10 Jan., 1919.] Influence of Egg-laying Competitions. 51 



The Farm. 



Great interest was manifested in the farm buildings and equipment. 

 A number of Ayrshire cattle purchased from prominent Ayrshire 

 breeders created much favorable comment. The stables, cowshed, wool- 

 shed, dairy, and the cattle, sheep, and pigs were inspected under the 

 direction of Mr. Dreverman, principal, and Mr. Munro, farm manager. 

 The farm crops were looking particularly well, despite the dry season, 

 and gave promise of averaging over 30 bushels per acre. 



THE INFLUENCE OF EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS. 



By A. V. D. Rintoul, Assistant Poultry Expert. 



The remarkable development which has taken place during the last 

 few years in the fecundity of a number of breeds of fowls is undoubtedly 

 due in a great measure to the popularity of the various egg-laying 

 contests held throughout the world, and whereas a reputed score of 

 210 to 220 for one year was, ten or twelve years ago, inclined to be 

 looked upon as something quite remarkable, it is now practically the 

 minimum which would entitle a hen to a place in an ordinary breeding 

 J>en. 



For one thing, the competitions have developed to a fairly high 

 standard the selection of the most likely and best layers — a subject 

 which will later form the basis of a chapter by itself — and this method 

 of selection has been year after year applied, not only to the choosing 

 of the pullets, but, aided by these results, has effected a vast improve- 

 ment in the matings of the stud flock. Mathematics alone, however, 

 are worthless in the stud pen, as the breeding hens must possess constitu- 

 tional vigour, stamina, and some degi'ee of type, even at the expense of a 

 few eggs in their tally as pullets. 



Another noteworthy feature of the competitions, in Australia at 

 any rate, has been the great popularity of the White Leghorn for a 

 number of years. Its popularity, however, is mainly due to the 

 perseverance and skill of a small, but select, band of enthusiastic 

 pioneers, who paved the way for this variety, as, despite the great 

 merits of the White Leghorn as a layer, it will be admitted without 

 question by most fair-minded breeders that had the same perseverance 

 and ability been devoted to any other of the good laying varieties 

 equally successful results might have been achieved. This point was 

 fully recognised by the Department of Agriculture, and, in consequence, 

 thirty extra pens were erected five years ago for the encouragement of 

 the heavy breeds, there being at the time a margin of 50 eggs per bird in 

 favour of the winning White Leghorns over the best Black Orpingtons. 



The erection of these heavy breed pens marked a new era in poultry 

 keeping in Victoria, and the result was a score of 1,562 by Mr. J. 

 McAllan's Black Orpingtons, followed by those of Mr. L. W. Parker 

 winning the weight of eggs prize with an average of 2'7.6 ozs. per dozen, 

 and the Oaklands Poultry Farm Black Orpingtons established a world's 



