Christmas Dinners from Hill County. 



petition annually for the large cash premiums, thus stimulating the poultry business 

 of the state. There is a constantly increasing demand for the standard bred fowls 

 and some of the best birds at the Fair bring fancy prices. 



The Montana legislature, at its last regular session, appropriated $1,000 a year 

 to be used by the State Board of Poultry Husbandry for the advancement of the 

 industry. The county fairs are doing a great deal to foster and stimulate the indus- 

 try, through the education of the people who attend and witness the exhibits. The 

 Montana State college at Bozeman has a poultry department where the students are 

 given practical instruction in the breeding and care of poultry. 



Good Turkey State. 



The dry climate of Montana is especially favorable to the raising of turkeys 

 in the growing stage and the grain stubble and grass range furnish them an abundance 

 of food for fattening in the fall. There is a good market for turkeys and a number 

 are shipped out of the state annually. The market price in Montana is from twenty- 

 five to thirty-five cents a pound at Thanksgiving time and during the holidays. The 

 number of turkeys raised annually shows a rapid increase. 



Ducks and geese are raised in large numbers in the state each year and bring 

 good prices on the holiday market. Many of the better breeds are now quite univers- 

 ally raised and each year the State Fair has an attractive exhibit of these fowl. 



Large Annual Income. 



That the income from poultry is large each year is shown by the report of 

 the census of 1910, the latest available statistics on poultry in Montana. The total 

 number of fowls in the state was given as 966,690 with a valuation of $628,436. The 

 eggs produced that year numbered 6,004,051 with a market value of $1,610,766. The 

 fowls raised for market amounted to 1,432,741 at a total value of $797 450. With the 

 much larger population on the farms today and the greatly increased price of both 

 eggs and dressed poultry it is estimated that the annual income from this source in 

 1918 is practically double that of 1910. 



