PREFACE 



THERE need be no apologies for new poultry books. The 

 industry is important, the poultry constituency large, and 

 one poultry book representing the finding of one author 

 would hardly be presumed to meet all demands. In these 

 days of progress in the science, if it may be so called, of 

 poultry husbandry, it is imperative that new compilations 

 be made and new books published at frequent ' intervals, 

 that the poultry keeper may receive the benefit of early 

 knowledge of new discoveries. 



The remarkable development of poultry culture during 

 the past two decades is one of the outstanding features of 

 American agriculture. Twenty years ago the possibilities 

 of poultry-keeping as an industry were scarcely dreamed 

 of. While it does not yet receive the consideration it 

 deserves far from it nevertheless it has made immense 

 gains both in popular recognition and in production. This 

 has been brought about by a better realization of the pro- 

 ductive value of the hen. The idea of "fuss and feathers," 

 long associated with the keeping of fowls, has gradually 

 given way to the idea of a poultry industry whose first 

 and only business, as an industry, is the production of 

 eggs and meat. 



With the development of the industry, there has been a 

 growing demand for information dealing with practical 

 problems of production. The poultry producer has his 

 full share of problems. It must be confessed that the 

 available literature has been insufficient and fragmentary. 

 This lack, however, is being rapidly filled, and, as a result, 

 in all parts of the country, there are now examples of sue- 



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