The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-05

8 hibition, read it 81
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By G. L. Wood. Poultry Editor.
EHERE is not well settled sec
ton on the coast in which 1t
will not be possible to see from
one to three poultry shows at the
fall fairs. These will differ some
what in quality. and the best birds
will nearly always be found at the
larger shows, although the induce
ments at the larger shows are not
always better than at the smaller
ones. The cash premiums at all
the shows are too small. The be-
lief seems to prevail among fair sec
retaries that the poultrymen's de-
sire to show their stock is sufficient
to overcome the small financial
benefits offered.
Fair organizations refuse to be-
ieve that their course is not the
proper one, even in the face of the
fact that many coast shows are
practically boycotted by any breed
ers of quality. and for no other rea-
son than that the arrangements for
the poultry department are insuffi-
cient.
The proportion of poultry breed
ers visiting the fairs is increasing
each year, if we are to believe the
reports turned in from every city
and village, where nearly everyone
has at least one pen Of birds, ano
more if their yards will permit. And
the man who raises poultry today Is
ten times more curious as to raising
and breeding his stock than the
average breeder in the past has ever
been. There is so much data in the
poultry papers, so many experiments
and improvements Of modern times
have increased the opportunities In
the poultry business, that the aver
age breeder is anxious to get all
the information he can assimilate.
He finds just how much improve
ment there has been in the breeding
of the stock itself at the poultry
exhibits. He goes there because hs
wants to see the best birds that are
bred. If the awards have been in
sufficient to draw out the good
birds, and if the exhibit is small, as
is generally the ease. possibly his
breed will not be on display at all
In a measure then the poultry dis
MAY has been a failure in that Il
lust failed to do for the observer
what it should have done. Only
good, substantial premiums viii
draw it's good breeders and keel
them and make the poultry exhibit
worth while. California is COMING
to the front in this regard and coult
be pointed to as a good example
In many of their local fairs the pre-
miums exceed those Of our owl
state fairs, and the number of cup
and specials offered would do credl
to many of our winter shows
These shows coop large entries am
draw the best birds from every sec
ton of the state, and such exhibit
will draw patronage for miles Il
every direction. Where exhibitor
feel that their local awards are low
they should organize, meet their ad
yisory boards with a bold front an
press their claims. These protest
registered with sound argument an
persistence will be given substant1s
consideration.
The Farmer as an Exhibitor.
The farmer as an exhibitor Is a
most thing of the future, but M
very distant one by any mean
From personal experience at ia
fairs and learning at first hand jul
what the farmer and his wife al
thinking and planning along tt
poultry line, we are convinced tn
they will be strong factor in f
ture exhibitions. The farmer hi
left the mongrel stage of poult
raising almost entirely. Near
every flock on the farm is pu
bred. Despite the frenzied effor
of some scholarly agitators Il
farmer will be content to stay
his pure bred stock, and improve
in every way possible.
The average farmer is not int