438 POULTRY DEPARTMENT. 



POULTRY KEEPING FOR FARMERS. 



The following paper was read at the Farmer's Institute at South 

 Easton, New York. It is from the pen of O. B. Wilbur, one of the most 

 practical farmers in the country. "We give it because of its great value 

 and practical suggestions: 



" The question, ' Is it profitable for a farmer to engage in the raising 

 of poultry ? ' can only be answered by considering many of the condi- 

 tions under which the farmer is compelled to work, the help which could 

 be depended upon from the other members of the family, the convenience 

 to a readj^ market, the adaptability of himself or some member of the 

 family to the work of disposing of the surplus product and many of the 

 circumstances which enter into the life of every industrious and hard 

 working farmer's family. 



The most essential thing contributing to the success of any business 

 is a liking of the person for that business. You can as well expect a 

 person who dislikes the care of horses or cattle to become a successful 

 stock raiser as look for a man who cares little for the fowls to succeed in 

 the poultrjr business. A love for the work is necessary iu this as in any 

 other business. If a per.son has this satisfaction in caring for his poul- 

 try, there will be no other part of the farm work which will gi\'e him 

 more thorough enjoyment than this. 



The next most important question is, ' Will it pay ? ' Th;re is no 

 doubt some of us present who would enjoy hitching up a high-.spirited, 

 mettlesome horse, one which has known nothing of the pressure of a 

 hame collar upon his shoulders, or the fatigue of a hard day's work be- 

 fore the plow, take our little family into the carriage and drive into the 

 village on a pleasant summer afternoon to do our shopping and show our 

 valuable roadster. I haven't the slightest doubt but what this would be 

 exceedingly gratifying to many of us, but I hardly think it would pay 

 the average farmer to keep a horse which is too high-spirited or valuable 

 to do the ordinary routine of farm work. 



In the same way, it might be suited to our tastes to care for and ex- 

 hibit at the numerous shows, valuable thoroughbred poultry, but this 

 question, ' Will it pay ? ' is the one which interests the most of us in the 

 greatest degree. 



To the question, ' Will it pay the average farmer to keep poultry in 

 TOnnection with the almost infinite variety of work which is found upon 

 a;i general farms,' I answer most emphatically, yes. If the work of 



