DOMESTIC FOWL 69 



way on the other side of the ocean. Great 

 Britain was especially quick to realize that home 

 consumption of poultry was fast outstripping 

 home production. In characteristic fashion she 

 took the matter in hand. "Utility" societies 

 were formed, worth-while prizes offered, and 

 everything was done to encourage the breeding 

 of flesh- and egg-producing fowl. Soon her poul- 

 try industry was greater, in proportion to the 

 small area of territory involved, than that of the 

 United States. The industry proved a gold-mine 

 for Ireland. 



4 

 Poultry Farming 



It was about 1870 that the world suddenly awoke 

 to its need for more poultry. Since the ad- 

 vent of the breech-loading shot-gun, feathered 

 game had showed a marked decrease throughout 

 Europe. Shops we-re no longer filled with game- 

 birds, and something was needed to take, their 

 place. Small farmers attempted to stop the gap 

 with poultry, but the demands of the people 

 greatly exceeded the meager allowance that the 

 peasants were able to scrape together. The value 

 of poultry rose to a premium; a sudden impetus 

 was given to the fowl industry. 



The ordinary system of setting a hen to hatch 

 a clutch of eggs had hitherto proved profitable, 



