POULTRY. 129 



The question, from which the greatest profits accrue, the rais- 

 ing of poultry for market, or the sale of eggs, is still, I think, 

 unsettled ; both systems have their earnest advocates, and 

 strong arguments have been advanced, together with results of 

 many experiments ; but I am inclined to think that a judicious 

 union of the two branches can be made more profitable than a 

 persistent adherence to cither. Of course, circumstances in 

 this as in other callings, control results ; and there are many 

 considerations to be taken into account before a decision can be 

 arrived at ; for instance, what is the character of the country 

 where the fowls are to be kept ; what are the facilities for trans- 

 portation to market ; what amount of attention can be bestowed 

 upon the flock. 



In an agricultural neighborhood, where food can be procured 

 at producers' prices, (that is, if the poulterer does not raise his 

 own food,) and where the fowls can have access to fields and 

 pastures, at least twice a week ; where railroad transportation 

 is convenient of access, (and certainly no Massachusetts farmer 

 can complain on this score,) and where constant attention and 

 care can be rendered, the raising of poultry for market will 

 probably be found the most profitable. But in districts less 

 agricultural in character', where food for the flock must be 

 transported, often from considerable distances, and where only 

 a limited amount of attention can be bestowed, the production 

 of eggs will, undoubtedly, be the most remunerative. Gener- 

 ally, however, as before remarked, the judicious combination 

 of both systems will insure the greatest profit. 



The labor required in poultry husbandry is not necessarily 

 expensive, for inferior farm hands, such as boys or women, as in 

 Great Britain, can be employed. Farmers, in the harvesting of 

 strawberries, pease, and other products, requiring light labor, do 

 not hesitate to employ every available hand, and often at quite 

 remunerative pay. Why cannot constant employment be given 

 in the poultry yard to some of these lighter hands on the farm, 

 at times when they are not needed in the field, where, if a 

 judicious system is adopted, their labor may be very remunerative? 



Poultry husbandry is undoubtedly profitable binder almost all 



circumstances ; the object of the farmer is, therefore, to make 



it remunerative in the highest degree. He must obtain a flock 



of the best fowls, whether for breeding or laying, or both, and 



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