Our Feathered Population

In Washtenaw county, on June 1, 1894, according to the state census returns, there were 226,565 chickens, 16,958 turkeys, 2,023 geese aiid 4,151 ducks. The number of eggs sold in the county during the year ending June 1 was 802,506 dozens, and the money received for them amounted to $102,102, so that the average price per dozen was a little over twelve and a half cents. The total value of the eggs sold in the state for the year was the nice little sum of $3,040,977, so that Washtenaw county furnished one thirtieth of the eggs of the state. Lenawee raises the most eggs, 1, 116,219 dozens. Clinton, Eaton and Hillsdale are the ouiy other counties that raised more eggs than Washtenaw and Hillsdale only raised thirty dozen more. Lenawee and Oakland were the only counties that had more chickens. Oakland was the only county that had as many turkeys. But in geese Washtenaw did not stand so high being exceeded by twelve other counties. And there are eight counties that have more ducks than we have. Huron county has the most geese. In fact geese seem to furnish a considerable portion of the f eathered population - you notice we are very careful to use the adjeotive, feathered, as we want 110 libel suit on our hands. Lenawee has the most ducks and their quackings can be heard all over that county, and have been even known to reach the Press office. The magnitude of the egg industry may be better comprehended by another way of putting the figures. In this county alone, in one year 9,630,072 eggs were sold besides the large nuruber uesd at home. And yet there are only about flve chickens owned per inhabitant in the county. To the figure, $102,102, realized froin the sale of eggs should be added the large amount secured from the sale of home poultry in the markets. This is not given in the census returns, but would swell the profits of poultry raising yerv considerably. As was shown in a previous article Washtenaw county has a very high rank arnong the connties of the state in grain produced, etc That her ranking is also uniformly high in other departments of agriculture is again indicated by the fact that her rank ainong the counties of the state is third in chickens, second in turkeys, thirteenth in geese and ninth in ducks.