124 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
The question of the size of the egg is fully dealt with, as is also the 
date of hatching, and as the result of careful observation certain 
conclusions are given which should be of great value to poultry- 
breeders. 
Another point of interest is that of the relationship of weight 
of the bird to the total number of eggs laid. A careful analysis of 
all the records shows that, all else being equal, the best layers are . 
those of medium weight, and it will be remembered that this was 
borne out in a lesser degree by the two previous years’ trials. It 
would appear, therefore, that any abnormality in a laying bird is 
detrimental to egg-production. 
These egg-laying competitions are undoubtedly doing a real 
good work in the country and are assisting British poultry-breeders 
to prepare for after-war times, when it will be of such vital import- 
ance to this country to retain the home egg market. There are 
tremendous possibilities of developing the poultry industry, and 
it is to our poultry-yards that we look to provide the public with 
the best strains of utility birds. With eggs at 4s. a dozen in winter, 
surely this should offer some inducement to producers to increase 
their stock of laying birds and to maintain same at its best until 
we have sufficient birds to make us independent of the foreigner, 
on whom in the past we have relied too much. 
The reports of these competitions are of national importance, 
as they show reliable egg returns from the 700 birds of various 
breeds of utility poultry. All the birds are housed and fed alike, 
and. it follows that the merits of each breed and strain are put to 
a real test, the results of which can be taken when choosing birds 
to supply eggs for home use. 
The following table may be of interest, and shows at a glance 
what returns might be expected in ten months on the basis of the 
results from, say, one hundred birds of any of the five specified 
breeds. 
[TABLE 
