Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-02-04

Within the past few years, there has
ppearcd in the poultry press much for
nd against the fancy and much said in
lvor of utility until the average begin
err is utterly at n loss as to which road
take. In most cases there has been
% give-and-tahe In the matter of utility
fancy. ana both sides have written in
he majority of cases from their own
iewpont
The dyed in he-woo utility breeder
ondemns anything that "smacks" Of the
howroom and in some cases the fancier
Just as narrow regarding utility quail
es. But the reaction can he seen, csoo-
Tally during the past few years. Gayin"
pntests have had much to do with this
ondition of affairs, and the different
tate experiment stations which, by the
Sc of trap nests. good housing and i'm
pine cases. careful feeding. have shown
the poultry public that the so-Called
tllty breeders fowls have made good
cords But more remarkable stll, fowls
rom the yards Of the fancier have also
cen among the leaders.
Then the egg-type theory. az it was
nown. was exploded when fowls. not of
10 accepted egg type, from different
Feeders made wonderful records. So as
ach year goes on theories have been
,legated to the rear and practical tests
experiment stations ana the country 6
aiding breeders have shown that there is
i'll much to learn regarding poultry Gull
IRE. Utility stands for productiveness in
he fowl. eggs and meat. and in paying
lantltY. Whenever a flock is so bred
progressive breeders that it performs
etter than the average hen, 1t is called
utility strain. and herein lies fault
acoming more general each year. Any
ing that looks like h chicken but has
ir producing powers has been labeled
utility fowl" and in many cases not 10
disputed they are little moro thar
rubs
Utility FOWLS OFTEN MERELY
CULLS.
In some cases utility fowls are sold
I'D instead of finding their way into the
Rnds of the beginner in poultry SHOULD
ave been sold on the open market fo
hat they could hrinG.It is in such case
lat the beginner receives his first lessor
poultry and many times it is his las
the purchase of so-called utility stock
he fact must hc considered that tn,
pod utility strain Of any breed, made 81
it's past and present records as layers
combination OF layers and flesh
|rmers. are worth considerably NOR
IAN few cents above the market quota
pms. In fact, the Matching eggs, day
d chick, or stock are worth as mucl
|om utility standpoint as the fancier'
lWl with its showroom points. \ 200
Eyer is worth as much as the leading
ne ribbon winner at any of the Goo'
bultry shows. for, i'm spite of the h.gl
cords one reads about, they are jus
hard to obtain as point winner a
q leading shows.
So. when one reads about utility strain
ith n price but a few cents above tn
arket quotations. il is time to uuesto
neither they are really all that is elaine
n them The fancier, in spite OF the or
hstion shown by the rank and file {
numerical poultry rasers, has still hel
s own. When the farmer wishes to n
rove his flock either in Plymouth Rock
-vandottes Rhode Island Reds. Orpinl
MS Leghorns, etc, the fancicr has ha
q call for the order. Why? First, b.
uge everyone knows that the leadr
meier has in his breed shape charactc
tic, that IL utility; second, uniform co
that is fancy, and when egg produ
pn is added to this, it means "A utili
wi in the fullest sense. This is VIII
ore progressive breeders have in the
,cks than the average beginner realize
QUALITY COMMANDS PRICE.
But when these characteristics, shal
hiform color of plumage ana egg produ
pm are stamped in strain the pri
eggs, day-Old chicks and stock is douf
@ price of the so-callcd utility strai
cause added characteristics are hard
obtain than one or two of the utili
Ialities. and here is the point on viii
many beginners are at loss as to VIII
do, In the first place, the average b
nner wishes first of all eggs, and plen
them to supply the home table and
V the feed bill and upkeep of t
bultrY plant, be il large or small. I'll
lality can be found in any utility stra
almost any breed But most people a
so lovers of the beautiful and like t
bck to look fairly uniform. In such
Sc they must look further than to j.
q plain utility breeder who does
re If a Leghorn's tail goes straight
the air, or If its comb il as large
Minorca's, or II the legs are yellow
hte. or the eyes fsh-colored, and plu
Re. as so often seen yellow or whetl
e Plymouth Rock has barring all o.
body, any color but the proper one,
Q Rhode Island Red has a lemon nc
d back and saddle feathers another {
In this case they will eventually W
in getting stock from the so-called &
ucf abused fanclcr, who, it has b
aimed. breeds only for feather and
utility, ana who some times edvoca
at nne fec there and egg production q
" be combined In this they are wro
r the best festhersd fowl, Madi
usre Garden winner. can hH high r
icing LAYER, and at tho same time hi