34 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



planted, and they were allowed to run on the land while it 

 was coming up, but did not injure it at all, although some 

 of them were about two months old at that time. There is 

 no better place for raising chicks than in a corn field, as it 

 not only furnishes feed for them but also shade, and the 

 ground being cultivated, continually furnishes worms and 

 bugs. The leaves of the corn act as a sieve and catch a great 

 many bugs and insects from the air. These fall to the ground 

 and are eaten. Moreover, the standing corn acts as a good 

 wind break in the fall and fodder can be used for litter. 



Any one who has land suitable for com should by all 

 means try to raise some in connection with the growing of 

 young stock. 



There has been considerable discussion as to the amount 

 of poultry and eggs produced in this State annually, and 

 also the amount consumed here. It is impossible to get at 

 anything absolutely definite on the subject, but data secured 

 by Dr. Brigham, author of " Progressive Poultry Culture," 

 show that annually there are produced in Massachusetts 

 about five million dollars' worth, while about twenty to thirty 

 million dollars' worth are consumed. These data were se- 

 cured several years ago, so at the present time we no doubt 

 produce six million dollars' worth at least. An estimate of 

 last year's consimiption of poultry and eggs in Massachusetts, 

 based upon the methods used in determining the amounts 

 consumed in Xew York City, would give us about forty-seven 

 million dollars' worth. Whether it is twenty-five, thirty or 

 forty-seven million dollars' worth does not matter particu- 

 larly, as the difference between production and consumption 

 is great enough at any rate to assure us that the poultry busi- 

 ness in Massachusetts is not overdone. 



Secretary Wheelee. We hope that if anybody wants to 

 ask Professor Graham any questions they will feel like doing 

 so at this time. We would like to have a free discussion on 

 the subject of raising poultry. 



Question. I would like to ask Professor Graham which 

 feed at this season of the year produces the greatest number 

 of eggs? 



