AS POULTRY EXPERT 95 



balance-sheets which appeared from time to time 

 in various journals, and in the columns of the 

 Field would audit them with remorseless pene- 

 tration. It is doubtful if any document of this 

 kind ever succeeded in winning even the most 

 qualified approval : the compiler had invariably 

 left out something which rendered his balance- 

 sheet unreliable as a practical guide, and it was 

 figuratively torn to tatters in protection of those 

 who might have been misled by it. As he grew 

 older, Tegetmeier grew more impatient of these 

 endeavours to encourage the ignorant to farm 

 poultry for a living — and with sound reason. 

 For he had seen many " poultry farms " estab- 

 lished and achieve the failure he had predicted 

 for them ; and the fact that in the early years 

 of the present century there was not known a 

 single establishment of the kind in existence, is 

 sufficient proof of the accuracy of his contention. 

 He would also watch the results of the " laying 

 competitions " which were often organised some 

 years ago during the winter, and carried out 

 under impartial superintendence ; the results, 

 usually working out at an average of two eggs 

 per pullet per month for the four winter months, 

 furnished an argument against the fallacious 

 industry, only second in weight to the " staling " 

 of the land and the resultant disease. And 

 here I may add that he was always averse 

 from endeavours to increase the power of egg 



