few pure bred birds of either of these breeds in the 

 country, and Turkeys are, unfortunately, being very 

 inbred. 



There are several factors detrimental to the value of a 

 B.E.A. Poultry Fancy. The chief is the lack of a poultry club. 

 Poultry Club. There was a Club formed, but it is 

 lying dormant, very dormant. It was shelved owing 

 to the outbreak of War, but if all the many Associa- 

 tions, etc., which have been formed during the last 

 eighteen months can flourish, surely it is time the 

 Poultry Club was resuscitated. The Club, well 

 worked, would give immense impetus to the poultry 

 fancy. It would put members in touch for the 

 exchange of ideas, also for business. Then again, 

 experienced breeders would give the benefit of their 

 knowledge to the assistance of the inexperienced 

 breeder. The result would be better bred birds in 

 the country and better business methods. 



Of two other obvious deterrents to progress, one 

 is caused by the professional poultry farmer, {i.e., one 

 who breeds poultry in the hope of making reasonable 

 profit), the other by the novice. 



Tlie mistake very often made by the professional 

 poultry farmer iai the lack of systematic breeding. 

 By systematic breeding, I mean breeding with a 

 definite object in view, either colour, form, or egg 

 producing qualities, or a combination of all. In 

 B.E.A. the selection of the breeding pen seldom re- 

 ceives the careful study, both singly and collectively, 

 necessary that the breeder may know what traits to 

 expect in the progeny. Careful selection of the birds 

 for the breeding pen is, at present, all that is required 

 in breeding; trap-nesting is practically unknown in 

 B.E.A. and, except in a small way, could not possibly 

 pay for the trouble. 



This brings me to the second stumbling block, profitable 

 The inexperienced poultry farmer in all countries is prices. 

 a thorn in the side of the professional, but in this 

 country he attains to great magnitude. Many 

 novices w^hen buying pure bred birds of some well- 

 known strain offer a price we should ask for a " barn- 

 door " hen in England, quite overlooking the cost 

 of production (original cost of imported birds, plus 

 losses by sickness and vermin). Poultry farming in 



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