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that they have awarded a premium of ten dollars ($10), to 

 M. Sumner Perkins, of Danvers, for an Essay on ''Poultry 

 Farming;" also a premium of six dollars ($6), to George T. 

 Morrill, of Amesbury, for a Report on "Carriages," and to Miss 

 Mary E. Williams, six dollars ($6), for a Report on "Works of 

 Art." 



The essay treats of one of the minor topics of agriculture, but 

 one of growing interest and importance. It is doubtless useful 

 to stimulate the interest of farmers in this subject, and to sub- 

 mit from time to time the correct information as to the points of 

 new breeds of fowls. The essay submits reasons why farmers 

 should pay more attention to poultry-raising. There are very 

 few farmers without fowls of some sort, kept in some sort of 

 way, usually not the best way. The "barn-yard fowl" is and 

 always has been, the designation of birds kept in a promiscuous 

 and unsystematic manner. One of the old English poets, John 

 Dyer, in his "Country Walk," depicts happily a familiar scene: 



"Before the yellow barn I see 



A beautiful variety, 



Of strutting cocks, advancing stout. 



And flirting empty chaff about; 



Hens, ducks, and geese, and all their brood, 



And turkeys gobbling for their food, 



While rustics thrash the wealthy floor, 



And tempt them all to crowd the door.' ? 



Fowls have in fact always been reckoned among the domestic 

 animals, essential to be kept on every well appointed farm. 

 Milk and eggs, which are the recognized luxuries of country 

 living, do not come without cows and hens. The matter of 

 keeping these useful and profitable auxiliaries is, however, 

 usually left to the women and boys of the family. This is all 

 very well, but the farmer must provide the birds and the quar- 

 ters to keep them in. And our essayist wishes to persuade the 

 fanner that those which are recognized as "fancy breeds," have 

 points of excellence, and that suitable quarters are not expen- 



