Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-27
POULTRY EXHIBITIONS
ER|Tu|BERAL SUPPORT
Provo Source of Education and En-
thusiasm for Standard.
Bred Fowls.
THEY ARE NOT AN IDLE HOBBY
Necessary Preparations for Selecting,
Training and Grooming Contest
ants-Fine Feathers and Form Not
Only Thing in Showroom.
BY II. ARMSTRONG RonEnrs.

The poultry show season Is at hand.
Some of the early fail exhibitions.
,s sHse hsia In With state
metropolitan exhibitions are Yet to
come: and poultry raisers who intend
70 enter these competitions should
commence their preparations now.
Next TO the poultry press there IL
no better advertising medium than the
sh;,%ro also there IL no better edu-
Tor pure-bred fowls: it is opposed to
m1nonEreiism; and pure bred fowls are
eonsry sso@ S nou'r vs nSussy
thusiasm for better fowls. Without
these annual exhibitions interest in
poultry affairs would be dwarfcd., or
stimulated interest in poultry: thou
sands OF persons have followed their
scores who otherwise never thought
ABOUT chickens except to eat them.
Their sporting instincts are appealed
TO by these contests: 1t is the spirit
OF the , rsSs,1 win in eomne'iton
holds true Of the showroom. Whereas
inc egg laying contest Is test of per:
are Of breeding to fixed standards.
One factor is as essential as the other.
purely a hobby. used only by fam
clers and others who raise fowls as
a pastime. This is mistaken idea.
The Commercial poultryman may not be
Interested in the precise angle at which
tall Is carried. length OF shank. color
OF eyes and other points. which oc-
same time every utility breeder APP
prec!ates the need for standa rd- ed
poultry. therefore. anything which sup
ports this view is worthy OF all the
ENCOURAGEMENT possible. II II were not
Tor the showroom there would be no
standard types. and without standard
types the bulk Of our poultry would
revert to mixed breeds-mongrels.
EXHIBITS HAVE LARGE
EDUCATIONAL VALUE.
Furthermore; nne, feathers and fine
in the showroom. There is much OF
practical value. such as poultry house
equipment, feeding appliances: incu-
One can gain new points on saiesma :
ship. better knowledge OF how to
mate next. seasons breeders. sugges-
fattening. killing. dressing and ship
ping. and other things too numerous
70 mention. Last. but not least. one
poultrymen. therefore "A broader out
look on the conditions which make for
success.
and value OF the poultry show is found
In the fact that the number of shows
increases each year. There may be an
exception this year. as last season. due
to the war. because these are abnormal
times. AZ the outbreak Of the war.
however; there were more than a thou
alone.
One Of the greatest opportunities OF
the exhibition is the chance to con-
vince the farmer that standard br ed
fowls are just as hardy az mongrels. IL
not more so: that pure breeds are
more productive. therefore more
profitable, and that they cost very
little more to buy in the first place. and
no more to keep after the initial cost.
chanccs OF getting in touch with farm
ers; nothing can beat the State fairs
for this
At heart every farmer appreciates
good lookin live stock. He takes the
keencst pleasure in driving pair of
cows. well-bred hogs and sheep; and
he could be made to have the same
respect for pure-bred fowls There are
standard breeds for every farm pur-
pose IL more of these standard breeds
were substituted for the mixed variety
or manure Ttle diEgers" which pre-
dominate on farms, their owners would
take greater profits from this form Of