574 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [lo Sept., 191 2. 



SECOND VICTORIAN EGG-LAYING COMPETITION, 1912-13. 



H. V. Hawkins, Poultry Exfert. 



The Winter Test, in connexion with the Second Burnley Egg-laying 

 Competition, came to a conclusion on the 14th August. 



As will be seen. U'hite Leghorns again won the prize for the greatest 

 number of eggs laid during the period (first four months). The Black 

 Orpingtons, however, have scored well, and for many weeks past have put 



u|) the highest weekly scores. 



During, the last month many frosts have been experienced, together with 

 cold, sleety showers. The necessity for providing good accommodation for 

 profitable results — a feature, too, often overlooked in the selection of a 

 j)Oultry farm site — has been well emphasized, for, in spite of the elements, 

 the yield of eggs has been very satisfactory; 21,182 having been laid, or 

 an average number of 307 per pen, as against 15,021 laid last year, 01 

 an average of 224 per pen, when Mr. W. G. Swift's pen won the contest 

 with a total of 479 eggs. 



The prizes offered in connexion with the Winter Te.st are for the greatest 

 total number of eggs laid by a pen during the first four months of the 

 competition, terminating on the evening of 14th August — the first prize 



b-ing ^4 4s., and the second ^2 2s. : — 



No. eggs 



First Prize — iNIr. Samuel Brown, Gembrook South ; White Leghorns 480 



.Second Prize — Mr. George Edwards, Mentone, White Leghorns ... 456 



Mr. W. McLister, Melbourne-road, Spotswood, White Leghorns 454 



Mr. F. G. Eagleton. Ballarat Hospital, Ballarat. White Leghorns 451 



The winning pen opened the competition in perfect condition, and 

 established a lead which has been well maintained. 



One pen, under Rule 12, has been disqualified on account of not having 

 attained the standard weight of 24 oz. to the last dozen eggs laid. This 

 was pen No. 2i^ (Old English Game). 



The remainder of birds competing are producing eggs ranging from 

 24 to 27 ozs. per dozen. 



Within the last month very few birds have become broody, due, no 

 doubt, to the cold weather experienced. Two replacements have occurred — 

 one of the birds became paralyzed, and one, due to wasting, had to be 

 returned to the owners. 



Feeding has been carried out on practically the same lines as pub- 

 lished in the August issue of the Journal — the only alteration being an 

 increase of one part of maize to the evening meal to compensate for the 

 extremely cold weather being experienced. 



