284 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



I have mucli plea.-;ure in testifs'ing to the ability and zeal displayed by my assist- 

 ant manager, Mr. Fortier. His skill in the manipulation of the breeding stock and 

 his care and success in the operation of the incubators and brooders were most marked. 

 As a result of the latter, many details of value are embraced in this report. 



Mr. George Deavey, I am happy to say, has shown interest and displayed energy 

 in the discharge of his duties, with which, from long experience, he is now so well 

 acquaint-ed. 



There were erected during this season, in addition to the poultry house mentioned, 

 a temporary incubator room; colony houses of different sizes and design; brooders for 

 incubators; trap nests, &c.. (fcc. Two incubators of different patterns were also pro- 

 cured. 



During the year addresses were delivered by the writer at Meaford, Winnipeg 

 and at different points in Cape Breton, N.S. 



Mr. Fortier delivered 43 addresses at meetings held throughout the province of 

 Quebec during the months of January and February last. In March he attended a 

 poultr3- show at St. Jerome, and another in August at Ayer's Flat. In August 

 and September he attended poultry exhibits at Sherbrooke, Richmond and Ottawa. 

 In the latter case the exhibit was made, during the month of September, at the annual 

 fall show of the Central Canada Association, and consisted of an unusually attractive 

 and instructive display, which elicited much appreciative comment. 



Inquiry, both by letter and person during the year, in relation to all branches 

 of poultry -keeping was greater than ever. It may be taken as a fair instance of the 

 gratifying development that is rapidly taking place in the poultry branch of farm 

 work, and which our experimental work is so well calculated to advance. 



I have the honour to be, sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



A. G. GILBERT. 



Before giving an account of the work of the past year it may be interesting and 

 profitable to discuss certain features of poultry development which have made them- 

 selves evident during that period. It is gratifying to note that the poultry branch of 

 farm work continues to make steady and satisfactory progress. Where fowls of the 

 utility types are kept progress has been most rapid, and as a sequence of proper fowls 

 and their good management results are satisfactory, because remunerative. Perhaps 

 in no previous year has development in the more advanced phases of poultry-keeping 

 been more apparent, more discussed and more inquired into than in the past twelve 

 months. It may be asked what is meant by advanced phases of poultry-keeping ? 



ADVANCED PHASES OF POULTRY-KEEPIXG. 



By advanced phases of poultry-keeping are meant the thorough understanding of 

 and putting into practice such methods of up-to-date management as experience has 

 shown to be best calculated to enable producers to fill the requirements of the different 

 markets of to-day t-o their greatest profit. A thorough and practical appreciation, 

 then, of latest methods of management, as well as of the requirements of the maiket, 

 is very necessary to success. Producers should realize that methods of poultry-keep- 

 ing change from time to time, as do the requirements of the markets, and always in 

 the way of advancement. It is to the advantage of producers to study the different 

 features of the markets they are catering to. The city markets of to-day differ from 

 those of even three and four years ago. There is an ever increasing call, from both 



