Arizona republican., 1922-04-02
OUTLOOK IN THIS
STATE IS NOT Dad
FOR ALL POULTRY

With eggs down so cheap that some
| poultry keepers want to give away
| their hens, a one sided view of the
| poultry situation might at first
| thought indicate that there Is a
mighty poor future, but the truth
seems to be that we have just enough
| so that egg production during the
flush period of the year is little
| too heavy for local consumption. but
we are not taking into consideration
the fact that during nine months OF
| the year eggs are shipped into the
district tributary to the Salt River
valley, and that we are making only
a small beginning towards supplying
| the demands of the state as whole.
AS compared with some other in
dustries the poultry industry OF Ari-
zona is not to be considered lightly.
According to figures of the United
| States census of 1920, covering the
year 1919, the total value of all dairy
products in the state was $2,T45,329.
The value of our wool crop that year
was S1,440,165: the total value Of all
fruits and nuts was $1,391.130: the
value of all vegetables was $1.74s,699.
| The value of the poultry and eggs
for that year was $1,699.064. This, /
believe, shows concluSively that the
poultry industry OF Arizona is at the
present time one of our most impor-
tant industries. 1t might be said
further, that figures relative to poul-
try are probably under estimated to
much larger extent than other
products. because there are so many
small flocks which would probably be
overlooked i'm the census reports.
If the number Of laying hens were
increased to the average Of the per
capita for the United States it would
be apparent that the poultry industry
would lead in value the dairy indus
try by a good margin. Considering
that the mining towns of the state at
the present time are importing large
quantities of eggs and poultry from
outside the state, and the further fact
that eggs and poultry are shipped
into the Salt River valley and points
tributary it is very evident that we
have a home industry that has great
possibilities and is one that is capa-
bic of greater development than pos
sibly any other of our industries. not
excepting fruit. which has possibili-
ties which are now realized as being
beyond the dreams Of the prophets OF
a few years ago. and poultry and fruit
make a splendid combination.
There is in addition to the produc-
tion Of eggs, still other fields that
are only in the pioneer stages OF de-
velopment We are just beginning TO
realize what the turkey business may
mean to us. There are few farms
that cannot profitably support
flock of turkeys, and the farm be the
better for the turkeys because of the
insects destroyed. The demand for
turkeys increases and there Is no bet
ter place TO raise them than on the
alfalfa fields of Salt River valley
farmers.
Opportunities for Breeders
Then there is another and an all
most untried field. the possibilities OF
which are so great that no one would
care to predict what the extent OF II
might become, and this is in the rais-
ing of stock for breeding. Ii has only
been a few years that Arizona breed
ers had much chance in competition
with breeders from other states in
poultry shows: The reason was sim
ply and solely because Arizona breed
ers, in the expressive language OF the
day were overlooking bet There
was a rather general impression that
we could not raise as good poultry
here as could the breeders of the
east or the breeders in California.
Now we have dozens OF breeders who
welcome competition from the outside
in our shows. and breeders who so to
other shows in other states where
competition is most keen. and come
back with winnings, establishing the
fact that we can and that We are
producing right here poultry that
compares favorably with that raised
anywhere in the world
The advantage which we have in
early Matching, where the chicks can
get out and have upadulterated the
pure invigorating Arizona air and
sunshine. is one which we may well
capitalize. Eggs and day-old chicks
are now shipped long distances SAFE
ly. and these industries are open TO
Arizona breeders, but of more import
still is the opportunity which Arizona
breeders have in breeding stock for
eastern breeders. We can breed birds
that are stronger and healthier and
in consequence better producers. Once
we have established such reputa-
ton, the world is ours.
We are not glossing over the am
entable fact that we have many birds
here that are being bred from. that
should be sent to market as fit nei-
ther for breeders nor producers, but
this is not an argument against the
making of this valley a breeding
place for the best poultry, but is
mentioned because it is something
which we have yet to overcome.