The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-12
FIRST POULTRY SHOW
BACKED BY BARNUM
Great Snowman Responsible
for Beginning Of Scheme
Now So Popular.
FANCIERS FILL 4 NEED

ny We ~ NJ hSV.
Sixty-ono yeors ago the first poultry
show Was held in America. The exhibi-
ton was given In the American Museum,
In New York city. owned and operated
by p. r. Barnum. the great Snowman.
1t was at that show that tw~enty-nine
Judges were employed. among whom were
such noted men as the late a. D.. T. Moore.
editor Of Moorc's, Rurul NeW Yorker.
and the late Luther Tucker. editor
Of the ConMtry Gentleman. An associa-
Gon was formed under tire title Of the
National Poultry Society and tho late
=. +. Barnum was elected president.
Among tho list Of vice-presidents were
Horace Greeley. Orange Judd and
George r. Burnahaan. A. h. Allen. The
noted agricultural editor. was chosen
recording secretary.
History does not say how long this
national organization existed. but 1t Is
presumed that II held up until abou
1879, when. at a meeting IN Buffalo,
n. Y. the American Poultry Association
wal organized. The object ID the latter
society was TO get UP a standard OF ex-
c~ellence for the guidance of Judges in
awarding prizes.
The first American standard Of ex-
cellene. now known as the American
standard of perfection, was adopted by
the american Poultry Association at the
meeting held January 10. 1874.
As stated. the first regular poultry show
was held sixty lone years ago 1s5&).
Prior to thai the only public displays of
fowls were held at county fairs. These
we're mostly IN open cages, out of doors,
somewhere about the fair grounds and
received only a passing notice. The
judges chosen were men who were any
thing hut experts. but by common coii-
sent their Judg'nen; vas final and was
gracefully accepted by the exhibitors.
so much for history. AZ the present
day shows are held oil over the United
States--in small towns and in cities
ard so largely are they held that. no
matter where poultrymen reside. they
have an opportunity TO attend at least
ono of these exhibitions
The fancter deserves a whole lot OF
credit. He Is the bone and inew OF
the business. He has made for us new
breeds. and he has improved the old
ones. There are two classes of poultry
men--thc fanclers and tho utility men.
The formers occupation II TO perfect the
old and create new breeds. They keep
the breeds in their purity.
Il is up to the utility man to improve
the practical qualities. In other words.
Nie ldll'ltt y No Wv plNtb tS ~
should he In size. In style. In symmetry.
Tn practical man then must. by Sc
lection and breeding. bring out the egg
and meat qualities. The meat qualities
are largely already "reatci 10y the fan
cicr. since he must put shape and size to
the birds,
Vow while the fancier and the poultry
farmer are working along two distinct
lines II il important thai they get to-
uasb~oys Tho f,r~nAr IN making ~ I'm.
proving breeds, should keep In mind the
requirements OF tho latter. The latter.
in turn. should make his improvement
without sacrificing the characteristics OF
the breed in hand.
A case In point Is a pen Of exhibition
White Wyandotte fowls which tho writer
purchased some ears ago. They were
used. At the end OF the year one-haif
of the flock were selected according to
their egg records) and bred to a male
that was Matched from an egg laid by
a high record hen. Each year there
after similar matings were made. until
to-day my White W%yandottes are not
only excellent layers but are wonder
fully well possessed OF show points. This
goes TO show that TO n considerable ex-
tent the fancy and the utility can be
combined.
Some years ago John Martin of Por,
Dover. Canada, finding that there was
n demand for bred to lay stock. decided
to make use of the trap nest to get the
records Of his best layers and to begin
systematic work along this line.
In the second years work he sue
ceeded in getting II wonderful record
from an exhibition pullet. IN was
Matched in February and began laying
early In the fall. In her first year $
laying she made IA splendid record OF
24I eggs This female he named
Dorcas and decided to make Use Of her
10 build UP a flock of heavy layers, She
had many other qualities besides being
a good layer. h had good exhibition
quality. splendid color. good shape, neat
hea points and plenty Of size.
h following season he mated her 70
a fine vigorous ockerel bred from a
female with a record OF goo eggs. This
cockerei also had Inc exhibition quality
and was good enough TO win In keen
competition. In building up this (wliat
he cailed) Dorcas line he discarded all
specimens that did not have fair eXhi-
bition quality and naturally his prog
ress has been a little slower han II
would have been II he had only taken
into account heavy egg production.
The three qualifications he demanded
from the females used IN his Dorcas
breeding pens were a. vigor and STAN
ina ca n good egg record tS) eAhibi-
ton quality. The male birds used to
head these. pens are also very carefully
selected. They must have a fine, sturdy.
vigorous appearance, with a record OF
high fertility back OF them. and bred
from females with a record OF zoo eggs
( or better. They must have neat heads
good eye color. stay white color. good
bone and az good Wyandotte type as
possible.
Mr.. Martins experience shows how II
is possible to combine fancy and utility ,
how we can have strong utility qualities
In our stock and yet not depart to II
| alarming extent from the requirements
of the standard.
| beginner starting out with "A certain
breed ran here SEE where his stock has
| weak points and wherein he IL strong,
To tho amateur In exhibitions he has
| the benefit of the judge who IL, as a
rule, n capable instructor. The begin
ner's fowls fail to get "a prize. He can-
not understand II. To him the winner
| do not look a bit better than his own.
| WHY tn. distinction In excitement he
seeks the Judge to demand an cNplsna'
, tion. That official. used Ia the kicks ot
men Of little knowledge, calmly explains
why tho fowls were disqualified or shows
wherein they are deficient. The lessor
thus taught Ia a lasting one.
Breeding for exhibition. especially at
ter a reputation has been gained, |:
profitable, but not all men can be fan
riers. 1t IL "A talent that must h. bor1