118 ON POULTRY. 



Adam Nesmith, Beverly, mixed breeds of hens, 1 00 



Daniel Putnam, Danvers, a good lot barn yard fowls, do. 1 00 



The Committee were much gratified by the exhibition of so large 

 a variety, and such good specimens of the different breeds of fowls. 

 Within a few years past, much attention has been paid to this sub- 

 ject throughout the county, and the improvement of the various 

 breeds is beginning to assume the importance it deserves. 



The domestic cock was formerly considered by ornothologists to 

 be a species of the pheasant ; they now, however, separate it from 

 that tribe, and make a distinct genus, under the name of G-alluSy 

 the latin word for a cock. 



It is not our intention at this time to go into a description of the 

 origin of this useful bird, which was known, and has been held in 

 estimation from the remotest period of antiquity ; our present pur- 

 pose is, to offer some statistics, which will show the value of this in- 

 terest to the community ; some description of the best known varie- 

 ties of fowls ; and some general rules respecting their rearing and 

 management. 



In an article which appeared in the Daily Evening Transcript, 

 published at Boston, November 9th, 1849, the writer says: 



"By reference to the Agricultural statistics of the United States, 

 published in 1840, it will be seen that the value of poultry in the 

 state of New York, was two millions, three hundred and seventy- 

 three thousand and twenty nine dollars ; which was more than the 

 value of all the swine in the same state ; nearly equal to one half the 

 value of its sheep ; the entire value of its neat cattle, and nearly five 

 times the value of its horses and mules." By the same statistics it 

 also appears that the '"value of poultry in all the states and territo- 

 ries of the Union, was twelve millions one hundred and seventy-six 

 thousand one hundred and seventy dollars. 



The value of all the poultry in the Union, at the present time, 

 must be much greater, not only from the increased population of our 

 country, but more particularly from the general interest which is felt 

 in this branch of domestic economy. 



In the article in the Transcript, above referred to, the writer fur- 

 ther says, — "The amount of sales of poultry, at the Quincy market, 

 for the year 1848, was six hundred seventy-four thousand, four hun-'» 

 dred and twenty-three dollars ; the average sales of one dealer 

 alone, amoimting to twelve hundred dollars per week, for the whole 



