268 



AGRICULTURE 



*2. Name three points in favor of improved breeds; one in favor of 

 'scrubs.' 



3. Consult the table on page 309 and make up a balanced ration for 

 fattening hogs, using feeds that can be grown in your locality. 



POULTRY 



Poultry. Poultry includes all fowls domesticated for meat 

 and for eggs and feathers, such as hens, turkeys, guinea fowls, 



peafowls, ducks, geese, and 

 pigeons. 



Hens. Our domesticated 

 hens are descended from the 

 wild jungle fowls of India. 

 They have been improved by 

 centuries of care and selection 

 so as to bring out the desired 

 traits. The yearly value of 

 their products is enormous. The American wheat crop in 1905 

 was worth five hundred and 

 twenty-five million dollars ; Ameri- 

 can poultry products that year 

 were worth over five hundred mil- 

 lion dollars. 



Pure breeds are usually more 

 profitable than common breeds 

 which eat as much and pro- 

 duce less. There are two great 

 classes, the Mediterranean, or 

 egg-producing breeds, and the Asiatic, or meat breeds. 



Egg Breeds. The chief egg breeds are the Leghorns, Houdans, 

 Minorcas, and Spanish. 



WHITE LEGHORNS AN EGG BREED 



BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCKS A 

 GENERAL-PURPOSE BREED 



