766 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Dec, 1908. 



locality, arrangement of pens, suitability of breeds (either for export or 

 egg production), cleanliness, uniformity, attention to detail, and the prac- 

 ticability of making the farm a going concern. 



The points allotted to the various competitors are as follow: — 



The illustrations give a good idea of the leading farms and, with a 

 view to creating further interest in this and other districts, I have taken 

 the liberty of including views of my own pens as a guide to those 

 desirous of equippmg their farms with up to date pens, and so make the 

 breeding of poultry more profitable and their care more congenial. 



In conclusion, I desire to place on record my keen appreciation of the 

 kindly assistance rendered during the competition by the President (Capt. 

 Billinghurst) and the Secretary (Mr. Johns). 



THE "NEW SYSTEM" OF SELECTING LAYING HENS. 



To the Editor of the Journal. 



Sir, — For several years prior to entering upon his present work the 

 writer was closely connected with the poultry industry, and during that 

 time carried out extensive experiments in hatching, feeding, and the 

 general management of all classes of poultry utilized for egg-production 

 and table purposes. 



The variations ob.served in the condition of laying hens during the 

 cour.se of the.se investigations, and the conclusions arrived at in connexion 

 therewith would, at this juncture, appear to be of special interest. In the 

 columns of the Melbourne press there have recently appeared advertisements 

 in which a claim has been made regarding the discoverv of a system 

 whereby the heavy laying birds can unfailingly be picked from any flock 

 of hens. In order that the poultry-farming community of this State 

 may not suffer loss through inabilitv to distinguish between the possible 

 and impossible in connexion with such systems the following explanation of 

 the principles involved is here set out. 



The skin of most animals when they are in good condition is soft and 

 pliable to the touch. This also applies to domestic poultry. In hens, this 

 elasticity is most noticeable in the hinder part of the body from the legs 

 to the vent, and especially when they are in full laying. If a bird has 

 iDeen out of condition for any length of time, or even when over-fat, this 

 pliab'lity of the skin is graduallv reduced ; and a certain coarseness, 

 dryness, or firmness of the skin is then apparent. There is also a corre- 

 sponding expansion and contraction of the pubic bones of the pelvis 

 noticeable at this part of the body according to the laying or non-laying 

 condition of the fowl ; and on this fact is based the so-called discoverv of 

 these several systems. When it is understood that laying almost whollv 

 depends on condition, the fallacy of any such system of picking heavy 

 layers is aooarent. 



