Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-09
THE OBJECT Of
POULTRY SHOWS

What influence docs the poultry Elk
hibition exert. and upon whom or what?
There are annually held in this
country hundreds of poultry exhibitions
Of varying sizes The same is true Of
nearly all civilized and enlightened
countries The fact Of the existence OF
so many such exhibitions indicates that
they must exert some sort OF influence,
unless mankind is to be indicted by the
wholesale for inexcusable folly. They
occupy the time Of hundreds and thou
sands Of people and demand the eNpen-
diture Of large sums of money. Wnat
then is the nature Of their influence.
and upon whom or what exeIted, TO
warrant such an expenditure Of time
abor and cash?
The primary influence Of the poultry
exhibition is educational; the second
In its educational aspect this iniiu-
ence teaches what has been done and is
airy social: and the tertiary stimulative.
doing in relation to poultry breeding.
BY the kindergarten method it reveals
the progress made and making In the
development of the domestic fowl. II
shows. in most attractive and convlnc-
ing manner how nom one small species
Of definite type and color have been
developed breeds and varieties, rang
ing in weight from approximately ff-
teen ounces to fifteen pounds, how
types have been varied from the glob-
ular form of the modern Cochin TO thea
stocklike conformation Of the Exhibit
ton Game; how combs have run the
gamut Of single, pea, rose, leaf, nub,
strawberry and other types; how crests
and boards have developed upon clean
heads: how colore have ranged from
black to white, through various hues
and shades: how markings have be
come complex and complicated and in
clude bars, crescents, spangles and pen
cilings: how beauty and utility have
developed in various directions; how
adaptability for diverse purposes have
become fixed and perpetual; indeed,
how In a thousand differing ways the
wild Ealus has assumed more shapes
than Proteus OF old And to these
changes are added those which have
been modern descendants; in the Nal
lard duck through the moderate breeds,
and in the turkey and guinea fowl. 1t
further shows the growing improve
merits in the appliances for modern
poultry keeping, in incubstors and
brooders houses yards and fencing,
water fountains and food hoppers. 1t
exhibits more or less completely what
has been done in preparing special
he
And il even gives glimpses Of the men
tai activity exhibited by publishers Of
poultry books and journals. The edu
cational influence is many sided and of
diverse character
In its social aspect this influence is
exhibited by bringing together many
men having common purpose, the
Improvement of poultry breeding, 10
meet with each other and discuss the
questions which interest them. 1t re-
uuires no argument to prove that a
common interest results In pleasant So
cial relations, and that these relations
often become firm and enduring friend
ships
In its stimulative aspect Its influence
results in the Improvement of fowls.
Inc prizes OHGIGu LOT Gbllptllllbnt the
friendly rivalry which such competition
engenders. the value Of winning in pro-
noting future business, all these things
give zest to further efforts, and each
exhibitor, whether successful or unsuc-
cessful. firmly resolves to produce still
better fowls during the coming breed
ing season. These resolves are never
useless; generally they are fruitful in
greater successes in breeding
The influence of the poultry show is
exerted upon the public. They come,
they see and they are conquered. Many
Of them take up the breeding of poul-
try through the influence of the exhibit
tion. The influence Is cNerted upon
the breeders themselves. who learn
much and receive courage and incite-
ment to renewed ana more Jealous eff
forts. And the influence is also. eX-
erted upon the fowls themselves, be
cause the encouragement and stimula-
zion of the shows result in more thor
ough and careful breeding. All classes
who attend as well as the fowls. are
subjected To am influence which means
more and better poultry in the future,
and the time. labor and money eN-
pended in conducting poultry eNhibi-
tons are returned many times over to
the community in the increased guam
tity and improved quality of the prod
ucts of the poultry yard.
FRANK HECK.