14 THE POULTRY-BOOK. 



ance of promoting their multiplication, and by the encourage- 

 ment of the best sorts to add to the agricultural wealth of the 

 country. A vast amount of scientific information has been 

 accumulated, statistics have been accurately obtained, and such 

 facts have been amassed in respect to the best methods of feed- 

 ing and treatment, that poultry raising has been reduced to a 

 system, precise in its details and efficient in its operation. The 

 same spirit has recently been awakened in this country, and 

 the labors of those who have become interested in this subject 

 have brought to light many astonishing facts, and have given 

 an impetus to further investigation which promises the best 

 results. It is no longer universally true that fowls are raised 

 without care, or with a perfect indifference as to their kind. 

 The old notion, that fowls are an unprofitable stock to the 

 farmer, is exploded, by force of the demonstrations which have 

 been given that they may be made productive. The agricul- 

 tural census has proved that the raising of poultry ranks high 

 in value, as a branch of rural economy, and the astonishment 

 created by its results has been succeeded by a more careful 

 attention to the matter, as one in which the interests of a large 

 class of men are involved. It is now generally acknowledged 

 that, in proportion to the capital invested, the poultry-yard 

 will, if properly managed, contribute its full quota to the 

 aggregate profits of the farm. 



The statistics on this subject are doubtless imperfect, but 

 enough is known not only to excite wonder in the minds of 

 those who have given no attention to it, but to prove beyond 

 doubt that the value of poultry stock in the United States is a 

 very important item of the national wealth. The table below 

 exhibits the total valuation of poultry in the various states and 

 territories of the "Union in 1840, but it is probable that since 

 that time this valuation has nearly doubled. It is fair, at least, 

 to estimate that, at the present time, the value of this stock, in 



