Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-09-18


Of Maine in regard to. the subject Of
holding an egg laying contest IN this
State on somewhat the same plan as
the egg laying contests which are now
being conducted in other parts of the
country. 1t has been suggested that
the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station should undertake carrying out
such a contest. Poultrymen in writing
to the Station in regard to this matter
tave asked two questions: First, as to
whether the Station believed in the
principle of such contests, and second,
whether specifically an egg laying con-
test would be a good thing for Maine.
In reply to the first question the state
ment has invariably been made that
the Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station is an enthusiastic believer in
the principle of egg laying contests.
This Station was pioneer in the work
Of obtaining exact records of the per-
Torrance of hens by means of trap
nests For II consecutive years the
Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton has maintained continuous trap
nest records of its own flock. 1t is be-
leyed now, as it was at the beginning,
that only by an accurate trap nest
record is it possible to form any just
estimate of hens performing abil-
ity. All the other so-called systems Of
Judging a hens work as a performer
are of very little value as compared
with the trap nest record
The egg laying contests of the
present day are in sense an out
growth of the kind Of work which the
Maine Agricultural Experiment sta
ton began Il years ago. They aim
to extend the same principle from one
flock to many. The farmer or poul-
tryman desires to know something
about the performing ability Of his
birds as individuals. Trap nesting,
however. is in many cases too ex-
pensive and time consuming PROPOSE
ton for him to undertake individually.
BY entering his birds in laying con-
test he gets an official and accurate
record of the performing abilities OF
the individuals sent. and from this he
can form his own judgment regarding
the rest of his flock.
The Experiment Station regards the
chief value of the laying contest as
educational. In recent bulletin OF
the Station the following statement
was made: 1T seems likely that we
shall see IA much further growth of
the egg laying contest idea in the
United States as well as in European
countries. Cnprejudiced observation
would seem to indicate that these con-
tests make a strong appeal to the
poultry public 1t is difficult to con-
ceive of any single measure better CAL
culated to arouse general interest IN
poultry keeping and call attention to
the results which follow good care and
breeding. In other words the educa-
tional value of laying contests would
seem to be beyond question that they
can he so conducted as to contribute
TO existing knowledge Of the laws OF
egg production also is beyond doub:.'
1t would further seem clear from
what is already known in regard to
the laws of egg production that it
would be highly desirable to have a
State over period of years. the
primary reason for this opinion is that
in laying contest opportunity is Civ
en- to get trap nest records on different
breeds under identical conditions. The
Experiment Station trap nesting work
has largely concerned itself with
Barred Plymouth Rocks. Our climate
is "a rather severe one during the win
ter. 1t is almost surely the case that
under these climatic conditions certain
breeds and varieties Of poultry will not
lay as we'll during the winter months
as they do in more southern ATTITUDES.
At the present time there does not eX-
list anywhere any considerable collec-
ton of trap nest records for birds or
different breeds kept in northern
climate. 1t would be very valuable to
have such data as guide to poultry
men.
When il comes to the practical
question of inaugurating such a contest
in Maine certain difficulties arise. Inc
first and foremost is that the Expert
ment Station has no funds with which
to conduct laying contest. Expert
ence in other places has shown that
the carrying on of an egg laying con-
test in proper manner, so as to obtain
exact records and proper care and at
tention, requires the expenditure OF
considerable sums Of money. Many
reople who casually urge the starting
Of an egg laying contest in this State
have no realization Of what it means
In the first place it would be necessary
to provide houses. In order for such
contest to have any value there should
be in il at least 100 pens Of BIRDS
each pen containing at least 10 hens
The houses for these birds must be SO
built that each pen is entirely separ-
ate from every other and there is no
possibility of the birds mixing. Fur
thermore the houses and pens and
yards must be so arranged that 1t
would be easily possible for visitors to
get a good view of the birds at all
times and under all conditions without
having to go into the pens. This
means a heavy outlay for fencing as
we'll as for building the houses. At
no contest in this country, or indeed In
the world. is anyone except the regu-
lar official attendants allowed to enter
the pens at any time. This means
permanent and solid construction
throughout.