BY WIL BROWN 89 



in the direction of increasing production under these conditions. I hold 

 that farmers will always be able to produce more cheaply than occupiers of 

 special plants. The ideal is to encourage a hundred farmers or small 

 holders to maintain fifty head of stock apiece upon their land, rather than 

 for one worker to keep five thousand. I would remind you that it is the 

 accumulated production of millions of peasants that feeds the great popula- 

 tions of Europe and were we dependent on poultry farms we should 

 starve. 



As an indication of the truth of this statement I may mention the fact 

 that Russia is the largest exporting country of eggs and poultry in the 

 world, and that production in her case is entirely in the hands of the 

 peasants. In 1911 Russia exported to Britain poultry produce to the value 

 of $18,213,258.40 in addition to the other markets that she supplied. 



Large poultry farms have been tried in Europe, but have failed, and this 

 explains why intensification of culture and large plants are ever less in evi- 

 dence on this side. Not only have such farms proved a failure in Europe, 

 but I have yet to hear of the financial success of any farm in the United 

 States or Canada, run entirely for the production of eggs or flesh for con- 

 sumption. In every case some other branch is introduced, such as the sale 

 of eggs for hatching, day-old chickens or stock birds. A review of the 

 balance sheets generally shows that the greater part of the profit is derived 

 from these additional sales. 



In my work today I use all my influence to prevent the establishment of 

 poultry farms, since I am distinctly skeptical as to the ultimate success of 

 such ventures. 



I have given it as my opinion that the future success of the industry in 

 Europe, depends on the rate of increased production on the part of the 

 farmers and small holders, and I would go still farther and say that I believe 

 the same holds good for America and Canada. This can be seen even at the 

 present time in the altered conditions of farming. In the Eastern States 

 general agriculture is taking the place of more specialized cropping as 

 instanced by the northern movement of the wheat belt. This is passing 

 from Minnesota and Dakota into Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and will, if 

 present indications prove correct, eventually travel westward until Alberta 

 and even the Peace River country to the north become the granary of 

 the world. As the farms become more general in their rotation of crops, 

 the industry of poultry-keeping will be developed side by side with other 

 branches of the work. 



Any development that has taken place in Europe has been by evolution 

 and is seen in greater numbers and better methods on existing farms, and, 



