No state surpasses Missouri in the excellence of her improved poultry, in the number of barn yard fowls or the value of her poultry product. A number of causes are conducive of this result. Our fanciers are judicious and thoughtful breeders, our climate is such that fowls are not exposed to continued and severe winters nor do they suffer from hot winds nor parching suns.

In every notable contest for the last several years our birds have been among the leading winners and the progressive character of our breeders assures continued success and prornises a brilliant future.

But a review of what the Missouri hen has done, an estimate of the value of her produce, evinces her industry and substantiates any claim that her most ardent admirer may make for her.

Using only round numbers our producers of poultry and poultry products sold and shipped in 1896 (last report) 48,040,000 pounds of poultry valued at all average for the season of six cents per pound amounting to $2,882,400; 33,426,000 dozen eggs at an average of 12 cents per dozen amounting to $4,011,120; and 416,ooo pounds of feathers at 3o cents per pound amounting to $124,800 or a total poultry of  $7,108,320.

These are the shipments as reported by the transportation companies and do not embrace all the poultry handled by them, as a number of companies only return car load shipments, leaving a large amount of poultry shipped in less than car load lots unaccounted for.

It is estimated by poultry dealers intimately acquainted with the business that more than 5o per cent of the poultry product is consumed on the farms and interior towns and cities and is not handled or reported by the transportation companies. If this estimate is correct, and it is thought to be conservative, Missouri has a grand total of $14,00,000 gathered into the bank accounts of her farmers' wives and poultry producers from the labors of the greatest bird on earth.

While the Missouri hen should have full credit for industry, for unsurpassed energy and for regular habits it should be remembered that her efforts have been directed by Missouri women and that the credit of one is the glory and renown of the other.

Full credit to the Missouri hen, all honor to the farmers' wife. Their achievements are marvelous. They alone can sustain the motto of Missouri, "Nothing, Impossible," and crown her "Imperial Mistress of States."