61 



The educatioual schemes and the breeding stations were of particular interest 

 and worthy of serious consideration. Where the market demands a uniform pro- 

 duct, the stock must be as far as possible fairly uniform as to breeds, as also must 

 the methods of feeding, etc. 



Education of Producer. In Ireland there are two main features in the educa- 

 tion of the producer. The employment of one or more qualified teachers in each 

 county, and the establishment of small flocks of poultry on selected farms to 

 serve as object lessons and as centres for the distribution of settings of eggs. 

 For the purposes of tJie scheme each county is usually divided into circuits, in 

 each of which there are five centres, where it is the duty of the teacher to spend 

 some weeks giving lectures on poultry keeping in the evenings, and during the day 

 visiting farms near tlie centre for the purpose of instructing individuals in all that 

 pertains to the management of poultry. Instructors also inspect the poultry 

 stations under their charge and assist the holders in procuring suitable changes 

 of birds. They see that the stations are properly kept and that tlie Department's 

 rules and regulations are being kept. It is required by the Department that winter 

 lectures to adults must be followed — if not ultimately superseded — by systematic 

 tutorial and practical instruction to small classes of younger pupils who are pre- 

 pared to attend daily for a number of weeks at local centres. Local classes are 

 usually held in spring and summer. The instruction thus given includes, besides 

 the rearing and management of poultry, such subjects as fattening, killing, and 

 trussing, egg grading and packing, and the keeping of accounts and' egg records. 



The second feature of the scheme is the establishment of poultry farms or 

 stations at suitable centres in tiie county farms, the owners of which undertake 

 to do away with all the poultry on the premises, and, with or without financial 

 assistance from the Department and the County Committee, stock the farm anew 

 with pure bred selected birds of a type suitable to the neighborhood, and approved 

 of for the purpose by the Department's Inspectors. It is a condition strictly 

 enforced that no other birds, unless in exceptional cases where enclosed runs are 

 provided, shall be allowed on the farm. The owner undertakes to sell settings 

 of eggs to persons in the district at a fixed charge per setting (usually about 50 

 cents per dozen) and to manage the poultry in accordance with the directions of 

 the county instructor. The owner is usually supplied with a portable house, the 

 object bei]ig to disseminate among the people of the district the advantages of better 

 housing and of keeping the birds more in the fields than is generally the custom. 

 Those who comply with these conditions receive a small premium at the end of 

 each season. 



It has been found in Ireland that only by a system of itinerant instruction 

 and by numerous practical demonstrations could satisfactory results be accom- 

 plished. 



The other European countries have not worked so directly as has Ireland in 

 the education of producers, but have depended more upon the co-operative require- 

 ments to exert an influence in tliis direction. 



In order to further educate the producer in Ireland some counties introduced 

 "portable poultry schools." These are equipped with simple but adequate plants 

 and provided with stock and all the necessary appliances. Such a school is located 

 at a centre where a field is obtained for the pens of birds, with houses and runs, 

 and a room adjoining is utilized for working the incubators and such appliances 



