working handbook. full of the !
J latest available information on !
this important subject,
BY PROF. FREDERIC H. STONEBURN.
THE annual value of the agricul-
tural products of America is so
vast that it staggers the mag
lnation. This country not only pro-
duces the foodstuffs required to sup
port a population numbering approx
imately 100,000,000, but has a great
surplus for export, and this is the
basis of much of our wealth.
Agriculture has for its object the
production of plants and animals,
vegetable or animal products, which
are needed by man, affording him
nourishment and protection, adding
to his comfort and pleasure. 1t is at
once an art and business, but as
yet we can scarcely term it science,
though it is based upon the natural
sciences. The successful farmer is
the one who understands the work.
ing of the natural forces which are
his allies or his enemies, and con-
ducts his business with due reference
to sound business principles. A good
business man may be poor farmer;
a good farmer may be poor business
man. Real success, as measured by
financial returns, is secured only
through the adoption of the best
methods of production, regardless of
the crop grown, and due regard to
the buying of supplies and disposing
of the products.
Great Variety of Products.
Agriculture is rapidly becoming
specialized. In the early history of
this country, before our transporta-
tion facilities had been developed,
the farmer endeavored to grow upon
his own acres most of the supplies
required by his family and his live
stock. Now all is changed. We have
truck farms, fruit farms, dairy farms,
poultry farms, hog ranches and a
great number of others. On an
American table today one may find
beef from Missouri, pork from Iowa,
celery from Michigan, cheese from
New York, potatoes from Maine,
grapefruit from Florida, oranges
from California, apples from Oregon,
cantaloupes from Delaware, eggs
from Pennsylvania, chickens from Jer-
sey, Even the jams and pickles that
mother used to make" have been
largely replaced by supplies drawn
from the great preserving establish
ments.
Specialization makes for efficiency.
When any man stops trying to do
many things and concentrates all his
thought, time and energy upon one,
he is very likely to make a success
of that. And since such a large num-
ber of intelligent men have of late
devoted themselves to improving
methods of poultry management and
perfecting the various appliances re-
quired by the poultryman, this great
and growing industry has developed
at truly amazing rate.
And the poultry industry is great
great in the value of its products
great in the support it affords to
allied industries-great in the num-
Der of men, women and children
from every conceivable walk in life,
who find pleasure and profit in
breeding and caring for our useful
and beautiful domestic fowls. There
are few, If any, agricultural crops
which exceed in value the great poul-
try crop in America when we include
in the figures the vast sums in excess
of actual market value secured from
the sale Of eggs for Matching, baby
chicks, breeding and exhibition stock.
We often hear of "the billion-dollar
poultry industry" and this is no ex-
aggeration. From small beginning,
it has developed into most impor-
tant source of National wealth; from
a neglected side-line of the farm to a
business which commands the best
efforts of host Of thinking, pro-
gressive people, and the hearty sup
port of state and National Govern
ments.
Though poultry keeping is re-
4 hi. .taV.