296 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE.. 



had been only ordinarily successful in raising his chickens, there 

 must have been a much handsomer profit. As it is, there would 

 have been absolutely none at all but for the improvement of the 

 breed. 



The wonder, considering the limited space at command, is, 

 that they did half as well, and with an ordinary mongrel breed 

 that there would have been positive loss there can be no doubt. 

 We shall be greatly surprised if the results of the present year, 

 with his improved stock, do not greatly exceed those of last 

 year. 



It seems to be the general opinion among farmers that the 

 chief profit to be made from poultry is in their egg-producing 

 qualities, and this, except in exceptional cases, is no doubt true. 

 But in order to place all upon an equality, every one who is 

 anxious to improve breeds of poultry should exert his influence 

 to get a law passed by the legislature, compelling the sale of 

 eggs by weight. Nothing can be fairer than this method, and 

 scarcely anything is more directly the reverse than the prevail- 

 ing custom of selling them by the dozen. Take, for instance, 

 as one of the most prolific breeds, the Houdan, a hardy, vigor- 

 ous bird, which rarely if ever sets. They lay eggs so large that 

 many would say they must be double-yolked. Eight or nine 

 of these eggs will weigh quite as much as an ordinary dozen 

 from fowls whose weight is considerably greater. This is the 

 case to a less degree with Leghorns, Hamburgs and other egg- 

 producing breeds. Yet here is a certain superiority for which 

 the breeder gets no return, and it is consequently for the inter- 

 est of farmers to keep fowls which lay comparatively small eggs, 

 but have larger bodies, so that when killed they can realize a 

 larger profit. This subject is so important for the interest of 

 all concerned, consumers as well as producers, that we hope to 

 see a united effort made by all the agricultural societies of the 

 State, as well as poultry associations, to get such a law as indi- 

 cated above, passed by our legislature. 



The only class who might oppose it are perhaps the middle- 

 men, and the fewer of these for the true interests of the farmer 

 the better. When the day arrives in which the farmer can real- 

 ize retail as well as wholesale profits, agriculture will be a far 

 more profitable profession than it now is. 



Improvement of Coops.— One of the most note-worthy points 



