238 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDWARD VII., A. 1903 



poultry culture that, when properly managed, no branch of farm work should pay a 

 better margin of profit. In reports of this department for many years past it has 

 been held that, by obtaining eggs in winter and selling them at city prices, in com- 

 bination with the rearing of the best types of market chickens in early summer, a 

 margin of from one to two hundred per cent profit should be made by farmers, accord- 

 ing to their near location to or distance from a city market. That these calculations, 

 made after long experience, were not over-estimated is shown by the following instances 

 of successful poultry management, and related by farmers over their own signatures, 

 in leading agricultural papers of recent date. These statements are doubly valuable 

 for they not only show large margins of profit, but the methods of feeding and manage- 

 ment whereby they were made : — 



Statement 1. — Made by ]\Ir. J. R. Henry, of Wentworth County, in Farmers' 

 Advocate of March 9, 1905: 'Have had eggs all fall and winter in good supply. Have 

 kept account, and have sold more than $2 worth of eggs for every $1 worth of feed con- 

 sumed. And in growing early chicks for market, have made $3 for $1 cost. I find I 

 can raise chicks to eight weelvs for $8 per hundred, and make them ready for market. 

 Yes, my hens pay and pay well. 



' In feeding, I try to follow, in part, Oti;awa Experimental Farm teachings. Morn- 

 ing, first thing, a little tasty mash, but not more than a pint to twenty-five hens. Then 

 stir up the litter, and scatter a half pint of screenings; this again at noon. Open up 

 the windows and doors, unless storm beats in. During day, clover leaves in trough, 

 also apples and apple peelings. I like to hang cabbage and mangels for them to pick at 

 high enough that they have to reach or jump for them. I think it best to feed the green 

 bone or other animal food about two hours before sundown each day, about one-half 

 ounce to each hen. Then give a final feed of grain in the straw, about two quarts to 

 twenty-five hens. Then, at sundown give a mash composed of cooked potatoes and 

 peelings, with any kitchen scraps, with chop and shorts stirred in until stiff — all they 

 will eat. Water, grit and oyster-shell at will. I think wheat the best all-round grain, 

 if we were compelled to use only one kind. Always, when wheat is high, eggs are dear 

 also, so we can draw a safe conclusion.' 



Statement No. 2. — ^By Mr. J. F. Riddle, of Norfolk Co., Ont., in the Farmers' 

 Advocate of March 2, 1905, and which shows a large margin of profit from his hens 

 and his manner of feeding them, viz. : — 



' In the year 1903 I kept 4-0 females (Barred Plymouth Rocks) and they netted 

 me $34 over and above the feed bill. In 1902 my sales amounted to $101.40, with net 

 profit of $43.36. In 1901 receipts were $103.50, my profit being $52, but I cannot say 

 how many I kept these two years. 



' I have always fed a variety of grains — wheat and buckwheat forming the principal 

 part — with very little corn or oats. I give one or two messes of cooked vegetables, 

 mixed with shorts, each week, with cabbage or mangolds for a change. They get green- 

 cut bone or liver two or three times a week ; also clover leaves, either dry or in the mash. 

 They get a warm mash nearly every day, either night and morning. I strive to keep 

 them busy and contented the whole day long. 



Statement No. 3. — By Mr. E. C. Parker, Compton, Que., March 16, 1905. — An 

 estimate of the profit to be made from .selling eggs during the summer and winter 

 montlis may fairly be had by calculating that it costs during summer 5 cents to pro- 

 duce a dozen eggs, which sell for 16 cents, a moderate value at that ©sason. Allow- 

 ing that it costs twice as much to produce a dozen eggs in winter, when they sell in 

 Montreal at 35 to 50 cents per dozen, as I show later on, we still have a prafi't of from 

 25 to 35 cents per dozen. From 100 April and May hatched White Wyandottes (50 

 of each), I got $14.30 worth of eggs in November, 1903. In December of same year 

 they laid 1,141 eggs. In January, 1904, they laid 1,385, about 115 dozen. In 

 February they laid 1,393 eggs. The prices received per dozen were : Noyem- 



