The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1918-01-18
FARMERS TO INCREASE
POULTRY PRODUCTION
More Fowls and More Eggs Mean
More Meat for Democracy's Fight
ers: Profits Can be Made While In
creasing Food Supply.
First. a few figures.

year the egg and chicken production
of the United States. 1t is an almost
unbelievable fact that numerous per-
sons who have regarded a chicken
dinner as the acme of luxury and who
have paid high prices every winter, but
it is fact, and it has much to do with
the more chickens and more eggs cam
paign that is expected to displace mil
lions of pounds of beef and pork in
American menus and send the releas-
ed product across the ocean to our own
soldiers, the allies and the hungry peo-
pie of the lands devastated by the
Prussian war torch.
The United States department OF
agriculture urges as many as possible
of the farmers who have not raised
chickens to stock their farms this year
with flocks large enough at least to
supply the needs of their own house
holds. It does not advise that the gem
eral farmer embark in extensive rails
ing of poultry, but warns against such
ventures. But it sees no reason why
every farm should not produce enough
chickens and eggs for its own use,
and why there should not be enough
surplus to make chickens and eggs
available to the general public at rea-
sonable prices and in such quantities
that there will be markedly less do
nestle demand for the meats that are
needed abroad and that can be trans
ported there.
One big aim in this endeavor is to
increase to 100 hens the average size
of the American farm flock. The pres
ent average is 40 hens. The desired in
crease, it is believed, will bring the
desired production. The farmer with
sevral hundred hens, of course, will be
merely making up for his less FORUM
are neighbor unable to reach the av-
erage. This will be not merely war
time increase. 1t and its benefits will
remain after Americas men and wo-
men-at the front and at home-have
made democracy safe.
Furthermore, with all this produc-
ton the farmer need not fear that the
market will be glutted by poultry and
eggs. A good profit is assured always
assured by the low cost of farm poul-
try production. Further assurance is
given by the fact that with the max
imum production urged by the depart
ment of agriculture there will still be
great gap between production and
possible consumption. Finally, many
people who eat little or no chicken
meat, and who are only distantly ae.
quainted with the egg, will come to be
fast friends and will ask for more.
Chickens as by-product of general
farming findm UGH of their feed in the
waste materials that otherwise would
serve no useful purpose. The atten-
ton and labor they require can be
largely given by the children, and
should not require the employment Of
addition hired workers. On some farms
the chickens practically pay for them
selves by the destruction of orchard
and garden insects. On others they
help to pay for themselves by their
production of manure, which when
properly used largely increase the val
ue of the land. Fifty fowls will annual
ly produce at least ton of manure
that can be made as valuable as COM
mercial fertilizer.
An essential part of the endeavoi
to insure more chickens and eggs is
contained in the maxim-hatch early
The farmer who matches early in the
spring, either by incubation or natura
methods, seems to have all the best Of
the argument. When chickens are
Matched early in the spring they ma
ture in the fall and lay eggs in the
winter. Then, in the spring, they arr
ready to hatch early. Late hatcheC
fowls are late in maturing, do not la!
in the winter, and do not sit until latt
in the following spring.
To the country at large early zach
ing by every chicken raiser means
much. Early Matching viii increase
the number and size of fowls and thu
number Of eggs produced next year
1t will mean bigger birds and bird
that will lay in the winter months. X
the individual farmer it means mort
profit. He will get more chickens, as {
larger proportion will live; he will ge
more actual meat, not only because
more will live but because his chick
ems will be larger; and he will ge
more eggs, when eggs are scarce, foi
early Matched pullets will lay in thu
winter.
The recognized Importance of fooC
in the greatest war makes it seen
that the hen must take her place
among those who are helping to VIII
it for the forces of democracy Thi!
place will be an important one in pro
portion to the response this year to thu
call for increased chicken and egl
production. The hen, of course, Away,
has shown a willingness to do her du
ty, and she doubtless is willing now
All that is to be done is for her mas
ters, the farmers of the nation, ant
the city jewellers who are helping on {
backyard scale, to make sure that thu
hens opportunity win not be neglect
e.
PITRLIc SCHOOL, ENROLMENT