The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-11-15
Somerset County Agricultural News
The Poultry Business

The poultry business is gigantic
affair and still we have not yet reach
ed the great heights of its possible
ties. The poultry business is still in
its infancy. We have only within the
past ten years or more really come to
recognize how great and really i'm
portant poultry products are as a
source of food and for use in manu-
featuring many articles of daily nec-
essity among the people of the world.
1t has been only a few short years
since men of business ability capable
of big things in other lines have come
to realize the importance of the poul-
try business and felt like investing
their money in it. Great poultry es-
adjustments have sprung up. some of
which have failed on account of bad
management, while others have sue
ceeded even beyond that which was
first thought possible.
Fall and winter poultry exhibitions
in this country and Canada are
among the most important of all agri-
cultural gatherings. People no long
er go to these exhibitions to be enter
tanned but to learn how to be more
successful as poultry keepers, fanciers
and exhibitors. And If you will take
notice of the class of people that visit
these exhibitions, you will note that
it includes men and women of highest
character and ability.
Then again what has been accom-
plished in the making of all Standard
breeds of poultry is marvellous real
ity. Those of us who have been con-
nected with the Standard bred poul-
try business for 25 years or more have
seen great strides and accomplish
ments in the perfecting of the many
varieties, Take the exhibits of the
best breeds in the poultry show and
you are often forced TO the conclusion
that there is hardly anything more to
be desired, so near perfection have
our best breeders reached in their ef-
forts to improve their birds.
Those who are just starting in the
Standard bred poultry business at
this day and age are fortunate as they
can begin where our best breeders end
after 35 years or more OF patient,
painstaking effort in the perfection Of
their birds. Is 1t any wonder than,
that experienced breeders ask more
money for their stock? They should
do so because 1t Is plainly worth more
and by far the cheapest kind OF stock
a beginner can buy.
Scrub hens are practically a thing
Of the past. The poultry loving peo-
pie of the world have learned that
there is something vastly superior, as
they learned years ago that the horse
drawn moving machine Is better than
a scythe.
The crossing of purebred birds Is
not practiced these days as much as 1t
was few years ago. That feeling
among poultry-keepers that improve
ment might be made by crossing has
gradually become unpopular. as it was
found that nothing Is gained by max
ing these crosses. {
b Che poultry industry has, like other
business, been the victim of depres-
sions and IL it were an unimportant
industry these depressions would
surely have caused its death and OBJ
livion. The factsthat the poultry in
dustry has stood the test of business
depression and has come out with
flying colors and in even better con-
dtion than before proves beyond
doubt that those of us who are engag-
ed in poultry work should feel proud
of the industry and work harder for
its success.
BY c. I. DAVIS,
F.! Poultry Specialist for Grandin Mill
ing Co., Manufacturers of Red Flag
Poultry Feeds.