402 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTjre. 



with now and then a meal of some sort of cooked foor"^. They should 

 have once or twice a week, some meat and some k^ .nd of vegetables. 

 There should alwavs be some dry ashes near the pou^^try-house for them 

 to wallow in, as it is good to keep them free from vf _,rmin. There should 

 be a box of lime or old mortar, and one of dry g'^nvel, where the hens 

 can get at it, especially in the winter season. Fowls over fat or lean 

 seldom lay. Food that will keep them in th^j best working trim, as is 

 said of the horse, is the best, and they sh'jnkl be fed regularly. The 

 variety of fowls that are the most profitalje to be kept is a matter of 

 some importance. If near large markets.^ where eggs could be shipped 

 without making the freight so high, then perhaps those that produced 

 the greatest number of eggs during th'j year would be the best variety 

 to keep. In most of our large cities die price of eggs is seldom, if ever, 

 below 25 cents per dozen, and often, as high as 40 cents, while the price 

 paid to the producer is seldom more than one-half that amount. There- 

 fore that variety should be seler^tcd that will produce the greatest num- 

 ber of eggs duriiDg the season of the year that they bring the highest 

 price, and, at the same time, Are of the most value for their meat. It is 

 generally conceded that for winter laying, and for meat for the table, 

 the light Brahma takes thd preference. Mr. Miller gives the following 

 illustrations of profit iu raising poultry : 



Mr. Nelson Eitter, of grr'-cuse, N. Y., in the first three months of 1869 received eggs 

 from' fifty-six hens, asf^'Jows: In January, 668; February, 891; March, 984; with 

 fourteen of the hens *»tti'jg from about the middle of the mouth. The eggs were sold 

 for $G6.93 • the expanse of keeping was S2G.13 ; the profit on eggs for three months 

 was $40.8o'. The iens were a cross of Brahmas. L. P. Trimble, of Newark, N. J., kept 

 for six months ending July 1, 1870, an average of eighteen heus and two cocks. They 

 produced 1 290 eggs, '/ hich, at market value, were worth $40.49. There were also 

 thirty-two M»roh chickens, worth July 1, $8, making the value of the product $48.49. 

 The cost of ^^'-^ ^*s $19.4i5 ; net profit for six months, $29.04, or $1.45 per fowl. 



Am^^o fli® other contents are full reports of all departments of the 

 Sj-cLe Agricultural College, and two addresses by its president, T. C. 

 ji.bbott ; one before the students, on manual labor, and an extended one 

 before the house of representatives, on agricultural education. 



Fomological. — The fourth annual report of the State Pomological So- 

 ciety, for the year 1874, constitutes a volume of upward of 500 pages. 

 Reports of the parent association and its auxiliaries give a most eucour- 

 aging view of the progress of pomology in this comparatively young 

 commonwealth. 



The president, George Parmelee, in his inaugural address, February 

 9, 1875, says : 



Is there any reasonable objection to specialties in countries where favorable pecu- 

 liarities fit them for the most profitable production I Is there any reasonable objection 

 to the State of Michigan making the most out of what nature has done for her ? If 

 there is, it will be hard for her farmers to see it while the money profit stands i>ronii- 

 nently before their eyes. There is no such objection. With our uucqualed water influ- 

 ences, with our location in the midst of the populous and wealthy Northern States, 

 and with profitable markets open to us on all sides, we shall drift more and more into 

 fruit production. Our fruit interest has already advanced to considerable {jroportions. 

 Starting from the old Dousman apple-orchard on Mackinaw Island, and the old French 

 apple and pear trees on Detroit Kiver, all seedlings, we have goue to net results of 

 many millions. Within the memory of some of us here our present great interest hj>a 

 grown from nothing. We have passed the day of wild speculation in fniit-lands, the 

 "belt" proving to be too wide a matter for speculation, as from center to circumfer- 

 ence various valuable fruits can be grown profitably. Our constantly increasing and 

 cheapening transportation facilities are opening to us a great number of good markets. 

 Our best-keeijing apples can go to Europe in good condition, and to Louisiana or Texas, 

 while the nearer eastern and western markets are ever ready to take the bulk of the 

 crop. Our peaches, pears, sweet cherries, and grapes do not have to go far for good 

 markets, and the increasing demand wiU admit of a very great increase of production. 



