POULTRY-FARMING. . 125 



POULTRY. 

 BRISTOL. 



[From the Report of the Committee.] 



Out of the hundred and ninety-seven coops on exhibition 

 there were very few which would not have done credit to 

 the intelligence and skill of their breeders. When we look 

 back to former exhibitions, and remember the many cages of 

 disqualified fowls, showing that their owners had hardly 

 learned the A B C of the science of careful breeding, the 

 contrast is a highly gratifying one ; for it shows that the 

 farmers of Bristol County have devoted brains as well as 

 time to the culture of this not unimportant department of 

 husbandry. 



The efforts of the many poultry societies, the seeds of 

 knowledge planted through the instrumentality of their 

 annual exhibitions, and the high standard of excellence de- 

 manded by them in their specialties, have done much to 

 bring about the results which have been brilliantly illustrated 

 to-day. It is beginning to be acknowledged that it pays to 

 give serious attention to this department of rural economy, 

 that pure bred fowls — commanding higher prices than mon- 

 grels, and certain to produce chickens which will retain and 

 transmit the superior merits of their progenitors — cost no 

 more to raise, and are greatly more remunerative, than aijp 

 the accidental crosses, which may or may not have the quali- 

 ties of their parents. 



THE VALUE OF THE POULTRY PRODUCT OF BRISTOL CO. 



The aggregate value of the poultry product is no insig- 

 nificant one. The following statistics, gleaned from the 

 State census of 1875, will be found interesting : — 



The aggregate value of live poultry was 196,305 ; the coun- 

 ty also furnished the same year, of dressed poultry, 103,183 



