520 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



is there a breed of improved stock which will endure the hardships 

 that are required of the now existing wild forms; and yet, one hears 

 hardihood talked of as a most desirable quality. We must not fail 

 to distinguish between health and hardihood. Great hardihood nec- 

 essarily means limited production; limited production means little 

 or no profit. The most profitable animal machines are those which 

 will consume and turn to good use the greatest amount of food and 

 expend all their energies in producing desirable products. If this 

 be true, is not the neglectful poultryman, who cares largely for 

 plumage, a hindrance to the great poultry industry of the country? 

 If neglect induces hardihood, then he who bestows the best care is 

 tending to produce the most remunerative breed or race of fowls. 

 Discomfort and economical productions are never closely associated. 

 Improved care and food have ever been potent factors in the im- 

 provement of domesticated animals. It is a significant fact that all 

 noted breeders have been skillful feeders. As care and food have so 

 largely made the many useful breeds of which we may well be proud, 

 so is it necessary to bestow equal care if improvement is to be main- 

 tained. 



I am sure that evary thoughtful poultryman desires to improve 

 his stock. He knows that it is susceptible of improvement and that 

 he can improve it if he but take the pains and bestow the necessary 

 care. Whatever way we may eventually drift, I am sure that I 

 voice the sentiment of every one present when I say that it is our 

 desire to so care for our fowls that we may at least leave them as 

 good as we found them. 



The CHAIRMAN: The closing topic on our program for this even- 

 ing is "Barn Ventilation," by H. E. Cook, of New York. We shall 

 now be pleased to hear from Mr. Cook. 



The SECRETARY: Mr. Chairman, I want to say, through the 

 Chair, to Mr. Cook that you have the cream of the audience; you 

 know they are the people who always stay until the end; these are 

 the people who really want to know, so you must not conclude that 

 it is not worth while to do your best. 



The address of Mr. Cook was as follows : 



BARN VENTILATION. 



By H. K. Cook, Denmark, N. Y. 



I want to tell you a little experience I had that this small audience 

 brings out, a number of years ago in my earlier institute exper- 

 ience. I was at an institute where the attendance was very small; I 

 think perhaps there were a dozen in the room, there was a gen- 

 tlemen present who was very popular in our State, a member of our 

 State Legislature, a man who had been instrumental in helping in 

 the carrying out of our agricultural legislation. I was hesitating 

 somewhat as to whether it would be worth while to go on, and he 

 says, Young man, I want you to understand that I am just as much 



