NATURE AND USES OF POULTRY 



II 



estimated, bring just about enough l to pay for dressing the birds 

 and for the preparation of the feathers for market. 



Services of poultry in agriculture. The possibilities of making 

 poultry work are only beginning to be duly appreciated. For 

 centuries poultry on farms have been kept about the dwelling and 

 outbuildings, where a limited number might be tolerated, but with 

 efforts to keep a large stock, or to keep several kinds together, 

 they usually became a nuisance. Gradually farmers have been 

 learning that, with a proper distribution of poultry on the farm, 

 larger stocks can be kept at relatively less cost and with much 

 better results. Some of the characteristics of poultry most objection- 

 able when the stock is allowed to concentrate near the dwelling and 

 is not kept under restraint are most useful when properly directed. 



Of poultry in general it may be said that, more than any other 

 kind of domestic live stock, they can be made of service to the 

 husbandman, because of the extent to which they can be kept on 

 land occupied by crops, not only without damaging the crops, but 

 with benefit to them and improvement to the land. 



Recreation in poultry culture. Poultry minister to the pleasure 

 of man in various ways. Many flocks are kept " to look at " either 

 because of their general attractiveness as living figures in the land- 

 scape, or because of their peculiar attractiveness to their owner. 

 In these uses poultry satisfy a rather passive interest. Active 

 interest in poultry kept for recreation is almost invariably closely 

 associated with the desire of man to improve the products of 

 nature. A bird which he regards as of exceptional merit is valued 

 by the poultry fancier more as a product of his skill than as a thing 

 in itself beautiful. The breeder of pit gamecocks is insensible to 

 the brutality of the sport, because it is to him the necessary test of 

 fighting quality and courage brought to their highest development 

 by his skill in breeding and handling his birds. 



1 While this is the common opinion, and may still be right for most cases, at 

 some places the cost of picking has increased of recent years faster than the 

 price of feathers. 



