THE POULTRY BUSINESS. 



The poultry yard is generally regarded as one of the most insignificant parts 

 of the farming business — frequently as more of a nuisance than anything else, 

 only to be tolerated to satisfy the whims of the "womeiir folks." So firmly 

 grounded is this opinion in the masculine mind that no efEbrt is made to ascer- 

 tain the real value of the poultry industry, and we turn in vain to the volumes of 

 National and State statistics for information in regard to it. This being the case 

 we may be pardoned for doing a little guessing at its probable status, mingling 

 our guesses with such figures bearing upon the subject, either directly, or indi- 

 rectly, as may be attainable. For this purpose we shall use chiefly the statistics 

 of the State of Ohio, they being more complete than others which are accessible 

 at this date. 



From these and the National statistics we find that there are, in round numbers, 

 about 200,000 farms in Ohio. Upon each of these farms it is safe to say that 

 there will be found an average of a dozen fowls, or2,400,000 fowls for the State. 

 If two millions of these are hens, and they yield but sixty eggs each during the 

 season, thece should be an annual production of 120,000,000 eggs, or ten millions 

 of dozens, worth, at ten cents per dozen, a round million of dollars. If to this 

 quantity we add the value of the poultry consumed at home and sold in the 

 markets, we should have at the lowest calculation half a million dollars more, 

 making a sum equal in value to that of the total production of rye and barley 

 together, the produce of 77,000 acres of land; one third as great as the value of 

 the potato crop ; more than half bf that of the cheese ; about one fourth that of 

 the wool; about the same as that of the clover seed ; one fourth greater than the 

 combined productions of sorghum, maple molasses and sugar, and honey; 

 and ten times as greatas the value of the sweet potato crop, for the year 1879. 

 If our estimate of tiie-p&altry product is extravagant in either direction it is in 

 that of lowness.''Certainly such an industry as this is worthy of attention. 



It is true that the larger part of this poultry product is consumed at home ; but 

 it is none the less valuabl^on that account, for both the flesh and egg of the 

 fowl are foods of the most nutritious and valuable kinds, and if their consump- 

 tion were increased tei/fold in our farmers' families, and that of salt pork and 

 grease diminished in proportion, the annual saving in doctors' biUs and the 

 greater accomplishment of work consequent upon the improved health which 

 would thus be obtained, would amount to more, in all probability, than the 

 whole value of the poultry product now. 



With regard to the value of eggs as food the editor of the SosUm JowmcU of 

 "Vumistry sayai 



IS, at average prices, are among the cheapest and most nutritious articles 



