]0 April, 1911.] Burnley Egg-laying Corn-petition. 



283 



BUKXLEV EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. l!»ll-li. 



H . V . Hawkins, Poultry Expert. 



Xo other State in the Comnion\ve;ihh has done more to raise the 

 standard of its farm poultry than Victoria. This has been accomplished 

 by means of lectures, demonstrations at shows, visits to farmers, and 

 distribution of literature. During the pa.st nine years, short courses of in- 

 struction, extending over several days, have been held in almost every dis- 

 trict. The.se have been well attended, with the result that there has been 

 a large increa.se in egg production. At one time, farmers were content to 

 keep a few nondescript fowls tlu- tjuestion of breed, strain, or even of 

 age, was given but little thought. N'ow. there are many men and women 

 farming poultry as a distinct Inisiness. Hy their industry an<l enthusiasm 

 they have worked up successful farms. Most of the.st- have wi.sely kejit 

 to one particular breed and bv (ulling out the unprofitable binls arc breed- 

 ing only from the best. .St) great an iiUercst has bicn taken in the outinit 

 of eggs that a computation, marie by the Superintendent of l'.xiM)rts (Mr. 

 k. Crowe), and the writer, as to the relative values of Au.slralian eggs, 

 shows that Victoria leads the way at .'4s. 6d. p«r head of population, 

 Siiith .Australia being 20s. 6d.. anrl \ew South W.des 14s. 



.\s a furtliir incentive to larniers. especially small holders, to increa.se 

 the egg yield, the Hon. the Minister for .Ngricullure (Hon d. Ciraham. 

 M.L.A.) decid'il last July to inaugurate an .\nnu.i! F.gg-laying ("nmpetilion 



