Exhibition—Superintendents’ Reports. 85- 
shows an improvement. This improvement was specially marked 
in the Berkshire more than in the Poland-China. In the better 
breed, Illinois leads our breeders. Mr. Ellsworth, of Woodstock, 
took most of the premiums, but I think from the numerous sales 
made to our citizens by Mr. Ellsworth, they soon will win a portion 
of the premiums. The pens were well filled with the small breeds, 
Essex and Suffolk, and shows the wisdom of the Society in offering 
premiums again for those breeds. The exhibition in this class was 
so good, and the improvement so marked, that I think, unless the 
Berkshire breeders look out, the time mav come when the Brooks 
and Jeffers stock of small breeds will be the favorites soon. It is a 
great pleasure to the superintendent to have the exhibitors satisfied 
with the award of the judges, as was the case this year. 
Having been superintendent of this department for three years, 
and as I am about to retire from the position, I desire to return to 
the exhibitors my sincere thanks for their gentlemanly conduct 
and cordial, kind treatment ever shown me, and trust they will 
continue to improve the stock in this department in the future, as 
they have in the past, and they and the State be largely profited 
thereby. 
DEPARTMENT E.— Poultry. 
BY A. A. BOYCE, SUPERINTENDENT. 
The breeding and rearing of poultry is of growing importance, 
and the number of persons who keep fowls for pleasure and profit 
is constantly increasing. Several well sustained periodical journals^ 
devoted almost entirely to the poultry interest, attest the magni¬ 
tude of the business. The capital employed in the business of rear¬ 
ing, fattening, and preserving poultry for market—costly buildings 
for the purpose of keeping dressed poultry in a frozen state, and for 
preserving eggs in fresh condition, awaiting, if need be, a better 
market, is enormous. 
The rearing and care of poultry affords pleasing and profitable 
employment to those who are unfitted for the more laborious work 
of the farm. 
