POULTRY 



45 



the subject, and can give what is, after all, the only 

 thing possesing anything of interest, namely " a result." 

 We have taken indiscriminately the statements, (found 

 among the reports of different agricultural societies in 

 p.ist years) of nine individuals in different portions of 

 the State, and give below the aggregate. Commenc- 

 ing the year with about eight hundred hens, the 

 expenses of keeping amounted to $732,28, (reckoning 

 from the preceding autumn, and including of course the 

 expense of wintering;) and the receipts, including chick- 

 ens and eggs sold, consumed, and on hand, (making al- 

 lowance from the stock on hand, to make it fully equal 

 to the number with which they started)to over $1,410,16, 

 showing a profit, clear above expenses of $677,88. In 

 seven of these cases, no mention was made of manure 

 or feathers. In the other two they were not included 

 in the receipts. The receipts too, were unquestionably 

 smaller than they would be in our immediate neighbor- 

 hood ; the prices, so far as quoted, being considerably 

 less than we are accustomed to. Assuming that the 

 manure and feathers were not included, (which from 

 the wording of the statements we feel fully justified in 

 doing,) and adding to the receipts sufficient to make 

 up the difference between our prices, and the general 

 average, (much reduced by the prices in districts not 

 so closely connected with large consuming and non- 

 producing centers as we are) and the profit would be 

 increased so as to fully equal one dollar per head of 

 the original stock, and net over one hundred per cent 

 upon the outlay. What, that the farmer raises or 

 keeps, or produces, will excel this? Dethroning the 

 pig from the proud position of pre-eminence which he 



