11 Jink. 1!i17.| Report on Egg-Laying Competition. 323 



They were coustructed on the most approved lines, and it is gratifying 

 to find that poultry owners and experts are unanimous in their 

 opinions as to the suitability of these ])ens for the purposes required. 

 Everything conducive to egg production and keeping the l)irds in good 

 health and condition has been provided, and it is confidently expected 

 that the results will fully justify the outlay from a financial point of 

 view, besides furnishing tho means of obtaining a reliable indication of 

 the laying powers of every individual bird in the single test. This new 

 arrangement will also allow the birds to he fed and cared for with very 

 little trouble to (he attendant. 



The recent report of the poultry and egg industry in England pro- 

 vides some very interesting information. It is estimated that in normal 

 times the value of eggs and poultry imported into England runs into 

 £10,500,000 a year. But owing to war conditions the importations 

 hav(> fallen off to a very great extent, and for the year lOlfi the eggs sent 

 to England amounted to 66,064,110 dozen, valued at £4,741,401, as 

 against 217 599 500 dozen, valued at £9,590,602, in 1913. When to 

 the latter figures is added the value of the very large quantities of eggs 

 and [)oultry [)roduced in England, an idea of the enormous consumption 

 of both products can be estimated. In normal times the English 

 importations were received from several countries on the Continent, as 

 well as from Canada and the United States. Denmark and Kussia were 

 the largest contributors. In 1913 Riissia exported to England eggs 

 valued at £4.(100,000, but in 1916 this wa.'i reduced to £423,949. 

 Denmark in 1913 sent eggs valued at £2,296,843, but in 1916 these 

 figures fell to £1,303,177. These statistics provide convincing jiroof 

 that there is an enormous demand for eggs and poultry in England. 

 Should the Commonwealth enter into competition with the other nations 

 in providing portion of England's yearly requirements, there is no danger 

 of her supplies overloading the market. An almost unlimited quantity 

 both of eggs and poultry could at present be placed on the English 

 markets at prices which must be regarded as abnormally high. Guaran- 

 teed fresh eggs are now worth about 4d. each in England, and the 

 prices of poultry are correspondingly high. There is ample room for 

 the extension of the poultry industry in Victoria as well as in the other 

 States of the Commonwealth, and there is no reason why in the near 

 future a regular and profitable trade in the exportation of eggs to Eng- 

 land should not be established. We have undoubtedly the very best 

 climatic conditions foi- jioultry breeding in the world. Our area 

 of land suitable for the production of wheat (the staple food for 

 poultry) is practically unlimited, and if we can send the products of the 

 land in the concentrated form of eggs and poultry, it sliould return a 

 much greater revenue to the country than if wheat, oats, or other grains 

 are sent to England in bulk form. 



When choosing birds for the competitions, mistakes are sometimes 

 made by the owners, and I would especially impress upon them the 

 necessity for making a very careful selection. Men experienced in the 

 contests have already learned this lesson, and in these days of keen 

 rivalry every detail must be carefuUv observed if owners wish their birds 

 to be in the first flight. The selection of competing birds ought not to 

 be made in a haphazard manner from a competitor's whole flock. About 

 20 of the best pullets from one mating, and as uniform in age and size 

 as possible, should be selected and placed in a run by themselves for at 



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