An Immense Poultry Farm

AN IMMENSE POULTRY FARM

Visited by Mr. Francis Stofflet of This City

HE IS IN PENNSYLVANIA

Interesting Report of How Ducks Are Reared in the Keystone State-- Farm Covers 38 Acres

The following interesting letter was received Monday from Mr. Francis Stofflet, father of Harvey Stofflet, who conducts the well-known newspaper and bookstore in the opera house block:

Northampton, Pa., July 19, 1902.

Editor Argus:- While traveling in the east I notice great changes in politics, habits of the people, and industries, except in rains, floods and heat, which follow interchangingly the world over lately. One month ago when I left Ann Arbor with my family, rains were frequent, but not excessive. Now report reaches us that the flood-gates opened destruction upon our usually quiet city.

The Argus, which keeps me posted, is a daily visitor, and my family and myself would feel lonesome without its details of news each day. This is a great country we are visiting. Our first stopping place was Stroudsburg and the Delaware Water Gap. The fashionable resorts, the winding turns and jutting rocks, the sports, the free and easy life here are worth seeing and enjoying. 

Our next turn took us to Trenton, N. J., and the famous cement region near Allentown, Pa. It is simply indescribable the amount of enterprise here enlisted- the cordons of steam and electric roads, the pleasure grounds, etc.

True the strike affects the people some, but in the rush of life, the gaiety and pleasure, they pass it over. We visited the mills and quarries and mines, and saw how the bowels of the earth yield supplies for mankind. None, however, were so interesting, so pleasing to the eye and taste as the products of Mr. Gernerd's Duck and Dove Farm. I think it would interest the readers of the Argus to know something about this enterprise, so will send you clipping from the Allentown Daily Leader, of July 18, which you may use with this letter as you see fit. 

Yours respectfully,

F. STOFFLET.

"C. W. B. Gernerd. proprietor of the Duck Farm, will next week begin to erect buildings on the Young farm, which he recently bought and to which he will eventually move his immense poultry establishment. The farm he bought covers about 38 acres.

"Mr. Gernerd's business this year is the best of his career. He has been killing spring ducks ever since the middle of April and for the past seven weeks has been shipping them to New York at the rate of 1000 a week. He sells some ducks locally, but does not cater especially to local trade, since the prices offered in New York are considered high hereabouts. When sold locally the ducks bring 20 cents a pound and in New York they bring as much or more. All except the few sold here go to one man in New York, the leader in his business, who supplies such places as the Imperial, Rector's and Waldorf-Astoria.

"Up to the present time this year Mr. Gernerd has hatched 27,000 duck eggs and he will run up to a total of 40,000 by the end  of this season. The average age of the spring ducks when killed is nine weeks and the average weight is 4 1/2 pounds. Mr. Gernerd has 1000 old ducks, running that number from season to season, and he also gets some eggs from farmers. The Duck farm is kept clean and the ducks are well fed and kept at a proper temperature, so that he has had but little trouble from disease ever since he started and less than usual this year.

"Not only is Mr. Gernerd's duck business unusually good, but his pigeon business also. The pigeons have been so prolific that he is now able to ship to New York from 300 to 350 squabs every week.

"After moving to his new farm Mr. Gernerd intends to treble his business. The output of ducks will be considerably increased, to a possible total of 50,000 a year. The special drive at the new place will be made on pigeons, of which he will keep 10,000 pairs, principally Runts, whose squabs are the largest of the whole pigeon tribe. He will also keep a big stock of chickens, probably from 3,000 to 4,000, principally to get eggs for sale.

"Mr. Gernard calculates that to get his new place into shape and increase his stock and output to the dimensions he intends to have them, will be the work of two years."