474 EXHIBITING AND JUDGING 



such stock. In fact, the greatest success which can attend any 

 show, and one which insures its future support, is the fact that 

 exhibitors have been able to make profitable sales. This means 

 also the taking of many orders in the future for eggs to be used 

 for hatching, and for day-old chicks. 



Profiting by Comparison. The exhibitor has the opportunity 

 to compare his products with those of his contemporary. He 

 can check up his work ; and, knowing something of the methods of 

 his fellow-breeder, can estimate the results and profit by the 

 comparison. This opportunity for comparison might be termed 

 the educational feature of poultry shows, but the advantage to be 

 derived from it will depend upon the time and energy devoted to 

 the study. These shows also furnish opportunity to make a 

 satisfactory comparison of the different appliances and equip- 

 ments for poultry craft. 



The advantages of poultry exhibition are numerous, and are 

 increasing every year. In the world of poultry endeavor ex- 

 hibits have come to stay, and will have a permanent influence in 

 perfecting breed types and making them popular. 



Development of Poultry Exhibits. Ever since distinct types 

 of birds were first recognized, there have been informal gather- 

 ings to exhibit birds and discuss their differences. Authenti- 

 cated records of poultry exhibitions show that they were first 

 held in England, early in the nineteenth century. These meetings 

 were composed almost entirely of small fanciers. Poultry was 

 first exhibited in America at agricultural fairs, where prizes were 

 offered for common barnyard poultry, no distinct line at first 

 being drawn between breed types. In the early exhibitions num- 

 bers counted for more than quality. With a clearer distinction 

 between breeds and varieties, and with an ever-increasing interest 

 in breeding to standard, came a marked change and improvement 

 in poultry exhibitions not only in poultry shows in connection 

 with agricultural fairs, but in the evolution of the typical fancy show 

 which has been everywhere prominent for the past twenty years. 



During the past ten years these smaller shows have grown in 

 number and in popularity. The smaller shows are usually con- 

 ducted by an organization of a few poultry growers in a rather 

 restricted community. Some of these have grown rapidly and now 

 have a world-wide membership. The shows of moderate size are 

 of greatest educational value; in the largest shows the money 

 from prizes is the main object. 



