854 



DiSTEIBUTION OF SITTINGS OF EgGS. [DeC, 



DISTRIBUTION OF SITTINGS OF 

 EGGS AND DAY-OLD CHICKS. 



Notes have appeared at various times in this Journal explain- 

 ing the Scheme of the Ministry for the distribution of sittings of 

 eggs and day-old chicks to small holders and cottagers. The 

 Scheme was instituted in 1916 as a war measure, in order to 

 effect a rapid improvement in the strains of poultry stock of this 

 country. It was hoped that the facilities afforded for the purchase 

 of eggs and chicks would encourage many people to use better 

 stock and be a means of relieving the growing shortage of eggs 

 due to the decline in the import trade. 



Owing to the scarcity of feeding stuffs during the later years 

 of the War, in consequence of an active Submarine Campaign, 

 a general reduction in the poultry stocks of the country became 

 necessary, and the Scheme was curtailed considerably in 1918 

 and 1919. The Stations, however, had proved their value, 

 and steps were accordingly taken at the conclusion of the 1919 

 season for the Scheme to become part of the ordinary work of 

 the County Committees for Agricultural Education, through 

 which it has since been administered locally. 



In the season 1920, therefore, the responsibility for under- 

 taking distribution rested upon County Committees to a greater 

 extent than hitherto, but in order to maintain some uniformity 

 in working throughout the country, the Ministry circulated 

 detailed suggestions as to the setting up of Schemes, for the 

 guidance of Committees. Greater liberty was given to the Com- 

 mittees in local arrangements, but it was required that the 

 County Schemes should be submitted to the Ministry for final 

 sanction. No Scheme could be undertaken unless an Instructor 

 in Poultry Keeping were employed, who could be held responsible 

 for the supervision of the distributing stations and assist 

 generally in carrying out the Scheme. 



General Outline of the Scheme of Distribution. — Sittings of 

 eggs and day-old chicks are supplied at a fixed price within a 



* Particulars of the Scheme and of the Incubating Stations were published 

 in this Journal, April, 191G, p. 72, and October, 1916, pp. 685 and 702, and 

 accounts of the workin^^ of the Scheme in the issues for December, 1918. 

 p. 1106, and February, 1920, p. 1227. 



