The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03

amount Of flesh Of high quality.
larry conducted In Australia for about
ffteen years, and In other countries for O
shorter period OF time. In some quarters
they have been criticised. but the consen.
suS Of opinion of the practical poultrymen
seems to be overwhelmingly favorable to
them.
The pioneer event OF this character IN
America was planned in 1910. and was
started In the fall OF 1911. AT this writing
there are several competitions under way
and others projected. OF these three stand
out most prominently and will be specif-
cally referred to below.
The objects Of these competitions are
many: To create IA popular interest in
fowls as laying machines. not mere toys
or objects of beauty. To induce poultry
men to pay more attention to the laying
ability OF the individual hen, the unit in
the flock. upon which real progress In
breeding depends. To give utility poui-
trymen an opportunity TO publicly demon
strato the value Of their birds as egg
producers. thus enabling them to reap the
reward OF their efforts in attempting to
develop laying strains. To bring to.
gether large number OF selected birds
OF many different kinds from the yards
OF large number OF breeders for inspec-
ton and study by students and others.
To permit the accumulation OF valuable
data having to do with egg production,
feeding costs, &c
When the first American competition
was announced many poultrymen attacked
Or ridiculed the scheme. Some seemed to
think the object was to demonstrate that
some certain breed held q monopoly In the
matter OF egg production. Others i'm
mediately questioned the accuracy OF the
records which We're yet to be made. One
wrote 10 an agricultural journal calling
the plan foolish. since II was a well known
fact that some hens lay better than others
and therefore this point required no proof.
OF course. much OF this was based upon
an imperfect understanding or the objects
sought, and most adverse comment has
now been stllled.
Anything which may be said In favor Of
the COW testing work which has had such
beneficial influence on the dairy Indus
try applies with equal force 10 the hen
testing compel itions. Any argument which
may be brought forward by The supporters
OF poultry exhibitions as n help and strnu-
Jus to the poultry fancy can be used in
favor OF these competitive wants for the
utility poultry breeder. Any question re-
earding the liability and accuracy Of the
records made in the main competitions
can be brought up in connection with the
records made in the COW testing work or
the placing Of the awards In the poultry
showroom. The COW testing associations
and the poultry show organizations have
had their share OF the hard knocks but
they have survived and are extending the
scope OF their activities. From present
conditions we judge that the laying COM
petitions will do likewise
The records thus far made in these OIL
cidl events cannot fail 10 inspire breeders
to work for better results In thousands
OF homes the weekly and monthly scores
are watched for with greatest interest.
On untold numbers of poultry plants the
managers are giving their birds the great
est attention in the effort to equal or ex-
coed these official records In all parts
OF the country ambitious breeders are Sc
curing blood from the most productive
strains and are using the trap nest and
pedigreeing their stock In the effort 10
greatly increase the average egg produc-
ton OF their fiocks. The public Is learn
ing to think of poultry in terms Of eggs
az we'll az of ribbons won in the eNh-
billions. And this cannot fail 10 be of
great benefit to the Industry.
Bearing in mind the fact that the aver
age hen In America produces hut sixty TO
eighty eggs per year. consider the laying
competition records thus far made
The first North American international
egg laying competition was staged at
Storrs, Conn, and ran for one year from
November !. 1911. Ninety-eight pens OF
Ave birds each We're entered. a total OF
+9O individuals. representing twenty-three
breeds and varieties. The avera ge egg
production per bird was 15i eggs. A
number Of individuals passed tho 200
mark, one making a score OF 25% eggs
The first Missouri competlt on, held at
Mountain Grove. Mo. contained slightly
larger number of birds, and these aver
aged about 1874 eggs each. one hen pro-
duced the astonishing number OF 2sI
eggs in the year
In the second North American compe-
titlon 500 hens averaged 1873 eggs. the
high individual making a laying competi-
lion record OF cs@ eggs In 36j consecu-
I've days,
Mlssouri's second contest had about 700
hens entered, which made an average OF
li3 eggs. the high individual producing
200.
The third North American competition
r. being conducted at Thorndale. Pa,
with 500 birds entered Records thus far
made ara much better than those of
the previous contests during the same
period The same may be said OF the
third Missouri contest
The steady progrcss made IN these
three years indicates that our breeders
are already producing better birds and
are learning how 10 bring them to lay
ing maturity at n stated date. This GER
tainly IL long step In the right drec-
ton.
The first Storrs contest opened Novein-
her !, with SEQ birds quartered in the
same buildings couple by the first and
second North American competitions. Fair
records have been made. especially by
"A few pens. Unfortunately, the average
egg yield is somewhat disappoln.,ng. being
much lower than those secured during
the two preceding competitions II In
hoped that n much better showing will
be- made during the latter half of the
year, There II still time to regain lost
ground.
(Copyrght BY Maios-Mcns Advertising
Company. inc)
To Raise More British Poultry.