No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 293 



aud care lor the tliorouglibred or I'ancy poultry when once you have 

 the stock, than for the mongrel, and, financially, they lead; for with 

 a little *'ad" in even yonr county paper you can sell a goodly number 

 for breeders and exhibitions; also eggs for hatching. I'.wt be sure 

 you have what you advertise, a No. 1 stock. 



The satisfaction of having fine thoroughbred stock is no small item 

 with me. Remember tlie best fancy stock to be found in the United 

 States is grown by farmers. In other words, farm grown stock, 

 other conditions being equal, is considered best. Of course in pro- 

 curing a start in thoroughbred fowls, long prices are often asked and 

 you must use judgment in buying, but buy of a good reliable breeder, 

 and be willing to pay a fair price for good birda 



The poultry business is no small industry in the United States; it is 

 one of the greatest. The present annual value of the poultry product 

 will not vary far from 1500,000,000. Our American poultry earns 

 enough each year to buy all the gold and silver taken yearly in our 

 mines, all the sheep and wool, and yet have enough reserved to pay 

 the interest on our mortgaged indebtedness. There is little doubt 

 if all poultry were properly housed and fed to i>roduce to the full ca- 

 pacity, the egg production would be nearly double the present out- 

 put. 



And now a few thoughts for your note-book, and we will leave the 

 subject for your present and future consideration. 



Introduce new blood among the poultry. 



In stormy weather hens should be kept indoors. 



Do not let the hens run in the snow. 



Give the fowls especial care during the moulting season. 



Oil meal will assist and hasten the moulting process. 



Do not expect to get good thoroughbred poultry for six cents per 

 pound. 



Keep the hen-house clean and sweet. 



Hens should have food and drink at regular intervals. 



Treat your fowls gently and they will be tame and look to you for 

 kindness. 



Save all the droppings for future use. 



Give your fowls plenty of room; save crowding. 



Keep the roosts saturated with kerosene. 



Keep the hen-house free from lice, and the hens also. 



Feed salt very sparingly; large amounts often prove fatal to 

 them. 



Save your second crop clover; cut it up and feed with an admixture 

 of bran. 



Do not forget a supply of fresh water; an egg is nine-tenths water. 



