38 POULTRY FARMING 



In Belgium poultry keeping is carried on to a relatively im- 

 portant extent. The intensive methods characteristic of Belgian 

 farmers are in vogue. Large numbers of young birds are fattened 

 for export trade, and recently the production of eggs for export 

 has taken a rapid stride forward. The egg industry has been 

 increased by importing from Italy thousands upon thousands of 

 young pullets, mostly Leghorns, at from three to five months of 

 age. These are kept entirely for the purpose of securing a lot of 

 eggs in a short time for export trade. 



The German Empire is not a heavy producer of eggs nor poultry, 

 but imports large quantities from Russia and Italy. 



Denmark has shown the same unequaled success in her poultry 

 work which has been characteristic of all her agricultural endeavors. 



FIG. 28. A typical Danish poultry house. A roosting room is at each end with a glass- 

 front scratching shed between. Brick is commonly used. 



During the ten years from 1890 to 1900 the number of birds more 

 than doubled. At the beginning of that period egg production 

 was practically nonexistent. The Danes are noted for coopera- 

 tion, and their poultry industry has been greatly benefited by the 

 organization of poultry societies, which help the farmers to secure 

 better markets. As a consequence they have introduced what is 

 undoubtedly the most perfect system of grading and crating, as 

 well as a system of marketing in the shortest possible time. Up 

 to the present time market poultry has not received a prominent 

 place in their industry; but they have proven themselves capable 

 of such wonderful development and organization that it is impos- 

 sible to foretell what they will accomplish in the future (Figs. 

 28 and 29). 



Italy does not hold the place in the world's poultry keeping 



