16 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



a revenue producer practically all the year round. In 

 many instances the amount of money received from poul- 

 try has been surprisingly large, often sufficient to buy the 

 food and pay for the clothing of the family. The money 

 from poultry and eggs, taken together with their other year- 

 round revenue producers on the farm, such as butter, has, 

 therefore, come to be a decided factor in providing for the 

 physical welfare of the farmer and his family, and in many 

 instances has gone still further and become one of the chief 

 agencies in helping to pay off the farm mortgage or other 

 indebtedness. It often happens that the care of the poul- 

 try flock becomes primarily the work of the farm women. 

 Thus the women frequently have control of a part or all 

 of the income derived from the poultry flock. In such 

 instances it will be found that much of this money goes for 

 purposes which tend to improve conditions of life on the 

 farm and to provide conveniences and comforts in the home. 

 The money is also often used to further the education of 

 the children as well 'as to broaden the Hfe and outlook of 

 the farm communities. 



A further development of the industry can be cited in 

 the growth of special commercial poultry farms, where the 

 keeping of poultry for the production of market eggs is 

 the main activity. Sometimes these poultry farms have 

 reached a point where from 1,000 to 20,000 or more head of 

 fowls are kept. 



Poultry shows and education. While this development 

 of poultry keeping has been largely a matter of natural 

 economic conditions, certain other agencies have played a 

 part. Thus, fairs and poultry shows where poultry has 

 been exhibited have had a considerable efi'cct in spreading 

 interest in this activity and have, therefore, had a consider- 

 able influence on its development. The various govern- 

 ments, and, in the United States, the Federal Department 



