Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-12-04
Shows lnstill Enthusiasm and
Create Interest Among
Amateurs; Bring Fanciers
and Farmers Together
By Michael X. Boyer

Poultry Editor OF the Farm journal.
Poultry shows are largely respons-
iblc for the rapid progress OF the Poul-
try Industry in America. Exhibition
fowls at their best are interest stimu-
lators and arc often the cause of poul-
trymCn adopting better methods. IN
this article, MIR. Boyer advises the
amateur To take an interest in poultry
shows and also tells how to breed
prize winners.
CIXTY-ONE years ago the first
y poultry show was held in Amer
~ ica. The exhibition was given in
tho American Museum, in New York
city. owned and operated by p. I.
Barnum, the great Snowman.
1t was at that show that twenty-nine
judges were employed, among whom
were such noted men as the late ID. ID.
r. Moore. editor of Moore's Rural
New Yorker. md the late Luther
Tucker, editor of the Country Gentle
man. An association was formed un-
der the title of the National Poultry
Society and the late =. n. Barnum was
elected president. Among the list of
vice presidents were Horace Greeley,
Orange Judd and George p. Burnham.
a. B. Allen, the noted agricultural edi-
tor was chosen recording secretary.
History does not say how long this
national organization existed, but it is
presumed that it held up until about
1873, when, at a meeting in Buffalo,
\. Y. the American Poultry Associa-
ton was organized. The object of the
latter society was to get up standard
OF excellence for the guidance of
judges in awarding prizes.
The first American Standard of EN-
cellence, now known as the American
Standard of Perfection. was adopted
by the American Poultry Association
at the meeting held January Is, 1874.
AS stated. the first regular poultry
show was held siXty-ouc years ago
$3.50. Prior to that the only public
displays Of fowls We're held at county
cages. out of doors. somewhere about
the fair grounds, and received only II
passing notice. The judges chosen
were men who We're anything but eX-
perts. but by common consent their
judgment was final and was gracefully
! accepted by the exhibitors.
| So much for history. At the present
! day shows are held all over the United
States--in small towns and in cities
| and so largely are they held that. no
matter where poultrymen reside. they
have an opportunity to attend at least
one of these exhibitions.
The fancier deserves a whole lot OF
the business. He has made for us
new breeds. and he has improved the
old ones. There are two classes OF
poultrymen--the fanciers and the util-
ity men. The formers occupation is
to perfect the old and create new
breeds. They keep the breeds in theiI
purity.
1t is up TO the utility man to i'm
prove the practical qualities. In other
words, the fancier gives us the breed
as it should be in size, in style, in sym
metry.
The practical man then must, by
selection and breedng. bring out the
egg and meat qualities. The meat
qualities are largely created by the
fancier, since he must put shape anC
size to the birds.
Now while the fancier and the poul.
try farmer are working along two dis.
tinct lines. it is important that they
| get together" The former in max.
ing or improving breeds. should keer
in mind the requirements OF the latter
The latter. in turn. should make his
improvement without sacrificing the
characteristics of the breed in hand.