338 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



written a nice l)ooklet for women, entitled "Pocket-money 

 in poultry culture," which I can heartily recommend to the 

 wives and daughters on the farms of Massachusetts. 



The idea of special poultry farming on a large scale is ex- 

 tending, and large poultry plants are being quite freely 

 established ; but the great bulk of poultry products for the 

 market will continue to come from the numberless small 

 flocks scattered through the country. The large poultry 

 ranches all together can supply but a very small proportion 

 of the immense quantities of eggs and dressed poultry de- 

 manded by an ever-increasing consumption of these articles 

 of food. 



How SHALL, THE BeGINNER BEGIN? 



In the first place, do not commence on too large a scale, 

 especially if you have had no experience with fowls. The 

 necessaries are the same in kind that are required in almost 

 any productive business. If we were to discuss the things 

 needful in establishing, maintaining and managing a special 

 poultry farm or a great poultry plant, the factors to be con- 

 sidered might be grouped under the terms land, capital and 

 labor. The same means on a small scale are required for 

 the little poultry plant on the general farm. There must be 

 a place for the fowls, money must be invested in buildings, 

 in good birds and in food and other materials ; and, finally, 

 work is unavoidable in the care and management of the 

 business. 



Location. 



Even poultrymen of experience often make mistakes in 

 choosing a location for poultry keeping, hence it is well for 

 the novice to consider the matter quite fully. If fowls have 

 been previously kept upon the farm, the adaptability of one 

 or more places for the purpose may have been tested. In 

 any case, several things need to be carefully considered. 

 The fowls, to do their best, must live in shelter and comfort. 

 The land should not be wet, and stagnant water in the soil 

 is especially to be avoided. A somewhat elevated slope, 

 with a southerly or south-easterly aspect, if available, is 

 usually preferred. A sandy loam soil in such a location is 

 naturally well drained. If the soil is a strong, heavy clay, 

 naturally too moist, it may be artificially underdrained by 



