Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-03
IMPULSE GIVEN
GOOD POULTRY RAISING
Now Is the Time for Revival and
Pushing of n Great Industry
in Virginia.
THIS STATE is BEST LOCATION
Mistakes Made by Poultrymcn When
Food Prices Frightened Them.
Coming Back to Their Senses.
Eggs and Poultry Pays.

Coming Back to Their Senses
Eggs and Poultry Pays.
When the prices for grain and all other
foodstuffs went sky-scraping, the poul-
try raiscrs OF Virginia were seized with
panic. The idea of the cost Of feeding
chickens doubling in short while
threw them off their balance, and a
great many OF them. refusing to wait
and see IL eggs, broilcrs. fryers and all
the other sorts and sizes of fowl for
the table would not advance in price
cores ondngly. rushed their pullets
and hens and roosters to the markets
end quit raising chickens and gathering
eggs for the markets of the cities and
towns. II would seem that this unwise
policy was not peculiar to the Virginia
poultrynen. but their brethren pretty
much all over the country We're
stricken with = similar panicky feeling.
Now, with eggs commanding 20. IS
and so cents per dozen, and broiiers
and other birds suitable for the atten-
ton OF the up-to-date cook selling at
from 40 TO so cents per pound. the
that they allowed themselves to be-
come an;c-stricken too quick. and
that there is as good money in the
poultry-raising business at the high
cost OF feeds as there was al the low
prices prevailing in days gone BY. For
these reasons, the men who were so
quick TO sell out their pullcts and
hens are now on the market for new
stock to begin all over again. No one
can say they are not acting wisely.
SIGNS or REVIVAL or BIC:
INDUSTRY UP NORTH
A correspondent writing from Boston
last week after the meeting there of
the International Poultrymen's Asso-
citation. furnishes an interesting and
timely story He says:
A New England poultryman came to
Boston last week and placed an order
for 10000 live chickens. This is a sign
of the revival of an Industry that has
$50 .o0o.o annual possibilities in New
England. and was threatened with de-
struction.
Poultry docs not rise to the surface
OF current business discussion to-day.
when all kinds of industries are suffer-
ing for lack OF coal, the railroads con-
gestcd and business conditions gen
orally are disturbed, but il is an indus
,ry in which the whole nation is vitality
concerned, and If it is TO be lifted up
TO its normal level, after an unprcce-
denied decline, ii must be done this
month or next at the latest. 1t is like
agriculture; that has u spring and
harvest season. AdverSities due almost
wholly 10 tho abnormal price of grain
had discouraged the ordinary poultry
raisers in the Northern States to the
extent that they have either disposed
or their nocks or severely reduced
them until 1t had become current talk
lat poultry was vanishing from New
ENGLAND.
SIZE TIDE has TURNED;
poULTRYMEN AROUSED
The tide seems TO have turned. When
the poultrymen gathered in Boston last
week, from Canada and from all parts
of the United states, and began TO com
pare notes and study prospects they
instilled courage into the trade and are
contendiny that the poultry business is
likely 10 become better than ever. II
Is going 10 be radically changed. how
ever. The man VINO placed an order
Tor 10000 chicks was one OF many who
displayed confidence In the future.
Another breeder offered to buy tho
entire egg production from one OF the
ti1 yards Ia Massachusetts up to next
July at the rate Of 90 cents n dozen
eggs. v-E'c'. f.ay be. small price for
the winter eggs, hut a most exception
ally large one for q whole seasons
yield; but this offer was not taken.
Another man who sees big proats in
the poultry business again registered
his want o. a lo0-acre farm on which
he is willing 10 invest $4,000 At once
in the poultry industry. II may he sig
nificant also that dealers in little stoves
for poultry yards report an unrrecc-
dcnted sale. In fact. arc unable to meet
the demands % them.
GREAT DAY ron CHICKEN
UAIsi:N HAS nAiy.ED
So depleted arc the common poultry
yards however, that giant strides must
be taken 10 restore them. for breeding
begins II January, and most OF 1t Is
completed for the gear by tho end OF
March or middle or April. though it
may he continued until in dune. When
running normal, Massachusetts raises
poultry products Of about $7,o0O.090 a
year but consumes from s36, 600. 600 to
$4,000, 600, which Is a little less than
half Of what the whole Of New Eng
ma CONSUMES. I lkS BUSINESS ms al
most been driven TO the wall by the
ascending grain prices, rs the poultry
man pays $3.50 today for what he paid
only sl,75 iust before the war and
81 such prices for grain lie has been
unable to stay in the business. even
when he received 50 cents II dozen for
eggs.
Now tn. national administration Is
establishing meatless days 20 cut down
the consumption II meat, but al the
same time is allowing the consumption
CT poultry because OF the vast amount
that lad been placed in cold storage.
and the fact tina, poultry cannot b..
shipped across 10 tie soldiers at the
front. That has created an exception.
ally active market for dressed poultry.
and this demand is most likely 10 be
SUSTAINED Moreover. poultry meat can
be raised quicker than any Other ,,i,d