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WHAT IS THE GREATEST FAULT YOU FIND WITH THE AVER- 

 AGE FARMER AND POULTRYMAN'S METHODS? WHAT 

 SHOULD HE DO TO REMEDY IT? 



In order that we might know our faults and improve our methods 

 of raising poultry, the above questions were asked of the professors 

 of poultry husbandry in the United States and Canada. It is in- 

 teresting to note the many serious faults they find with the average 

 poultryman's methods, and they are in a good position to judge, for 

 each is a student and close observer of the conditions existing in his 

 particular section Their replies are as follows : 



Lack of System in Breeding. 



(Prof. F. S. Jacoby, Columbus, Ohio.) 



In reply to your question, I should say that the one greatest fault 

 with the average farmer's way of raising poultry is the lack of sys- 

 tem in breeding. Careful breeding and selection is necessary if we 

 hope to improve the productive qualities of the poultry in the United 

 States. The farmer with a flock of pure bred poultry is in a position 

 to overcome the problems of feeding and management, for he has the 

 basis for future results. He should endeavor to select and breed 

 from those individuals which come up to a certain standard of egg 

 production or size, rather than from the entire flock, as most farmers 

 are inclined to do at the present time. The application of the laws 

 of breeding coupled with studied care is essential to success with any 

 kind of live stock. 



Lice and Continued Use of Same Ground. 



(Prof. W. R. Graham, Guelph, Canada.) 



The greatest fault, as far as I know, that the average farmer and 

 poultryman makes in rearing chickens, is in rearing them year after 

 year on the same ground, and they do not pay any special attention 

 to the tender green food for the young stock ; and moreover, in many 

 cases the chickens are very lousy. In many instances there is no 

 attention paid to seeing that they have plenty of house room as they 

 grow larger. To overcome this, I would suggest that they secure 

 colony houses, and grow the chickens in a cultivated cornfield, or an 

 orchard. 



Lack of Appreciation of the Value of the Hen. 



(Prof. Horace Atwood, Montgomery, W. Va.) 



In my judgment the reason that farmers do not make more money 

 from their poultry is because they pay so little attention to it, and 

 have so little respect and appreciation for, the earning power of their 

 fowls. Just as soon as a farmer becomes fully impressed with the fact 

 that a good flock of hens will bring him in more clear money, in pro- 

 portion to the investment, than any other type of farm animal, then he 



