The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-13

1opyrignt, Ial1, by Matos-Mcn1 -euN.
 Co, Inc.)
 From one to two hundred interested visitors inspect the North American ln- ternational Egg Laying Competition plant each week. Many of our readers would like to make the trip but are unable to do so. Professor Stoneburn describes the plant and outlines the methods in use there in his subjoined article.
 During the course Of the third North American international egg-laying competition, which opened November l. 1913, the writer has received many re- quests for details of the method of management employed at the competi- tion plant. These inquiries indicate that poultrymen are deeply interested in this event and desire to learn ex- actly how the birds are housed fed and cared for in order to secure such astonishingly heavy egg production. The present contribution presents the details of the system used.
 But first, just a word regarding these competitions At the present time there are three separate events of this char acter which are attracting much at tention. The North American at Thorn dale, Pa, the Missouri at Mountain Grove, Mo-, and the Connecticut at Storrs, Conn. The first named Is the pioneer, the first laying competition to be organized in America. The second was announced shortly after the first. and, like it, was started in the fall of 1911. The third is an offshoot of the North American competition and is now in its first year.
 Object of Competition
 Briefly stated. these events all have the same object To stimulate inter- est in the hen as producer of eggs, as against the showroom demand for perfection in form and color. It was believed, and the truth of the assump- tion has been conclusively demon { strated, that very large proportion of the rank and file Of poultry keep CTS are primarily interested in the util- ! ity side of the industry, that they | would welcome an opportunity to dem l onstrate the laying ability of their stock by placing selected pens in the l hands of disinterested parties and in | this way establish official egg rec ords. Further, that since the tendency | toward heavy laying is undoubtedly in- | herited, the general public would free ! Iy purchase from producers of certi- l fled layers and so introduce this blood | sinto unnumbered flocks throughout the | dustry.
 The writer well remembers the. diffi- ! culties which had to be overcome when | the first North American competition 1 was inaugurated, how 'lificult 1t was | to interest those who had most to gain, l how a large part of the poultry press | either commented unfavorably or stood | entirely aloof waiting for develop | ments. Today the whole situation Is Ichanged, and public sentiment is over whelmingly favorable.
 E The North American competition Is now Z nearing the close of it's third year Dur | ing this entire period it has been under the same management. the competition plant has been in charge of the same | man, the ration and feeding methods have been unchanged. Therefore, the results from year to year are fairly comparable | Further, the records secured, including av- | craze production of the whole flock, pro- l duction of leading pens and individuals have exceeded any which have been ob- | ,ttained in similar competitions in Amer | fica.
 Records Secured
 The first North American competition | contained AGO birds. These averaged l54 eggs each in the year beginning Novem- | Der 1, 1911. The leading pen of five birds l produced 1O71 eggs-an average of 2l4- and the leading lnulVluudl nduc recVru l of 25i eggs
 In the second competition the average | for 800 birds 156 eggs. the winning 1 pen produced 1190 eggs-234 average-and l sthe best individual made contest record | tof 2S2 eggs.
 At this writing. the third contest has | closed its forty-f1rst week, or 2S7 days. The 1 BOO contesting birds have in this time laid | 1852 eggs nearly 5000 more than were produced in the same time last year. ] This is an average of 147 eggs per bird in l the 2S7 days which have elapsed, an in- | crease of r eggs over last years aver age during the same period. If this ad- | vantage can be held to the end of the | contest. 1t will result in an average pro- duction of 173 eggs for every bird in the flock.
 Let the reader bear in mind that the | average American hen is said to produce | about 72 eggs per year, and he will appre- ciate more fully what these records mean.
 At the end of the forty first week the | leading individuals are as follows Barred | Plymouth Rock, 234 eggs; Columbian Ply mouth Rock. 227 eggs; White Wyandotte, 2o5 eggs. White Leghorn, PIT eggs. The %four leading pens. five layers in each. are White Leghorns. 963, 9Sl and 950 eggs, re- spectivey, and White Wyandottes 9i4 eggs.
 The following table shows the breeds. the number of individuals of each breed and the average egg production during the period covered:
 AVERAGE EGG PRODUCTION BY