10 



HAMPSHIRE COUNTY FARMERS' MONTHLY 



POULTRY STATISTICS 



Chickens Gained 12 Per Cent in Numbers 

 in 19Z3 



Current information received by the 

 Bureau of Agricultural Economics shows 

 that farms of the United States are 

 equipped to turn out in 1924 more chick- 

 ens and eggs than ever before. Number 

 of chickens on farms January 1 is esti- 

 mated at 474 million, or about 50 millions 

 more than a year earlier, and 115 millions 

 more than Januaiy 1, 1920. This is a 

 32 per cent increase in 4 years. 



The west north central states hold first 

 place in surplus farm production of poul- 

 try and eggs and report a 15 per cent in- 

 crease in 192-3. The south central states 

 made an equal gain in numbers. 



Egg pi'oduction increased 33.3 per cent 

 from 1920 to 1923 compared with a popu- 

 lation gain of only 5.3 per cent. There 

 is negligible possibility that export trade 

 will materially help in absorbing this in- 

 creased production. 



The per capita consumption of domes- 

 tic chicken eggs, e.xcluding those set for 

 hatching, has increased from 14.6 dozens 

 in 1920 to 16.5 dozens in 1921, 16.9 dozens 

 in 1922 and 18.6 dozens in 1923. This 

 is an increase of 27 per cent between 1920 

 and 1923. 



In 1923 the average weighted price of 

 eggs to farmers was 27.27 cents per dozen 

 against 25.86 cents in 1922, or 5.4 per 

 cent more. This spring, however, market 

 prices of eggs have dropped and are be- 

 low prices of a year ago. 



The dressed poultry situation presents 

 just now a somewhat better outlook. 

 Carry-over of frozen stocks March 1 was 

 17.6 per cent lower than a year ago, and 

 1.1 per cent below the five-year average. 

 Poultry prices also are in a stronger 

 position than egg prices. This shortage 

 of poultry storage stocks is expected to 

 permit the marketing of an increa.'sed 



supply of poultry without serious fall in 

 prices. Lower egg prices may tend to 

 reduce poultry prices. If egg prices de- 

 cline to the point of causing reduction 

 of flocks more hens would be sold with 

 the result of lowering prices. Such a 

 change would tend to strengthen eggs. 



No important change may be expected 

 in import and export trade movement. 

 The tariff in 1923 was higher than in 

 1922 but imports of dried and frozen eggs 

 fell off only J 2 per cent, or 2 million 

 pounds. Production costs in China, the 

 main .source of our imports, are apparent- 

 ly such that we may expect to receive 

 considerable imports from China in 1924. 

 Under the present tariff imports of shell 

 eggs are likely to be slight. There may 

 be some changes in exports of both poul- 

 try and eggs, but such exports in 1924 

 are likely to approximate those of 1923, 

 leaving no material change in the poultry 

 situation. The present outlook is for an 

 increased production this year of both 

 poultry and eggs, and a higher rate of 

 consumption of eggs will be necessary. 



The present outlook for the poultry 

 business in 1924 suggests careful con- 

 sideration by producers of their plans 

 this year. Every advantage should be 

 taken of opportunities for more economi- 

 cal production of eggs at a lower cost. 

 Higher quality products will help .stimu- 

 late consumption and thus strengthen 

 market prices. 



Important Request 



Poiiltiif Kci'ju'i-.'i: We wish to know 

 whether this review of the poultry situa- 

 tion is of interest and use to you and 

 whether you desire similar future in- 

 formation. Please suggest any other sub- 

 jects of the poultry business that would 

 be of interest. Give your Post Office, 

 Street or R. F .D. number, and MAIL 

 your reply to: 



V. A. Sanders, Statistician, 



Wakefield, Mass. 



(f ra s s Is n ' I En o ui>li ! 



You can't expect your herd to keep up 

 in both milk-pi'oduction and body-condition 

 on grass alone. If your cows are to be in 

 good shape for heavier production in the fall, 

 you must feed grain to supplement their 

 pasturage. And no matter how good your 

 grass has been up to now, it will make less 

 milk as the season wears along. 



Formulated as a happy medium between 

 high-protein winter rations and low-protein 

 grass, the i.f>"r protein of the Eastern States 

 Pasture Ration carries the propei- materials 

 to maintain both milk flow and body-health 

 under summer conditions, rcnnomirulhi tnul 

 safely. 



Krwir What Ymi Frrrl! 



Eastern States Farmers' Exchange 



A non-slocic, non-])roftl organization, 

 oivned and controlled by 12,r>00 New England farmers. 



SPRINGFIELD 



IVIASSACHUSETTS 



RAISE HEALTHY CHICKS! 



CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE 



is valuable for 



Disinfecting Brooder Houses and Yards 



We carry it in powdered form 



Put up in the size package you need 



It is cheaper by the pound 



WISWELL THE DRUGGIST 



o2 Main Street 



Northampton, - - - Mass. 



BISSELL'S TIRE SHOP 



AOKTHAMI'TOX, MASS. 



Miller, Goodyear and U. S. Tires 



Tires and Tubes 



Vulcanized by Steam 



Ooodyear Ser\ice Station 



FltKE AIR 



<!(; Kivr; stkekt Tel. vm?,-m 



FRUIT GROWERS' 



! 



SUPPLY CO.! 



! 



N. Y., N. H. & H. Freight Shod j 

 Tel. 2073, Northampton ! 



I 



Specialists in Sprayitig and I 



Dusting Materials and Ma- 

 chinery. 



Engine Oil Formula is the most | 

 economical dormant spray. \ 



