60 



Anconas. This breed might be termed a speckled or mottled Leghorn. They 

 have all the characteristics of the Leghorn, and are black and white in color. This 

 breed is gaining in popularity among the practical poultrymen. 



Hainhurgs. There are several varieties of this breed. The black is the most 

 popular. They are inclined to lay an undersized egg. We have found the blacks 

 to be good layers, and to lay a fair-sized egg. They have rose combs and are neat 

 and active in appearance. 



SHOUT XOTf:S OX POULTEY WORK IN IRELAND, SCOTLAND, 



E:^tgLAND, and DENMARK. 



During the summer of 1912, tlie writer was permitted to investigate a portion 

 of the poultry work in the above-mentioned countries, with the particular object 

 of learning, as far as possible, in the limited time at his disposal, the general 

 practice of co-operative marketing of poultry products and of giving instruction 

 to the producers, also as to the methods of stock improvement. 



In general terms the marketing of eggs by means of egg circles or the co- 

 operative method is successful in the outlying districts, but where it has been 

 tried near large cities, so far as the writer could learn, the movement had not been 

 a pronounced success in most instances. All members must be loyal to the move- 

 ment if success is to be permanent. In several instances the writer learned of 

 various schemes that had been tried to break up the circle, even to paying far 

 more than the eggs were worth and to paying an extra price to prominent members. 

 Many of the egg circles have passed through trying times, caused by the lack of 

 information on tire part of tlie producers and by bad management, also inflated 

 prices. The writer visited several collecting depots in Ireland which at some time 

 had almost failed. In nearly all instances the trouble had been removed when a 

 change was made in managers. So much depends on the manager, that the success 

 or failure of the proposition appeared to rest largely with him. 



Nearly all the societies visited collected the eggs by means of wagons, which 

 travelled about the country, in some instances the eggs were handled by the co- 

 operative creamery. Most of the co-operative societies sell such goods as are needed 

 by the people, not only groceries, etc., but farm implements and fertilizers. ^ 



The markets demand not only goods of high standard, but of constant uniform 

 quality. In a word, the success of Denmark appeared to be that they were putting on 

 the market large quantities of a uniform product. Each pound of butter was like 

 the previous one as to flavor, etc., and the same was true of eggs as to size, fresh- 

 ness, etc. 



The co-operative marketing is beyond the experimental stage in all these 

 countries, and, naturally, is more successful in some districts than others. The 

 writer recalls one instance in which the producer would not sell the eggs of the 

 farm through the local co-operative society because the eggs were smaller than 

 the neighbors, and consequently the price received was less per egg. Another 

 party could receive six cents per 120 eggs more in a town twelve miles distant than 

 the local co-operative paid, hence the eggs were driven to the town and sold. 



The size of the eggs received much more attention than here, also the care 

 of the egg after taking from the nest. 



