27 



• 



chicks than in a corn tiekl, as it not only furnishes feed for 

 them but also shade, and the ground being cultivated, con- 

 tinually 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 secured several 

 years ago, so at the present time we no doubt produce six mil- 

 lion dollars' worth at least. An estimate of last year's con- 

 sumption of poultry and eggs in Massachusetts, based upon 

 the methods used in determining the amounts consumed in 

 ISTew York City, would give us about forty-seven million dol- 

 lars' worth. Whether it is twenty-five, thirty or forty-seven 

 million dollars' worth does not matter particularly, as the 

 difference between production and consumption is great enough 

 at any rate to assure us that the poultry business in Massachu- 

 setts is not overdone. 



