PROFITS FROM POULTRY 31 
better than men. Women are also proficient in rearing young 
chicks, due in large part to their ability to look after little details. 
In a considerable number of cases women have made remarkable 
success in managing large commercial poultry farms. As a side 
line or pastime poultry keeping offers to women excellent oppor- 
tunities for work in the open. 
A Healthful Occupation—Poultry keeping, whether as an 
exclusive occupation or as a side line, offers to any one engaging 
in the work a healthy, interesting, and invigorating occupation. 
The work is largely out of doors, is not exceedingly heavy, but is 
constant and detailed. 
To persons of poor or injured health the care of a small flock 
of birds offers an ideal opportunity to build strength and muscle 
and at the same time secure a small income. Under such condi- 
tions the work should be started in a small way and built up as 
health improves. 
Increase Fertility of the Soil—Aside from the commercial value 
of the poultry manure there is a great increase in the fertility of the 
land over which the birds run. On a general farm it is probably 
more economical to use all the poultry manure than to attempt to 
sellit. The fertilizing constituents of poultry droppings in the fresh 
state are about as follows: Nitrogen and phosphoric acid each 16 
pounds and potash 8 pounds in a thousand pounds of droppings. 
Poultry manure is the richest of-all the farm manures. Compared 
with commercial fertilizers the three ingredients mentioned make 
fresh droppings worth about $7.50 per ton. The manure should 
be carefully collected and used as a concentrated fertilizer for 
farm crops. 
Utilize Waste Products——Poultry help to save many waste 
seeds and grains on the general farms. They consume many of 
the by-products which otherwise would be an entire loss. This is 
true of inferior fruits and vegetables, and refuse from the table. 
Many insects and weed seeds are consumed. A market value can 
be realized on these when selling poultry products. 
Disadvantages of Poultry Keeping.—The business may at times 
demand more labor and expenditure of money than the poultry 
keeper can give. Even with modern methods of sanitation there 
will be occasional outbreaks of contagious disease which will 
cause a large loss of life and greatly diminish profits. 
Profits from Poultry.—The first question asked of any business 
is, “Does it pay?” It can safely be said that poultry keeping pays 
