240 RURAL NEW YORK 



These are the leading poultry-producing states. 

 Iowa, the leader, and Illinois in second j)lace each have 

 more than twice as many chickens as New York and 

 a larger number to a farm. The 50 to a farm in New 

 York: must be compared with 45 in the United States 

 as a whole, 108 in Iowa, 81 in Illinois, 75 in Missouri, 

 and 64 in Ohio. Poultry, like pigs, follow cheap 

 feed in their main distribution ; therefore, the largest 

 numbers have been in the corn-growing region. It 

 is evident that the farm flock is the big factor in 

 the poultry business in New York. Every farm has 

 a few hens just as nearly every farm has a pig or two. 

 The hen is a side line on the farm usually left to be 

 cared for by the women and children who frequently 

 derive their " pin money " from a little extra atten- 

 tion to the flock. The number of small commercial 

 plants is multiplying and it is a favorite business of 

 the " back-to-the-lander " and the " commuter." 

 This is illustrated by the distribution of chickens 

 in the State. In general, like that of pigs, it is in 

 about the same proportion as the rural population. 

 They are most numerous along the Great Lakes and 

 through the Mohawk and Hudson valleys, thinning 

 out in the more sparsely settled sections of hilly or 

 rough country. However, there is a disproportionate 

 increase in the number of chickens in the southeast- 

 ern part of the State. It is the only type of food- 

 producing live-stock in considerable numbers on Long 

 Island. Many persons have come out from the cities 

 and started a small poultry business. It has been 

 said that there are more failures in poultry produc- 



