Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-10

Deen held Tor many years, but
have only been of four months
duration. The whole round of
the calendar will provide a far
more conclusive test and the hen that
comes out the leader. after running
the gauntlet of competition for many
weeks, should be a proud bird. UNI
approachable except with rich, red
gold.
The Utility Poultry Club is pro-
mots3g this Goliath struggle for the
egg stakes and, as there are no hand
leaps, every entrant faces the start
er on equal terms The Harper-Ad-
ans College at Newport. Shropshire,
is the venue of the meet, and there
are medals and money prizes galore
to be wen by the owners of the lead
ing hens.
The site of this great hat-racing
event is a field some 200 feet above
sea-level. The field is nicely divided
up into convenient lots, and every
pen will be 200 square yards in area. In
each pen there will be six hens, the
noble six belonging to one owner, for
an entry in this competition is consti-
tuted of six birds.
with glass and wooden shutters; floors
of rammed earth, soaked in disinfect-
ant on which scratching litter will be
laid. One house and pen will be pre-
eisely the same in size, appointments
and general arrangements as the 80
others and there will be no question
of winning the. toss for the best po-
sition. either against the rails or with
the wind.
The cuisine. excellent in its plan
ming, will be strictly uniform. In the
morning there will be a meal COM
posed of one or more of the following
viands: Ground oats. sharps, maize
meal, barley meal, pea meal. bran,
green bone, meat, boiled vegetables.
biscuit meal. &e.-a diet so diverse
that the most jaded appetite must
surely be tempted.
In the afternoon and evening the
foods will include wheat, oats, buck
wheat, dari, hemp and maize. There
will be a plentiful supply of fresh wa
ter, flint grit and oyster shell. but ii is
interesting TO note that no condiments
or spices are allowed. incidentally it
may be mentioned that the large,
roemy, motherly hens comprising the
heavy breeds will be differently fed
from their lighter and more lissome
rivals.
Obviously eco of Britains best egg
producers can only compete under q
rigid organization. For example, each
bird in a pen must be of the same
breed. and must have been Matched
not earlier than the January of this
year The entrance fee is 20 per pen,
but, to discourage faithless pullets,
or those with the slightest blot on
their escutcheons, the owner of pen
which does not during the competition
Law so per cent. of the average number
of eggs laid by the first 10 pens will be
INFLICTED in fine of Ct.
Neither the e2 nor the problematical
fines represent much of the great cost
of conducting this contest. The sale
of the eggs is to assist matters ana
there has been a grant from the
Treasury Of f500 to all stu further
to the sinews of war;
At the close of the contest the race
will not necessarily be to the swift
/. q. to those who have laid the most
eggs numerically Eggs is eggs of
course. but eggs weighing less than
two ounces are deemed to be worth
Is per cent less than two-ounoe eggs,
while those under one and one half
ounces will be spot barred, and will
not count at all in the contest.
When the year has run. its course
the awards will be made according to
the monetary value of the eggs laid.
Answers.