June, 1932] Electricity on New England Farms 31 



farm, but by 1930 it had developed to be one of the largest poultry 

 plants in the state. 



While it may be doubtful that this growth is due to the stimulus of 

 electrification, the owner states that the farm would not have reached 

 the position it holds today if it had not been served by electricity. 

 Furthermore, the development and growth in this case has had a very 

 marked and evident effect on other farms in the surrounding section. 



The following description gives the conditions and size of business 

 from 1925 to 1927 : 



Three to four-man farm. Family of five adults and one child. Twelve 

 room house, three story poultry barn, machinery storage barn, four laying 

 houses, 21 brooder houses, repair shop, pump house and ice house. 184 

 acres, of which 70 are tillable. 2,600 laying hens, 15,000 broilers, and an 

 annual hatch of 20,000 chicks, 3 horses, 1 cow, 1 delivery truck, 1 pleasure 

 car, modern machinery, 6,000-egg incubator using coal-hot water heat. 450 

 apple trees. Broilers and fresh eggs shipped to Boston and New York. 

 Farm two miles from town. Buildings wired over 10 years without extra 

 line cost. Transformer of 10 K. V. A. 



Equipment. Light Circuit Equipment: Wiring house and buildings; House 

 lights, 40 outlets; Barn lights, 20 outlets; Washing machine; Percolator; 

 Curling iron; Toaster; Sewing machine motor; Radiant heater; Vacuum 

 cleaner. 



Heat Circuit Equipment: Kitchen range; Household refrigeration; Ironer; 

 Hot water heater; Flat iron. 



Power Circuit Equipment: Motor drive for water pump; Feed mixer and 

 elevator. 



In 1928, 80 acres were added to the farm, bringing the total to 264 

 acres. By this purchase the apple trees in bearing became 750-800 in- 

 stead of 450. The hay tonnage developed to 100 tons a year. A 

 15,000-egg electric incubator was purchased and installed and the cap- 

 acity of the original 6,000-egg machine (coal-hot water heated) was 

 increased to 10,800 by the addition of another deck and added length. 

 This produced a capacity of 25,800 chicks at a hatch. Two hatches 

 with this equipment produced 50,000 baby chicks. 4,000 laying hens 

 were carried and 20,000 broilers raised. The man power was increased 

 to four full-time men. 



In 1929 a new brooding plant (120' x 32') to accommodate 4,000 

 chicks was constructed, heated by hot water. The stock carried was 

 increased to 75,000 baby chicks and 5,000 laying hens, but the broiler 

 production remained at 20,000. During this year another 15,000-egg 

 electric incubator was purchased, making the total capacity 40,800 

 chicks per hatch. 



At the beginning of 1930 there were 6,500 laying hens but this num- 

 ber was later cut back to 5,000. The baby chick and broiler business 

 remained the same as the previous year. 



The capacity of the entire plant in 1931 was 165,000 baby chicks, 11,- 

 000 layers and 30,000 broilers. As compared with 1925 this repre- 

 sents over 300% increase in laying hens, 100% increase in broiler 

 production and 725% increase in baby chicks hatched. 



No additions to the foregoing listed household equipment have been 

 made. The equipment added to the farmstead operations brings the 

 total number of appliances up to 23 and consists of two 15,000-egg 



