18 POULTRY CULTURE 



The average state income from poultry products is $5,227,- 

 403, of which $1,536,194 is credited to poultry carcasses sold, 

 and $3,691,239 is credited to eggs. 



The average annual farm income from eggs for all the farms 

 in the United States is $60.57, while the income from carcasses 

 is $31.82. 



Eggs are excellent human food, high in albuminous content 

 and high in digestibihty. The demand for eggs is growing 

 faster than the increase in output. 



In 1899 the average farm price was 11.15 cents per dozen 

 for the whole United States, while in 1909 the average had 

 advanced to 19.7 cents per dozen, and this year, 1919, it is 

 safe to say that it will far exceed this sum. 



Live and dressed poultry have made a corresponding increase 

 in values. 



The 1910 United States census report gives over 88 per cent, 

 of all farms in the United States as keeping poultry. At that 

 time there was 295,876,176 head, making an average of 6,038,- 

 289 birds for each state or 53 birds to each farm, with a value 

 per bird of 52 cents. It is significant that nearly 54 per cent, 

 of the total number is found in ten states. 



The volume of poultry on farms in the United States has 

 increased over 18 per cent, in the last ten years. 



Poultry growing is an adjunct of every properly conducted 

 farm and of many back yards of town lots. No class of live- 

 stock is so universally raised as poultry. The flesh of fowl is 

 highly nutritious and palatable and is relished by all. Eggs 

 are very high in point of digestibility and are being used as a 

 meat food more and more since the high price of other meat- 

 food products. 



The products of poultry rank next to those of the dairy or 

 to the animals slaughtered for food. About one-sixth of the 

 total value of animal products in the United States is credited 

 to poultry. The contribution to the nation's wealth is more 

 than half a billion dollars. The value of poultry is equal to the 

 total value of barley, rye, buckwheat, broom-corn, rice, kafHr 

 corn, flax, small fruit, grapes, orchard products, sugar-cane, 

 and beets. The value of poultry is three times that of the 

 wool crop. It is as great as the combined potato and oat crops. 



