THe JOUHNAb 



LinHAKI 



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Yfie department of Agriculture 



OP 



VICTORIA. 



Vol. XV. Part 6. 11th June, 1917. 



REPORT OX THE EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS FOR 

 1916-17, HELD AT BURNLEY SCHOOL OF PRIMARY 

 AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE. 



Commenced 15th April, 1916. Concluded 14th April, 1917. 



Ihj A. Hart, Chief Poultry Expert. 



The egg-layiug competition which was coucluded at Burnley in April 

 last has been the medium of again establishing records, proving that the 

 quality of the competing birds is still on the up grade, both individually 

 and collectively. The conditions attending this last test were not at 

 all favorable, for it was held during a fairly long and cold winter, 

 succeeded by summer months of heavy rains and rough weather that 

 practicall}' amounted to a double winter, and checked the egg production 

 to a great extent. However, notwithstanding these drawbacks the final 

 figures were satisfactory. The poultry industry in Victoria is rapidly 

 increasing and developing, and there is no doubt that a considerable 

 portion of this extension is due to the excellent object lessons and com- 

 parisons provided by the competitions at Burnley. All poultry keepers 

 hold a very high opinion of these tests, and the keen interest which is 

 manifested in them by owners and the public throughout the year proves 

 their worth. One of the reasons why the tests at Burnley are so popular 

 is because they are held under Government supervision. All poultry 

 keepers agree that the figures obtained at Burnley can be guaranted as 

 absolutely correct in every respect, and when records are made, they are 

 accepted without question. As a proof of the value of the laying com- 

 petitions to the poultry industry generally, it may be mentioned that 

 last year a pen of six winning Wliite Leghorns was sold for X70, and two 

 birds of the same variety which scored in single tests were purchased for 

 £25 each. The full value of these birds without the competition " wins " 

 to their credit would not exceed three guineas each. The figures quoted 



5625. 



