10 June, 1916.] Fifth Egg-laying Competition, 1915-16. 



329 



REPORT OX THE FIFTH VICTORIAN EGGLAYING 

 COMPETITION, 11)15-16. 



Conducted at the Burnley School of Horticulture by the 

 Department of Agriculture, Victoria. 



Bg A. Ildit, Chief Fonltry Expert. 



RECORDS ESTABLISHED. 



In presenting the annual report of the laying competition which has 

 just been concluded at Burnley, I would instance the immense extent of 

 the poultry industry in both England and America. During the year 

 1913 the value of tlie eggs imported into England from other countries 

 amounted to £9,590,602, while poultry valued at £954,540 was imported 

 -during the same period, making up a total of £10,545,142 for one year. 



IV. 



H. Robbins, White Leghorns, 1st prize and gold medal, for dry mash 

 section, 1,638 eggs, twelve months' test; also 1st prize for greatest market 

 value of eggs for the year, £10 19s. 10V2'i- 



Although these figures were materially reduced during 1915 through war 

 <x)nditions, there were still very large quantities of e.ggs and poultrv 

 imjjorted into England. With such a vast demand in sight there should 

 be every inducement for Victoria to endeavour to jjrovide a })ortion of 

 the eggs and poultry that are annually required. 



In the United States of America the figures given in connexion with 

 the poultry industry show what immense proportions it has attained. 

 According to the Chicago Live Stock World, the egg return from the 

 United States for one year amounted to 280,000,000 dollars 

 <£56,000,000). Tiie total value of the gold, silver, wool, and sheep for 

 the same year amounted to 272,434,315 dollars— £1,531.337 less than 

 what was derived from the poultry industry alone. Poultry returned 

 £4,000,000 more than the cotton crop, and £10,000.000 more tlian the 

 wheat crop for the same year. Such enormous figures as tiie above show 



