The Washington times., 1923-01-28
Great american Hen
Is. Dominating Agent
Of National II eaLth
BY Prof. r. H. STONEBURN.
Poultry Editor Times-Herald.

Poultry Editor Times Herald.
Copyright, 1928. by the Star Company
NV HE American Hen is relatively
insignificant ind Nv ! d U ally,
weighing approximately four
pounds live weight and producing
less than 100 eggs per year. Col.
lectively she is one of the greatest
factors I'M American agriculture. She
IL the foundation upon which rests
one Of our most important ma
tional industries. She is essential
to our national life.
The American poultry industry
has experienced an amazing growth
during the last half-century. Table
poultry and eggs are no longer
considered Injuries by the average
consumer, but are now classed
as necessities. The demand Tor
these products is increasing steadily
and rapidly. And in all parts Of
American poultrykeepers,i large and
small operators alike, are increas-
ing their flocks and improving their
methods OF management to the end
that this public need may be ade-
quately met.
Al few statistics viii serve to
drive home the fact that the hen
Is one of our greatest producers
of national wealth. The accom-:
panying chart graphically presents
the relative dOllar-value of the an
nuaI production of many staples.
1t contains some surprises for most
readers.
A BIG DOILAR-PRODUCER.
In official agricultural statistics
corn and the dairy COW rank above
the her. But these figures are
not entirely fair to the latter be-
cause they include only the poultry
kept on farm and ranges and dis
regard entirely the vast volume
Of poultry products produced each
year by the hundreds Of thousands
Of small poultry flocks maintained
IN city and suburban backwards
and on village lots in all parts Of
the. country. II the value OF such
products could be ascertained and
added to that of farm-grown poul-
try and eggs the total would prop.
ably give our annual poultry crop
q higher place In the scale.
In a financial sense poultry nus
bandry is big business because It
has an annual output exceeding
S1.UOU,UVVeUVVs
increasing. The economic impor-
lance of this giant business is rec
ognized by national and State Off
Gals and vast sums of public funds
are expended in an effort to I'M
prove the industry. J.
Years ago the Chicken farmer
or then crank" was generally re-
garded as being something of a
freak. q rnisfit who. after falling
in other lines, tried his luck
with chickens.'' Now the wen,
informed, successful poultryman is
rather envied than pitied by think
ing people. Much. of the element
OF luck has been eliminated and
the industry is firmly based upon
scientific facts backed by expe-
rience in their practical applica.
ton. Profits have been correspond
ingly Increased and professions
poultry husbandry is attracting
men and women OF education and
culture who are proud to be identi-
fled with an essential industry and
who find health, pleasure and
profit in their work. ri
The poultry industry, in turn,
supports many other dependent or
allied industries which employ vast
numbers OF workers and have in.
vested millions Of dollars Of capital:
Ipcluded are the manufacturers OF
incubators and breeders, poultry
houses and equipment. metal posts
and fencing, remedies and disin-
fectants, shipping coops and egg
crates and the many similar things
commonly used on the up-to-date
poultry plant. Then there are the
makers OF feeds for young and
adult birds. beef and fish scrap.
crushed shell and bone, dried and
semi solid milk.
SUPPORTS GREAT INDUSTRIES
In many cases the business OF
individual firms exceeds a million
dollars per year. They, in turn
pass on great sums to the pro
ducers of the required raw ma
terials-metal, lumber, grain, but
termilk, etc. The transportation
companies and their employees take
their share OF the hen-earned dol
lar. The moving Of the raw ma
terial from the place of production
to the factory and of the finished
products to the. poultry plant, the
transportation of eggs and poultry
from the latter to the market, the
distribution to the ultimate con.
sumner, all involve the employment