548 POULTRY CULTURE 



once adopted at a show it is likely to be continued there. The 

 arrangement at the leading shows is generally correct, though in 

 some of the less important classes the system is not observed. ^ It is 

 usual to number the single entries of all varieties consecutively, with 

 the pens of all varieties following in the same order. All shows 

 accept non- Standard as well as Standard varieties and make classes 

 for them as soon as the breeders offer entries enough to warrant it. 

 Unclassified exhibits usually compete with one another in what is 

 called the "Any Other Variety," or "A. O. V.," class. In this 

 case birds are not actually judged in competition, but prizes are 

 awarded to the most meritorious birds in the class.^ Exhibition 

 pens are usually placed in the best location in the hall, with wide 

 aisles between the rows of coops, because they attract the attention 

 of sight-seeing visitors more than do the birds in the open classes. 



Sweepstakes prizes. Prizes for which different varieties com- 

 pete are not now as generally offered as was the custom some 

 years ago. To the inexperienced manager they seem a good 

 thing. The experienced manager has learned that there is noth- 

 ing connected with the showing of poultry so certain to cause dis- 

 putes and hard feeling among exhibitors, and to make trouble for 

 him, as a sweepstakes prize. Persons offering liberal special prizes 

 often wish to make them sweepstakes prizes. It is much better 

 to give the prizes on a single variety or breed, or to divide them 

 into smaller prizes to be offered in that way. 



Special exhibits. Noncompetitive displays in extra large sepa- 

 rate coops are most attractive to the general public. The adver- 

 tising value of such displays to the exhibitor is so great that, as 

 a matter of business policy, the management of a show usually 

 gives the preference, in renting display coops, to exhibitors making 

 large entries in competitive classes. At small shows where there 



1 The order of arrangement at the Madison Square Garden (New York) show 

 is most interesting, because it has furnished the general plan for the arrangement 

 of first-class shows, has carried out its plan more consistently than any other, has 

 been scientific in the general arrangement of types, and, in placing the varieties 

 of the different breeds, has kept them in the chronological order of their intro- 

 duction to the public. 



2 It is worth noting in this connection that the attitude of the shows toward 

 the multiplication of breeds and varieties is just the opposite of that of the 

 American Poultry Association. The shows encourage the making of new vari- 

 eties and give the promoters every facihty for exploiting them. 



