20 



The Poultry Industry in Germany, [april, 



other persons at the rate of each. Fowls of other breeds 

 are not to be allowed to rim with them. This stock remains 

 the property of the Chamber until the holder has returned 

 in September of the following year the same number of early- 

 hatched chickens. In many cases, however, the stock 

 remains the property of the Chamber for two and even three 

 years, and the conditions are more complicated. The right 

 to purchase the chickens at 25 per cent, above the current 

 price for ordinary chickens is sometimes reserved, records 

 of production are required to be kept, and birds may be 

 required to be exhibited at local shows. The method of 

 feeding and housing is frequently defined, and the holder is 

 required to hatch a certain number of the eggs between 

 1 March and 30 June. The number of fowls supplied is 

 probably on the average one cock and ten hens. 



Small holders are also sometimes supplied with two or 

 three pure-bred birds, merely on condition that the same 

 number of chickens are returned at a later date. 



Poultry Breeding Centres. — Supplementary to these 

 "breeding stations" are a number of larger centres and 

 model poultry farms, as well as several extensive institutions 

 in East Prussia, Pomerania, Brandenburg, Saxony, the 

 Rhine Province and Upper Bavaria, which are expressly 

 intended for educational purposes and experimental work. 

 These generally serve also as the headquarters for the district, 

 supply the fowls for the breeding centres, and in other ways 

 endeavour to promote the poultry industry. 



The East Prussian Institute at Waldgarten, near Konigs- 

 berg, covers an area of 15 acres, and forms part of the 

 Experimental Station belonging to the Agricultural Chamber. 

 Incubation and rearing take a prominent place in the curri- 

 culum, but all branches are taught. The Institute has eight 

 incubators capable of taking 2,240 eggs, and complete rearing 

 apparatus, as well as extensive poultry houses on the most 

 approved principles. In order to avoid the introduction of 

 diseases, no live fowls are ever brought in, fresh blood being 

 introduced by means of eggs. In 1907, 5,273 eggs were 

 hatched, and the chickens were distributed either direct from 

 the incubator or at six weeks old, while some were retained 

 to supply the breeding stations established by the Chamber. 



