Upon the whole, I think that the present case of the trap-nest method of increasing egg production stands very much as it is has always stood, being a commendable thing for small breeders who could afford the time, but not practical in a large way, except at experiment stations.  On a large commercial scale the system of selecting sires by the collective work of his first year’s offspring would probably get the quickest results.

The best use of the funds of the people in the promotion of agricultural industries is in the permanent endorsement on the one hand of a few high grade research stations where the deeper theories may be worked out, and on the other the teaching of such good principles and practices as are already known.

The greatest opportunity for Government effort lies in the development demonstration farm work in poultry Just as it is doing with the corn and cotton in the South.

CHAPTER XVI

POULTRY ON THE GENERAL FARM

This chapter will be devoted to specific directions for the profitable keeping of chickens on the typical American farm.  By typical American farm I mean the farm west of Ohio, north of Tennessee and east of Colorado.  Farms outside this section present different problems.  In the region mentioned about three-quarters of the American poultry and egg crop is produced, and in this section poultry keeping is more profitable when conducted as a part of general farm operations than as an exclusive business.

There is no reason why a farmer should not be a poultry fancier if he desires, but in that case his special interest in his chickens would throw him out of the class we are at present considering.  Likewise, I do not doubt that in many instances where the farmer or members of his family took special interest in poultry work, it would be profitable to increase the size of operations beyond those herein advised, using incubators and keeping Leghorns.  Of these exceptions the farmer himself must judge.  The rules I lay down are for those farmers who wish to keep chickens for profit, but do not care to devote any larger share of their time and study to them than they do to the cows, hogs, orchard or garden.

The advice herein given in this chapter will differ from much of the advice given to farmers by poultry writers.  The average poultry editor is afraid to give specific advice concerning breeds, incubators, etc., because he fears to offend his advertisers.  The reader, left to judge for himself, is liable to pick out some fancy impractical variety or method.

Best Breeds for the Farm.

Keep only one variety of chickens.  Do not bother with other varieties of poultry unless it is turkeys.  Whether it will pay to raise turkeys will depend upon your success with the little turks, and on the freedom of the community from the disease called Black-head.

The kind of chicken you should keep should be picked from the three following breeds:  Barred Plymouth Rock, White Wyandotte, Rhode Island Reds.  If you go outside of these three breeds be sure you have a very good reason for doing so.