72 A-NNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



PIGS AND POULTRY. 



Especially fruitful results have been obtained in increasing the 

 production of pigs and poultry. The campaign for pork production 

 was planned for an increase of 15 per cent in 1918 over 1917, to meet 

 the needs as estimated by the Food Administration. Activities in 

 the fall of 1917 were designed to stimulate the increased breeding of 

 sows, while during the spring of 1918 efforts were made to save as 

 high a proportion of the young pigs as possible. The response has 

 been good and conditions favorable, and while full and accurate 

 returns for the calendar year are not yet available, the indications 

 are that the desired increase will be realized, at least in weight if 

 not m numbers. 



The poultry campaign reached every part of the country and al- 

 ready has brought large results. The slogans ^ Hatch Your Chickens 

 Early" and "One Hundred Hens on Every Farm, One Hundred Eggs 

 from Every Hen" have been followed to a noticeable extent. The 

 same is true of the appeals to people in towns and cities to keep 

 small back-yard flocks, thereby utilizing table scraps for the pro- 

 duction of poultry and eggs for home consumption. People also 

 have been urged to preserve eggs during the season of plenty, to be 

 consumed in time of scarcity, and printed directions for preserving 

 eggs in water-glass solution and in limewater were widely circu- 

 lated. It is known that enormous quantities of eggs have been pre- 

 served in these ways. Other features of the poultry campaign were 

 the advocacy of the production of infertile eggs to avoid losses from 

 spoilage, and of the early marketing of surplus cockerels so as to 

 promote the production of infertile eggs and the conservation of grain. 

 Poultry raisers have been advised also to give more attention to the 

 quahty, breeding, and selection of fowls and to grow as much poultry 

 feed for their own use as possible. The eating of more poultry and 

 eggs has been encouraged so as to reduce meat consumption and re- 

 lease a larger quantity of meat for shipment overseas. 



In the pork and poultry increases the boys' and girls' pig and poul- 

 try clubs have had a creditable share. 



BEEF CATTLE AND SHEEP. 



For the production of beef, stockmen in aU parts of the country 

 have been urged to carry sufficient numbers of cattle to make the 

 fullest possible use of pastures and roughages that otherwise would go 

 to waste. Cattle feeders have been shown how to save grain for 

 human consumption by substituting other feeds for their stock. 

 Assistance was given in the transfer of about 150,000 cattle from 

 drought-stricken areas in Texas to States lying to the east, where 

 feed was plentiful. Efforts have been continued to bring about the 

 raising of more cattle in the areas freed from ticks. 



Sheep husbandry was included in the program for increased pro- 

 duction. The emergency work .has consisted in arousing greater in- 

 terest in sheep raising, giving assistance to prospective raisers in ob- 

 taining satisfactory stock and equipment, discouraging the slaughter 

 of useful breeding ewes, and assisting farmers in preparing their wool 

 for market. 



