No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 217 



weight, and if desired, be marketed before Thanksgiving, which for 

 the small grower, is the better thing to do, as poultry will, to a 

 great extent, supplant the use of pork, from this until after holi- 

 days. 



Poultry in all its various branches is grown in this section of the 

 State to considerable extent; and usually finds a good market. But 

 the amount raised in sections adjacent to our large market centres 

 would be inadequate to the demand were it not for the vast numbers 

 shipped from other localities. As we gaze upon the tons of poul 

 try found in the Pittsburg market during the holiday season, we 

 naturally inquire. What will be done with all this? But it is all 

 disposed of and room made for more. And here, again, early mar- 

 keting is essential on the part of the farmer and small grower. And 

 in this connection the condition of the Ohio river becomes interest- 

 ing. A rise will bring boat loads of poultry from points below, and 

 they are dumped upon the market, often causing a glut for the time 

 being. And if a good stage coutiuues, it will have a depressing in- 

 fluence upon the market. Hence the importance of local growers 

 marketing early. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



From much of the foregoing, the old and trite conclusion is again 

 forced upon us, that no class of people is more given to rush from 

 one branch of our industry to another than we Americans are. At 

 a time when one line of our products is depressed and yielding little 

 more, or perhaps less than the cost of production, some other com- 

 modity is enjoying a lucrative period. Then there is a rush from the 

 one to the other, irrespective of the cost. And we are sure to aban- 

 don the one at a sacrifice and equip for the other at boom prices. 



We are aware that our worthy Secretary of Agriculture is an 

 advocate of specialties, and -^e have all respect for his good judg- 

 ment, yet we are constrained to say, that in our experience a system 

 of mixed husbandry is better adapted to the wants of the ordinary 

 farmer than specialties. There has never been a time when we were 

 not able to realize fair prices from at least one commodity and thus 

 relieve the stringency of our money supply, and perhaps enable us to 

 hold some other product for a better market. But we are compelled 

 to recognize the fact that not every one can divide his attention 

 among many lines of agriculture, either from lack of taste or quali- 

 fications. So, first of all, it is important to carefully study ourselves, 

 and know what we are fit for. Then carefully study our business, 

 and pursue it with as high a degree of intelligence as we can com- 

 mand, and not neglect to cultivate good staying qualities with our- 

 selves. 



During the recent years of depression, there was never a better 



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