V O V I; T R -i' . 97 



KEPORT Ox^^ POULTRY. 



BY X. G. TROAV, M. D. 



The question, -whether the farmer can ajford to spend much time 

 or money in this department, is one which is not very definitely set- 

 tled. That it is a very comfortable matter, to have a generous num- 

 ber of eggs and fat chickens and turkeys during the year, and espec- 

 ially about Thanksgiving time, is a point about which there is proba- 

 bly very little dispute. But, when we come to the question, whether 

 in view of the dollars and cents, we can actually afford to have them, 

 the subject seems at present to be an open one. 



That there is as much pleasure to be derived from the prosecutjion 

 of labor in this department, as from any other connected with the 

 farm, Ave believe tp be susceptible of abundant proof. Indeed, whafe 

 can be more bejiutiful than a flock of fowls, where every tin; anc5 

 shade of color is presented in the very perfection of beauty to the eye 

 of the beholder ; and, yet, this perfection, with comparatively little 

 care in " crossing," is easily obtained. Again, what farmer would be 

 willing to dispense with the call of the noble " Farm Cock," at the 

 earliest dawn of each returning day ? or, who can be insensible to the 

 value of a flock of fowls in destroying worms and insects, which oth- 

 erwise might exert a very deleterious influence on the growing crop? 

 One of the competitors at the Fair, remarked to the committee, 

 that, in his opinion (and he has devoted as much time to this subject 

 as any man in this vicinity), " the good thus accomplished, would 

 more than compensate for the damage, which they would iiaturally 

 do to the crops, either in the garden or upon the farm. 



But is there an actual profit in raising 2>oultry ? We are con- 

 strained to <>nswer this question in the aflfirmative: and, in comfirm- 

 ;. tion of our views, we wish to introduce some statistics, very kindly 

 lumit-hed by Mr. L. P. Waknkr, of Sunderland, showing the value 

 of his flock of hens, during the past year. 



On the first of January, 1853, Mr. Warner valued his stock of 

 hens at $23.25 ; and, at the close of the year, at §24. He thinks 

 the average number through the year would be about si.vty. His 

 largest number of laying hens at any one time was seventy-five. 'J'he 

 largest number of eggs in any one dav was seventy. 



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