CHAPTER XIV 

 POULTRY KEEPING AND BEEKEEPING 



What are the differences in the care required 

 for keeping poultry and keeping bees ? 



POULTRY KEEPING 



Extent of industry. The real extent of the poultry in- 

 dustry in this country is not appreciated because it is divided 

 among so many people, each doing only a small business ; 

 but the aggregate is large. The value of the annual poultry 

 product on farms alone was estimated in 1890 to be about 

 $300,000,000 ; and the amount for the entire country must 

 have been considerably more. At the present time the 

 value of the annual products may be said to be approxi- 

 mately a half billion dollars. 



Use of small areas. While but few people devote their 

 entire time to poultry keeping as a business, it is an industry 

 which can be adapted to almost any requirements, from 

 the small yard which will allow the keeping of only a few 

 hens to the large poultry farm. It may be made a source 

 of food for the family or of income under many conditions 

 where only a small amount of time can be devoted to it. 

 The business can be started on a small scale with little 

 outlay of capital and gradually be increased to whatever 

 extent one desires. In fact, it is better to begin on a small 

 scale till one acquires experience. Successful poultry rais- 

 ing demands experience and attention to details rather than 

 strength for most of the work, so with a little assistance for the 

 heavier work it may easily be managed by girls and women. 



A good market at profitable prices can always be found 



214 



