Xll * INTRODUCTION. 



tity of butchers' meat is consumed than 

 probably in any other portion of the world, 

 poultry has ever been deemed a luxury, and 

 consequently not reared in such considerable 

 quantities as in France, Egypt! !" &c. 



The importance of this subject, in a pe- 

 cuniary point of view, to our own country 

 has, we suspect, been little appreciated. It 

 will be better understood when we refer to 

 the agricultural statistics of the United States, 

 as furnished by the latest census published, 

 namely, that of 1840. It should, however, 

 be borne in mind, that the returns from 

 North Carolina, Kentucky, Michigan, Flor- 

 ida, and Wisconsin, are incomplete, and not 

 included in this list. 



Value of 

 the poultry. 



Northern States $1,175,916 



Middle States 4,085,312 



Southern and Western States and Territories 5,671,382 



Total .... $10,932,610 



If to this we add the supposed value from 

 the omitted states and territories, we shall 

 have for the whole Union a total value in 

 poultry exceeding twelve millions of dol- 



