POULTRY. 205 



required height ; insert the ends in tliese holes, tack with small 

 nails, and you have a handsome, cheap and durable article. 



A few words, regarding the status of the poultry business, we 

 think may be of interest. 



Since the advent of the long, gaunt, ungainly Siianghai into 

 this country, there have been imported between sixty and seventy 

 varieties of hens, eight varieties of turkeys, nine of geese and 

 seven of ducks, for which premiums have been offered by the 

 various societies in this interest ; yet with all this improvement 

 in breed, not one pafticle of real statistical information regard- 

 ing their exact paying value exists. This is in part owing to 

 the fact that, before importation, little interest was taken in 

 fowls outside of the supply of home wants, and that since then, 

 fanciers have seized upon every fresh arrival to propagate for 

 fancy. 



It is time now that we should ascertain the true market value 

 of some of these fine birds, that we may know which to select 

 for permanent keeping. In furtherance of this object, we wish 

 five or six interested gentlemen, selecting different breeds, 

 would open with them a strict business account for two years, 

 reporting at the end of that time to this society, charging 

 them with first cost, hen-house and all other appliances, food, 

 and interest on money invested ; contra with eggs, poultry, 

 manure, value of stock and fixtures on hand at the end of the 

 account. 



We warrant this experiment to pay in pleasure, and think 

 without doubt the balance in money will be on the right side. 

 In order to give it its full value, home breeds should be selected 

 and kept entirely distinct, because all mixtures deteriorate. 

 We propose on our part to take eight or twelve white Leghorns, 

 and an equal number of light Brahmas, that we may test their 

 value, both for poultry and eggs, and at the end of two years, 

 we may have no doubt, we shall be able to say confidently, our 

 hens pay. A. G. Swan, Chairman. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee . 

 It has been demonstrated, over and over again, that no ani- 

 mals kept upon the farm are capable of yielding so great a return, 

 upon the capital employed, as poultry. 



