The Portland daily press., 1892-01-13

There are Plymouth Rocks, Leghorns
etc.-It Would Not Be Surprising if
"The Cock that Crowed in the Morn,
and Weakened the Priest, All Shaver
and Shorn," Were There Too.
Yarmouth, Freeport and other towns
in that section have long been noted for
many years for superior poultry. For
the purpose of stimulating efforts for
the improvement of that important fac
tor in the farm product the breeders, en-
couraged by many prominent citizens, in
1887, organized the Yarmouth Poultry
Association. Highly creditable exhibit
lions have been annually held since, and
for the past two years open to competi-
ton from all parts of the country.
These exhibitions have not only made
the association quite famous in the poul-
try world, but have reflected much hon
or upon Maine poultry. In fact, the Off
cial record shows that Maine birds are
equal to those bred in any section of the
country, not excepting the most favored
localities.
The method of ascertaining the merits
of poultry is by critical examination
by disinterested judge from some 9th
er state. The coops are simply num-
bered and he goes through them exam
lining bird after bird and scaling them
without knowledge as to whom they be-
long. In this way of course an i'm
partial decision is attained, as the judge
selected is always an expert in the breed
ing of poultry.
The perfect bird is put down at 100
points, but the perfect bird has never
been bred. The highest score ever at
tanned is 9Spoints. Form, feather, comb,
bill, wattles, legs, spurs, feet, etc., are
looked over and the points deserved are
noted. Weight also enters into the con-
sideration, but is not the leading essen
tial. 1t is not unusual for a bird
pound or two lighter than another to out
score the heavier. The several points
thus noted are footed up and the nearer
to one hundred, the more perfect the
bird. The record made in the Var
mouth exhibition has been something re-
markable. Last year they had bird
that scored 81 points, within
one point of the worlds record made at
London, England, and they had several
other birds that scored well into thel
nineties, ranging from 90 to 81.
The sixth of the annual exhibitions OPP
ened at Masonic Hall in the pleasant vii
lage of Yarmouth, yesterday morning,
under the most auspices circumstances.
The display was the largest, and it is be-
lieved, the best in the annals of the So
ciety. Androscoggin and Oxford coun-
ties vie with Cumberland, and there are
many particularly fine bred birds from
Massachusetts,, notably the bantams and
buff and white. McKensey Of Auburn,
has fine display of Plymouth Rock and
red caps, comparatively new variety of
fowl from England. They resemble in
size and general appearance theLeghorns
and are great layers.
There are 216 coops grouped about the
hall, and Secretary Cooks books show
$40 birds to have been entered.
The judge is Mr.. W. B. Atherton OF
Massachusetts, gentleman of long ex-
perience in poultry breeding and judging
the same when on exhibition. He COM
menced his work promptly and the re-
suit of some of his decisions will be
ready for publication tomorrow.
An incubator of the Moulton pattern,
set about three weeks ago by Mr.. F. Fl.
Banks of Freeport, was on exhibition.
A half-dozen lively little chicks were
Matched out yesterday and more were
knocking for admission. The incubator
was brought from Freeport in the morn
ing.
Ent1