report of the Poultry Department of the Essex Agricultural 

 Fair of Sept. 25 and 26, l Ss ^. Your committee were 

 much pleased with the exhibition of Fancy Poultry, Tur- 

 keys and Geese. The display was quite large, very much 

 in advance of the last four years, so much so that we feel 

 no hesitation in saying that the interest in this department 

 is decidedly on the increase. The interest which the large 

 numbers in attendance manifested was very gratifying evi- 

 dence that this was one of the important features of the 

 exhibition. The display of <lrcssed poultry, although not 

 as large as we could wish, was nevertheless quite fine, and 

 we feel confident that when it becomes better known that 

 the Society wish people to compete in this line, we shall 

 make a better display from year to year, and we look for a 

 good display in the near future. There was also a good 

 display of eggs. We think that the increased interest in 

 these lines is owing to the generosity of the Society in offer- 

 ing larger premiums from year to year for the last four 

 years. We think this fact and the employing of an ex- 

 pert as Judge has met with very general approval. Next 

 year an additional premium will be offered on Poultry 

 Appliances. 



It seems to the committee that almost every other busi- 

 ness is overdone while in this there is room for more. The 

 United States does not produce eggs enough for her own 

 consumption. New York City alone consumes 135,000 

 eggs daily. Statistics show that in 1882 the value of the 

 poultry produced in the United States exceeded the value 

 of either of the hay, cotton, wheat or dairy products, as the 

 following figures show : — The Hay crop was $436,000,000 ; 

 Wheat, $488,000,000 ; Cotton, #410,000,000 ; Dairy prod- 

 ucts, #254,000,000 ; Poultry products, 8560,000,000. Even 

 at this rate it is necessary for us to receive a large impor- 

 tation of eggs. Managed with the same care and attention 

 to details that one would give to any other business, we 

 assert that no business will pay so large a return for the 

 amount invested. 



Respectfully yours, 



A. F. HaKVBY, Chair man Poultry Committee.- 



