Abstract
THE object of this work is to show that poultry in considerable numbers can be kept on an ordinary farm with profit. Mr. W. Palmer, M.P., on land of about 200 acres, has established a poultry department. 350l. have been expended in buildings and the necessary appliances, a skilled manager with three assistants have been appointed, and the results of three years' work are very fairly given in this well-printed and well-illustrated, but very cheap, volume. Whether the results are such as will induce many other agriculturists to go into the pursuit or not may be regarded as doubtful, but the volume is well worthy the attention of those who are interested in the matter. Poultry farms pure and simple have long been known to be visionary, those institutions at present going under that name not being utility poultry farms, but places for the rearing and sale of fancy stock at fancy prices. Mr. Palmer is an enthusiast in his subject, and it is needless to say that his work presents the results of his experiments in the most favourable light, but this is obviously done with a good motive and in an exceedingly truthful manner. Many practical farmers would, however, object to his figures. Nothing is charged for the annual depreciation and wear and tear of the plant. The annual value of the manure of the two thousand birds is estimated at iool. Moreover, the author states that if the ninety thousand farms in England were all to keep poultry on the plan recommended by himself, the profit arising from this source would be no less than four and a half millions a year to the British farmer. These statements will be differently estimated by different readers.
Poultry Management on a Farm.
By Walter Palmer Pp. 94. (Westminster: Archibald Constable and Co., Ltd., 1902.) Price 1s.
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Poultry Management on a Farm . Nature 65, 583 (1902). https://doi.org/10.1038/065583b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/065583b0