POULTR?Y-CRAFT. 259 
in market stock, yet it is of itself a most important industry, keeping a great deal of 
money in circulation, and making or helping to make a living for thousands of people. 
One may begin to realize something of the magnitude of the interest in thoroughbred 
poultry if he considers the rapid increase in the number of poultry shows held annually, 
and the large increase of production of poultry literature. 
There will be nearly three hundred poultry association shows held in this country 
during the show season of 1899-1900. Besides these there will be displays of fine pouttry 
at nearly all state and county fairs. Many of these exhibits rank with some of the best 
among the special poultry shows. 
In this connection it is not out of place to call attention to the fact that the judging of 
standard fowls at shows offers an ever widening field of fairly lucrative employment to 
those- who will qualify themselves for such work, and whose work in this line will 
commend them to show managers and to exhibitors. Not only is the number of regular 
poultry shows increasing out of all proportion to the increase in the number of competent 
judges, but it is becoming more and more the custom to secure the services of experts to 
pass on the merits of the fowls exhibited at the agricultural fairs. It is worth while for 
one engaging in the breeding of high class stock as a business to consider this phase of 
the matter. A reputation as a breeder is of value to—more, it is essential for a poultry 
judge; a reputation as a judge is worth a great deal to a breeder; and it is entirely 
possible for a man who is disposed to be honest to combine the two callings to his own 
profit, and to the satisfaction generally of those with whom he may have dealings in 
either line. 
It is hardly necessary to inform those at all acquainted with such matters that the 
shows are supported by the efforts of the breeders of pure stock, or that it is this class 
of poultrymen whose advertising patronage is the chief financial support of the poultry 
press. It does not, however, seem to be so generally understood that the subscribers to 
the poultry journals are, for the most part, persons who are keeping and raising pure 
stock. With occasional exceptions those who keep and rear only scrubs or grades have 
no lasting interest in poultry literature. The readers of poultry papers generally are 
people who have progressed far enough in poultry culture to have proved thoroughbreds 
best, or whose teaching on that subject has convinced them that such is the case. 
There are now published nearly one hundred papers devoted exclusively or principally 
to poultry. Of this number about one-third have attained an age and standing which 
warrants including them in the list given on page 261. Some of the others, though too 
new to be included in such a list, give fair promise of permanent usefulness. The 
greater number are destined to an early death or a spasmodic existence; but even if the 
list had been cut down to include only the twelve or fifteen best papers, there would still 
remain such a list of papers devoted to this specialty as probably no other such specialty 
could equal. The phenomenal increase of interest in fine stock which has occurred in 
the last ten years, has impressed everyone who has been in a position to observe it. No 
stronger evidence of it can be found anywhere than is to be seen in the growth of the 
leading poultry journals, and in the feeling constantly manifested from many quarters 
that there is room for more. 
Interesting evidences of the extension of the poultry business are furnished by the 
growth of businesses which are in whole or in part dependent upon it. Most con- 
spicuous of these is the manufacture of incubators and brooders, a business which now 
engages large amounts of capital, and furnishes employment to a small army of 
mechanics and salesmen. Another industry of considerable magnitude is the manu- 
facture of bone cutters. A number of firms are doing a large business in the sale of 
prepared meats for poultry food, in green and dry cut bone, and in ground oyster shell. 
Still others find it profitable to produce on a large scale and advertise extensively special 
brands of mixed grain stuffs for poultry food. There are several manufacturers of grit 
