84 POULTRY BREEDING IN 



Things are altered we get a good quantity of theirs ; 

 and half the continent is laid under contribution to supply 

 our carnivorous propensities. Good sound men of figures 

 prove that the supply of food decreases ; others point to 

 an increasing population, and the increasing price of 

 meat. The leading journal of the world but lately called 

 attention to the figures of our imports in the way of food, 

 and was obliged to pause at one item. " A million of 

 eggs imported for every working day in the year ; " 

 turkeys by thousands ; rabbits by the ton. These are 

 helps to the food necessary to feed the metropolitan mil- 

 lions ; but the question naturally suggests itself, Do we do 

 all in our power to provide more of these things at home ? 



The egg trade with Scotland is becoming a very large 

 one. We import eggs from France, Holland, Belgium, 

 Switzerland, and part of Italy. Cannot we do something 

 towards providing ourselves with these valuable luxuries, 

 and thereby not only increase the number, but probably 

 decrease the price of them ? We have in our favor, and, 

 consequently, to our profit, all the expense of foreign 

 agents, of travelling, freight, carriage, and dues. With 

 eggs produced at home, nearly all this would be avoided. 

 If those who can keep poultry will not keep them, then 

 those who have the inclination without the convenience 

 must endeavor by association to find out the means of 

 carrying out their theories and ideas on the subject. 



We believe we are correct in stating that plans are 

 now afoot which will, in all probability, result in calling 

 public attention to the subject, and in giving the question 

 a fair trial on a large scale. 



