1890.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 239 



measured. The hogs, working upon the manure piles, are 

 being perfected with the one thought of making pork at a 

 profit, even tliough the price received be low. The farmer's 

 income must come from the productions of the farm, and 

 there is to-day no escape from a study of the worth and cost 

 of production. 



How can poultry-keeping be made profitable? By the 

 application of the same laws as govern elsewhere, — by 

 Jiuoivim/ that the cost of production is below the price 

 received. 



Symmetrical trees, fine-limbed and beautiful Jerseys, 

 large and well-proportioned sheep, pedigree in hogs, beauty 

 and blood in horses, and perfection of markings in poultry, 

 all these must give way to biusiness, in agriculture. No 

 man places a higher estimate on these points than I ; but 

 there is a higher test, a great, controlling question of profit 

 or loss ; and to the individual farmer, struggling in the cur- 

 rent, battling against the sharp competition of to-day, this is 

 the question calling for solution. It is this one supreme 

 test which will bring out the true metal and gladden our 

 ears with its merry ring. 



I want to-day to weigh and measure what I have to say 

 in the scales and measures of the farmer, dependent on his 

 lands, flocks and herds for his su[)port. The fancier can 

 pursue any path he chooses, but with the great majority the 

 question of bread and butter is uppermost. Therefore, 

 while as a breeder recognizing all that can be claimed for 

 blood, color or markings, I would bring another standard, 

 and measure the poultry industry in the light of possible 

 profits for the breeder looking entirely to the open market 

 for the sale of his poultry and eggs. 



For present excellence we are indebted to the specialists 

 who have probed to the very centre the problem of life 

 and its wonderful powers of transmission. No stronger 

 proof of the good work they have accomplished can any- 

 where be found, than may be seen in the poultry yards. I 

 present this thought first, because it is absolutely necessary 

 that we realize the steps leading to present standards, else 

 we shall surely fail of maintaining our position. 



The magnificent specimen seen to-day, weighing eight to 



