HOW TO READ THIS BOOK 
Unless the reader has picked up this volume out of idle 
curiosity, he will be one of the following individuals: 
1. A farmer or would-be farmer, who is interested in poul- 
try production as a portion of the work of general farming. 
2. A poultryman or would-be poultryman, who wishes to 
make a business of producing poultry or eggs for sale as a 
food product or as breeding stock. 
3. A person interested in poultry as a diversion and who 
enjoys losing a dollar on his chickens almost as well as earn- 
ing one. 
4, A man interested in poultry in the capacity of an editor, 
teacher or some one engaged as a manufacturer or dealer in 
merchandise the sale of which is dependent upon the welfare 
of the poultry industry. 
To the reader of the fourth class I have no suggestions to 
make save such as he will find in the suggestions made to 
others. 
To the reader of the third class I wish to say that if you 
are a shoe salesman, who has spent your evenings in a Brook- 
lyn flat, drawing up plans for a poultry plant, I have only to 
apologize for any interference that this book may cause with 
your highly fascinating amusement. 
To the poultryman already in the business, or to the man 
who is planning to engage in the business for reasons equiva- 
lent to those which would justify his entering other occupa- 
tions of the semi-technical class, such as dairying, fruit grow- 
ing or the manufacture of washing machines, I wish to say it 
is for you that “The Dollar Hen” is primarily written. 
This book does not assume you to be a graduate of a tech- 
nical school, but it does bring up discussions and use methods 
of illustration that may be unfamiliar to many readers. That 
such matter is introduced is because the subject requires it; 
and if it is confusing to the student he will do better to master 
it than to dodge it. Especially would I call your attention to 
