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I^APER OF LUCIUS DUNBAR 



On pfige 178, of the tweutietli annual report of the Sec- 

 retary of the Massachusetts Board of Agriculture, can be 

 found a statement made by Lucius Dunbar, of West Bridge- 

 water, who, in that year kept thirty-six hens for the purpose 

 of raising chickens for market. At the close of the year the 

 result was a net profit of $149.37, or about $4.50 per hen. 

 This was done on an acre of land, with enclosures to accom- 

 modate the various ages and conditions of the chicks. Here, 

 in our town of Marshfield, with all its uncultivated acres, 

 situated on the shore as it is, where the supply of shells and 

 fish is unlimited, (which we know are very essential in poultry 

 raising), why cannot this profit be increased in proportion to 

 the acres devoted to this industry ? We know it can, and 

 with an aggregate profit of more than $100 per acre. But 

 this cannot be done without care and watchfulness in regard 

 to food, the care of coops, houses and yards, wherein lies the 

 success or failure of the poultry breeder. To give you an 

 idea how to raise poultry for profit, I will say a scientific 

 man in this business will take as good care of his poultry as 

 a breeder of thorough -breds will of his horses. The houses, 

 coops and yards will be kept scrupulously clean, the walls 

 whitewashed often, the floors covered with fresh sand every 

 day, and what is very necessary, all to be well ventilated. 

 Without these precautions no man can raise poultry with 

 profit. No matter how well you feed, these sanitary measures 

 must be attended to. Feed poultry in winter with plenty of 

 vegetables boiled with their meal for the warm breakfast, and 

 whole grain with meat and bone for the late supper. In 

 summer, when the yards get foul, just run the plough through 

 and sow rye. They will pay you well for it. There is a man 

 in Easton (Mr. Eankin) who keeps six cows, and carries their 

 milk to market. He also raises small fruits of various kinds, 



