THe JOURNAL 



or 



^fte department of Mgrmliure 



OF 



VICTORIA 



Vol. XVI. Part 6. 10th June, 1918. 



REPORT ON THE SEVENTH VIUTORIAN EGG-LAYING 

 COMPETITION. 1917-18. 



Conducted at the Burnley School of Primary Agriculture by the 

 Department of Agriculture, Victoria. 



Bj/ A. Hart, Chief Poultry Expert. 



In presenting my rejiort of tlie Egg-layiug Competitions, concluded 

 at Burnley in March last, there are a few matters, to which reference 

 has not been previously made, that call for conmient. 



The decision to extend the competitions over a period of only eleven 

 instead of twelve months, as formerly, will prevent comparisons of the 

 figures for the last competitions being readily made with those of previous 

 years. 



The most interesting result of the 1917-18 competitions is the per- 

 formance of a Black Orpington hen, owned by Mr. C. E. Graham, which 

 was entered in the Individual Orpington, Wet Mash Test, and which 

 laid 307 eggs in the period of the competition, viz., eleven months. As 

 it appeared likely that this bird would establish a new record if permitted 

 to remain for a full year, arrangements were made accordingly. The 

 result fully, justified this confidence, for her total number of eggs for 

 the twelve months, 335, is a world's recoi'd. This excellent result is 

 all the more remarkable when it is remembered that the average weight 

 of the eggs was approximately 26^ ounces per dozen. 



Another fine performance was that of a White Leghorn, belonging to 

 Messrs. Rogen and Andrew, in the Wet Mash Test for Individual 

 Leghorns. During the competition this bird laid 300 eggs, and, as it 

 seemed probable that, if given the opportunity, her total for twelve 

 months would exceed previous records for Leghorns, she was retained 



7416. 



