APPENDIX 89 



CLUBS AND CONTESTS 



Much good can be had from the holding of contests in 

 school (Fig. 51). Competitions of any sort have the 

 effect of stim.ulating tlie interest of the pupils, and of 

 encouraging thern to greater efforts. Many contests are pos- 

 sible in connection with the study of poultry. A very inter- 

 esting one consists of the naming of the breeds and varieties 

 by the pupils, as mentioned in Lessons IV, V, and VI. 



The fowls should be placed in numbered coops. The 

 pupils are then given blank cards like that on Page 1 3 ; and 

 are told to pass in front of the coops, examining the poultry, 

 and writing on the cards the name and description of each 

 fowl. The child who names the fowls and gives their char- 

 acteristics correctly wins the contest. In case of a tie, the 

 child whose spelling is the best wins. If there is still a tie, 

 the penmanship on the card will decide the question. 



Another good contest for counties where annual poul- 

 try shows are held consists of a competition among the chil- 

 dren in raising fowls to be entered and judged at the county 

 poultry show. Special prizes for fowls should be offered for 

 the school children ; and an additional prize should be given 

 for the best exhibition coop made by a pupil (Fig. 52). 

 These coops are twenty-four inches from front to back, 

 thirty inches high, and forty inches long, with cloth ends, 

 backs and tops, board bottoms, and wire fronts. Every 

 pupil should exhibit the fowls he raises in a coop of his 

 own making (Fig. 53). 



