No. 4.] 



POULTRY CULTURE. 



251 



this kind. Again, chicks grown under farm conditions are apt 

 to be more vigorous than those grown in a more intensive way. 

 Instead of farmers buying breeding males year after year, they 

 should be selling large, strong, vigorous birds to those who are 

 obliged to grow stock under less favorable conditions. The 

 natural food obtained by poultry on free range and the manner 

 of getting it are important factors in raising good stock. Noth- 

 ing would increase the size and vigor of the stock throughout 

 the country any more than a larger output of farm-raised breed- 

 ing stock. Many advertisers are now using the statement that 

 "all our poultry are farm raised." Of course it goes without 

 saying that most farmers would have to select their breeding 

 stock more carefully than at present. 



The following data were sent me by a farmer's wife in this 

 State, with the statement that a portion of the corn and wheat 

 fed was produced on the farm : — 



Table 4. — Four Years^ Record from Farm Flock. 



Back-yard Poultry Keeping. 



I believe back-yard poultrymen make a greater profit for the 

 amount of money expended than any other class of poultry 

 keepers. They have an advantage in having a portion of the 

 feed for their poultry furnished in the form of table scraps, 

 either from their own table or from that of their neighbors, 

 and they usually sell their products at a special retail price. 

 In addition to these, the amount of time spent in caring for 

 their poultry is not valuable, as this work is considered a side 

 line with them, and the cost of their equipment usually does not 

 exceed a few dollars. Again, a small flock in the back yard 

 makes a very good training school for larger future operations. 



