CHAPTER XXXIII
A Word in Closing
Our business is running The Corning Egg Farm and not writing books, so that in telling our Story we may have lacked some of the polish of the experienced author, but every word that we have written is true, and we shall be very glad to welcome any of our readers at the Farm, and let them see for themselves just what we have.
The Corning Egg Farm actually does enjoy the supreme position among the egg farms of the World that we claim for it, and that the great authorities, after thorough, personal examination, have frankly admitted.
And we have been far more open in telling you everything that has been done on the Farm than, for instance, owners of large manufacturing plants would be.
Methods and problems in the successful and profitable production of eggs for table and hatching purposes have been worked out on The Corning Egg Farm, and we are quite willing others should have the benefit of our very expensively acquired experience.
Nothing to Hide
We have nothing to hide; nothing to keep to ourselves. We started in a very modest way, and believe that is the preferable way to successfully build up a paying poultry farm. Those who have an abundance of capital might be tempted to work out too many self-evolved theories and to begin on too elaborate and extravagant a basis, whereas, in our opinion, it is wiser to follow precedent, known successes, and start in a smaller way and expand.
Illustrations are Photographs
The illustrations in this Book are all from photographs, and the camera cannot be persuaded to exaggerate or to show buildings where there are none. The diagrams are drawn of sufficient size, and such measurements given, that our plant in its entirety, or any part of it, can be readily reproduced by anyone who cares to do so.
The Corning Success
The success we have made on the Farm gives us a certain feeling of satisfaction that we are entitled to enjoy, and yet we have accomplished nothing that cannot be done by any person who will give as much thought, time and attention to the work as we have.
Our Advice to Beginners
Our advice to the beginner is that he carefully study the Corning Method as set forth in this Book (and we want to impress upon you again the fact that the Corning Method is just as adaptable to the town lot as to the large tract, and in this particular it surpasses other systems which have had considerable publicity), and then start, either with a breeding pen, or with an incubator and hatching eggs purchased from a Breeder whose eggs can be depended upon, and in this connection
Single Comb White Leghorns Only
we want to say that for the production of eggs there is only one breed of fowls—Single Comb White Leghorns—and that, in considering the purchase of a breeding pen, or eggs for hatching, experience will show that it is the height of folly to begrudge the additional price you must pay in order to get the right kind of Stock. Whether you buy Corning Strain or not, let us again emphasize the fact that no matter how famous the Breeder, or how high his prices, if he has not a Strain that has proved itself a good Strain, you do not want it at any price. It is
It’s “Strain” You Want
Strain that counts, because it includes every good quality for the purpose, and the market for the right Strain for breeding and hatching is a very large and profitable one. The Corning Egg Farm cannot produce enough birds and eggs to fill its orders, and probably never will, because we do not believe in increasing the size of the Farm beyond our ability to be personally in constant touch with every detail connected with it.
Utility, Not Show Birds
We want to write just a word or two as to the difference between a Strain for the production of eggs and of Show Birds. It must be remembered that a great laying Strain cannot be, at the same time, a Show Bird, at least not under the present requirements of the Association, because a great egg layer must have size, and must be bred to produce size, and not inbred to secure fancy Show points, which produce a bird without constitution, and eggs from birds of the show class are small, the fertility runs low, and, in many instances, their hatchability is so poor as to be hardly worth speaking of.
Corning Largest Specialty Farm in World
The Corning Strain Single Comb White Leghorn is an egg machine, a large bird, of vigorous constitution, and typical Leghorn shape. The Corning Egg Farm is the largest poultry farm in the World devoted entirely and exclusively to one single purpose—the developing and breeding of the great egg machine, Corning Strain Single Comb White Leghorn.
Points That Mean Success
Just to repeat in regular order the points a Breeder must observe if he is to make a permanent success:
Suitable location for houses and runs.
Properly planned, arranged and constructed houses.
Right breeding stock.
Hatching eggs from a farm that has “made good.”
Care in incubating and brooding.
Proper handling of the pullets and cockerels.
Careful selection of breeders.
Regularity in feeding and attending.
Properly balanced ration.
Clean, sanitary quarters, fresh water, and pure air, all the time.
Constant adherence to one Strain, and that the best Strain.
Be jealous of your reputation, because it is on your reputation that you build up a demand for breeding stock and eggs for hatching.
Care, and courtesy, and regularity in serving customers.
You will know after reading this Book that on the Farm we have little idle time on our hands, and yet we are always willing to advise and help those who are really seriously seeking information, and who are willing to accept what we may be able to give them, in addition to the contents of this Book, and in our regular way of furnishing it.
The Authors.