No. 123.] REPORT OF COMMISSIONER. 9 



ers in the State, and has been the means of greatly improving 

 the quality of poultry both in constitutional vigor and pro- 

 duction. Again, a great many flocks during the past few 

 years have been tested for bacillary white diarrhea, so the 

 poultry breeders in the State are in better position to-day to 

 distribute stock of quality than ever before. On the eve of 

 this period of expansion in our poultry industry we find the 

 work in competent hands, therefore the producers will be able 

 to resist more effectively waves of adverse economic conditions. 

 In view of these facts, we consider that the poultry industry 

 of our State is on a sound business basis. There was a decided 

 recovery the past year in some sections of the State, but in 

 others there was apparently no increase. Our valuable soft 

 roaster business on the South Shore was wiped out by war 

 conditions, and the commercial duck farms were badly crippled. 

 The latter made gains the past year, but the former has shown 

 no revival. However, if all signs are true, the rebound in 

 every line of poultry keeping will be much greater from now on. 

 The following facts show that the tendency of production 

 the coming year will be upward : — 



1. Feed prices are lower; always a stimulating factor. 



2. We are in the midst of an industrial depression and labor is shifting. 



3. The success of poultr3anen who staj'ed in the business will encourage 

 others. 



4. College men and others in the instructional field are leaving to take 

 up commercial work. 



5. The requests for managers of poultry farms are increasing. 



6. Our general correspondence indicates a wave of interest in poultry 

 keeping. 



7. There is an increased enrollment in poultry courses offered by edu- 

 cational institutions. 



8. Feed dealers and poultry supply houses report a favorable outlook. 



9. A prominent poultrjTiian plans to put 40,000 chicks in his brooders 

 this season; an increase of nearly 200 per cent over last year. 



10. At a meeting of baby chick producers at the Boston show, Decem- 

 ber 28, 1920, to January 1, 1921, a poll taken showed that 9 of those pres- 

 ent were planning to put out a total of 1,000,000 chicks this year. 



11. Producers of baby chicks report larger orders on their books at 

 this time than in previous years. 



12. The price of eggs and poultry the past season has been high. 



13. An abundant supply of milk, ^\■ith lower price of same, will enable 

 poultrymen to use skim milk or buttermilk for feeding chicks. 



