Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-01-22
EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF
POULTRY EXHIBITIONS,
CIV. R. Gilbert in Reliable Poultry

Journal.1
In these days OF. great exhibitions
with their thousands of birds, at which
competition is found to be severe in
the extreme and the chances of small
poultry keepers appear to be limited,
the educational side is apt to be gor-
gotten. Yet every poultry show has
an educational value which may be
even proportionate1y greater in the
smaller local gatherings than in the
larger exhibitions. 1t has been prov
cd perhaps more especially in Austria
liza, that the first steps in the improve
rlent of the poultry of a country is
the holding of a poultry show in
every district, so that the farmers and
others may see that better types of
fowls than they possess and become
dissatisfied with what they were be-
fore contented. To do this means an
awakening of a spirit of emulation
one of the greatest factors towards i'm
provements
One of the first lessons learned
learned from an exhibition of poultry
is the remarkable variation of breed
and type and the wonderful changes
brought about by the distribution, by
differing conditions and by breeding,
for the majority of diverse types TO
be seen are rescended from a com :
nor parent. While it is true that
of u breeds have been evolved
by direct breeding, the majority is due
to natural selection and the result OF
environment. What is here meant f.
that any district where the condi-
ticns r fairly uniform, if the fowls
are bred on ordinary lines. the
tendency is towards the development
OF one type. This influence may take
many years, perhaps generations, to
accomplish its purpose, but such is
the fact.
When modified by direct selection on
the part of breeders, the effect is much
more rapid. Therefore, a poultry
show combines the work of many
countries and of cultitudinous breed
ers It proves, if proof were neces-
sary, how plastic is the fowl, together
with its modification and it's adapta-
biIity.
Study of the breeds displayed in al
most any exhibition shows that while
there are great variations and diver
gences in respect to minor points Of
difference, such as color of plumage,
markings, amount of feathers, size
and shape OF combs, color of legs and
feet and shape of body, these are, sec
ondary to these qualities which are not
the surface and the varieties re-
solve themselves into four classes
namely, such as are primary layers, in
which the amount of flesh is small;
those. that are highly developed ia
and. which, therefore; carry a
considerable quantity of edible flesh
and as a rule, are much heavier in
body; a third class stands between
these two, combining them without
development in either direc-
ton.
These latter, in many instances,
are favored by reason of the fact that
they serve a dual purpose. There is
g fourth class, that of purely n
breeds5i in which the economic
properties are frankly ignored and all
efforts are devoted to the external
characters. AS a means of display
ing the skill of the breeders and of
encouraging the ~recreative side of the
industry, the ornamental breeds r
worthy of study.
Exhibitions, therefore, teach the diff
ferences between the respective breeds
and varities and should show the best
types of each. 1t is an interesting
study to learn what differentiates one
breed from another. In some cases
these differences are small. For in
stance, take the Buff Orpington and
the Buff Plymouth Rock, in which the
color of the legs practically deter
whether a bird is of one or the
other breed. In the former this is
white, in the latter, orange or yellow.
The main educational value Of
shows, therefore, is to teach these diff
ferences; to encourage c%learness of
definition and to afford that stimulus
to the breeds and varieties which shall
help forward practical production.
Whether that is realized as much as
Il ought to be is another question.