90 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



South Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia. In these States 

 the work is organized in 98 counties, with a total of 3,722 members, 

 who set 11,860 eggs, hatched 8,595 chicks, and matured 6,402 fowls. 

 The poultry-club work has shown a steady increase from year to 

 year and has created a widespread interest in poultry in the States 

 where it is conducted. 



The limitations of a report of this nature make it impossible to 

 give many details of the actual work which is being done by these 

 children. It may be said in a general way that the poultry clubs 

 are proving a nucleus and a stimulus for the development of the 

 poultry industry in the sections where they are organized and are 

 enabling children to earn some money for themselves, as well as to 

 assist their families in raising on the farm some of the food required 

 for the family table. There are many instances of poultry-club 

 members selling from $50 to $100 worth of poultry products during 

 the season, besides building up their flocks. One of the good features 

 of this work, as with that of the pig clubs, is an indication that 

 the children plan to make their club work a means of earning money 

 to get an education. 



COMMUNITY BREEDING OF POTJLTEY. 



The community poultry-breeding efforts, started last year at three 

 points in Virginia (Middletown, Frederick County; Farmville, 

 Prince Edward County; and Waverly, Sussex County), are steadily 

 progressing. The first two communities named are breeding Barred 

 Plymouth Rocks, while in the latter county the Single Comb White 

 Leghorn has been taken up. No other breeds are being kept in these 

 communities by club members. 



INFERTILE EGGS. 



The campaign for the improvement of farm eggs has gone for- 

 ward. The production of infertile eggs is advocated, as these eggs 

 have much better keeping qualities than ordinary fertile eggs. 

 "Rooster day" campaigns, to increase the production of infertile 

 eggs by disposing of roosters, have been held in many States. About 

 50,000 of the department's placards pointing out the losses due to 

 fertile eggs and advocating the production of infertile eggs have 

 been distributed. 



TtTKKEYS AND GUINEA FOWLS. 



Last fall and winter a careful survey of the conditions of turkey 

 and guinea raising was made for the purpose of learning the different 

 methods used by successful growers of the birds, especially turkeys. 

 Since February investigations in feeding, breeding, and incubation, 

 both natural and artificial, have been conducted on a farm in a large 

 turkey-producing section of Texas. 



OSTRICH INVESTIGATIONS. 



The ostrich investigations which have been under way for some 

 time in the Salt River Valley of Arizona are being continued. The 



