430 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



can keep their farm productive, as a productive farm is a farmer's 

 best bauk account. A\^e tind many farmers, who are prejudiced 

 against poultry-keeping and if they keep it at all it is in a half- 

 hearted way, never giving the same careful attention they give 

 their other stock; it is merely a side-issue with them. We do not 

 believe this of all farmers, but it is surely true of a majority of 

 them. If they would give this branch of farm stock their especial 

 attention, they would find it a more profitable and agreeable occu- 

 pation that of the dairy. In giving the value of poultry products 

 there is an important item that has not been mentionc^d in my for- 

 mer remarks, and for which they have not been credited; that is, 

 the manure. The value of this cannot be questioned, as it contains 

 fully double the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash that is con- 

 tained in any other barnyard manure, and when properly taken 

 care of, by keeping it dry so that none of its fertilizing properties 

 are lost by exposure to the weather. This will allow of their being 

 ground, or, by some other method, reduced almost to a powder, in 

 which condition it can be much better applied to crops, or spread 

 over grass land. Prepared and used in this way it would be of much 

 value as the best commercial fertilizer, and wlien produced on the 

 farm is certainly much cheaper. We think it would pay very nearly 

 the cost of keeping the fowls, thus adding greatl}^ to the profits 

 derived from their egg and meat products. 



Poultry is of special value when kept in connection with fruit, 

 as each is an advantage to the other. Poultry, including young 

 and growing chicks, will thrive much better where they have the 

 advantage of good shade, such as fruit trees would give them. 

 Plums, peaches and pears will produce much finer fruit and in lar- 

 ger quantities where fowls are kept with them, as they destroy 

 many of the insects that are so injurious to them. My experience 

 has been that plum trees planted in poultry-yards are sure bearers 

 of the finest developed fruit. On small farms a combination of 

 fruits and fowls, each given their proper attention, will produce 

 better paying results, with less laborious work, than any other 

 live stock coupled with farm crops. 



If what I have said will lead any of you to consider the special 

 benefit they might derive from an increased interest in and the 

 careful attention to the breeding of poultry, in connection with 

 their other farm industries, and by this means add a considerable 

 increase to their incomes, I will have talked to some purpose. 



The CHAIR: What is your pleasure in reference to this paper 

 that you have just heard read? 



PROF. SURFACE: I move its acceptance and that it be placed 

 on file. 



The motion having been seconded, it was agreed to. 



The CHAIR: The next thing in order is, "Poultry at the St. Louis 

 Exposition," by Mr. Charles T. Cornman. 



Mr. Cornman read the following paper: 



