S12 r.OAKD OF AGKICULTUKK 



POULTRY. 



MRS. JEFFERSON RAY, ROf'KPORT. 



[Read before tlie Spencer County Fiirmers' Institute.] 



My paper may not lit the topic assigned me very well, as I did 

 not know exactly what it was. I suppose so it is about "chickens" it 

 will be all right. The poultry question is one which interests most all 

 farmers and their wives— fanciers and cranks. You may bring together 

 any number of farmers or farmers' wives and it will not be long until 

 the chicken question will receive due consideration. Many questions will 

 be asked and answered and notes compared. Is it any wonder when we 

 realize the increased magnitude of this industry? 



The time of year is on when we may begin our work for next year; 

 and in what way could we do this in a better manner than to study our 

 work, make our plans, profit by our past experiences and learn new and 

 better metlrods by attending the Farmers' Institute? 



The State, realizing our needs, is ever i'eadj- to give us all help in 

 lier power to make us better citizens by making us prosperous and happy: 

 in other words, by educating us up to the best standard of citizenship, 

 hence she sends to us such men as we have with us today instructing us 

 in this business of poultry raising, together with other branches that may 

 prove of benefit to us in our daily vocation in life. These gentlemen come 

 to us prepared to give the best thoughts and perhaps more advanced ideas 

 than most of "we" farmer people have l)een in a position to gain other- 

 wise. To show our appreciation note the number present and the interest 

 taken. While we are, or at least the most of us, interested in poultry 

 raising, we do not consider that Ave get out of it all the profit there is 

 possible for us to get, nor do we consider our methods above the average. 



Mj'^ experience has not extended over more than twenty years. The 

 earlier part of that time I gave the poultry only such of my time and 

 thought as was necessary to supiily our own talile. It .is only the past 

 two years that I have kept a record. 



The question comes to us naturally whirli is the better jilanV To hatch 

 our chickens in the natural way or by use of the incubator? I have tried 

 the latter way for only two years and can not say that I have had 

 perfect success. Rut you well know how loth we are to parade our fail- 

 ures, rather would we talk of our successes. Now I realize that while 

 I am to some extent acquainted with my machine (which is a Victor), I 

 have many things to learn concerning its successful operation. Never- 

 theless I nm very much in favor of hatching chickens by use of the 

 incubator. First, because you ran keep the hens laying: second, because 



