The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21

standard breed and two varieties: Cam pine, silver and golden.
 AN EGG FACTORY
 If you want to raise chickens for eggs only, if you want to make your hennery strictly an egg factory with meat pro- duction only an afterthought, you must select an egg breed. You have 20 chances, according to a new publication from the United States department of agriculture, describing the breeds of chickens belong ing to the egg class, Farmers Bulletin S9S. Standard Varieties of Chickens. II. The Mediterranean and Continental Classes
 That is, there are 20 members of the two groups of chickens which poultry experts classify as the egg breeds. The Mediterranean class includes the Leg horns-nine varieties; the Minorcas-five varieties; the Spanish-one variety; the Ancona-two varieties and the Blue An dalusian. In the Continental class is the one breed, Campine with two varieties All of these breeds lay white-sheled eggs. They are called egg breeds be- cause fowls of these types are especially good layers, but are not so well suited to the table. They are the breeds best suited for poultry farms where the pro- duction of eggs is the main purpose The Leghorn breed, and in particular the Sin gle Comb White Leghorn variety, Is the most popular and widely kept.
 The egg breeds are smaller than the general purpose types of chickens such as the Plymouth Rock. For that req son they do not make particularly de- sirable meat fowls and are not 50 well favored by the poultry packers as are the larger general purpose breeds Surplus cockerels, however, sold as broilers when theySweigh from threc- quarters to a pound and half, find a ready market.
 The bulletin mentioned describes the different breeds and varieties of layers in the two classes and illus trates them. However the purpose of the bulletin is to give only general descriptions of appearance and char acter. For description sufficiently cetailed to enable one to breed ex- hibition specimens it will be necessary, the specialists say to refer to the American Standard of Perfection. a BOOK published by the American Poul- try association and the guide by which ail the poultry shows in the United states are judged
 WHERE EGG BREEDS ARE KEPT
 Eggs. of course, are produced wher- ever chickens are kept, and by far the greater part of the egg crop comes from the general farm. vet large so- called egg farms have been develored With the main purpose of producing eggs for market. The largest of these egg farms and the greater Number of them are located near markets which pay a premium for white eggs. and TOT this reason, together with the fact that eggs are primarily desired. the breeds kept are those known as tha egg breeds, such as Leghorn, Cam pine Minorca and Ancona.
 NATION NEEDS POULTRY
 Poultry production should be in- creased greatly. especially in back yards and on farms where waste ma terial is available and the purchase of expensive grains and other material, is not required
 increased poultry production may bo oDtalned most economically, according 10 the federal experts, by early hatcb- ms, by confining mother hens at least lo days after the chicks are hatcbe,I py reducing losses on account of rats weasels and thieves and cold damn conditions. by thorough sanitation hy oiscoura ging the marketing of early hatched bullets as broilers. by elin,, inatlrU nonproducing hens and keen- ihe good layers through at least two. laying seasons and by the nouItr. man raising his own feed as far as possible "S