24 The Poultry Industry in Germany, [april, 



to the association all the eggs produced on his holding, 

 except those required for his own use or for hatching. (2) 

 Only eggs thus produced may be supplied. (3) The eggs 

 must not be more than 3-4 days old in summer, and 6-8 days 

 in winter. (4) Eggs which have been under a hen even for 

 one day may not be supplied. (5) Eggs to be taken daily 

 from the nests and stored in a cool, airy place. (6) All eggs 

 must be stamped with the mark of the association and number 

 of the member. (7) Each egg is tested at the collecting 

 station, and fines imposed for inferior eggs. 



The payment is usually by weight, but sometimes by 

 number. Payment by weight is said to have caused members 

 to keep better fowls, and generally the introduction of co- 

 operative sale has led to. a great extension in the number 

 kept, three times as many fowls now existing in some districts 

 as compared with earlier years. 



Milk Chickens. — Some interesting information is given in 

 the report above referred to in connection with the produc- 

 tion of milk chickens, which is a local industry of some 

 importance in certain parts of Germany, especially in districts 

 within easy reach of some of the large towns. 



The Board are informed that fat chickens of this type are 

 imported from Hamburg to London, where they fetch high 

 prices at certain seasons of the year, and it is stated these 

 birds have, at any rate to some extent, supplanted the importa- 

 tion of poulets de lait from France. 



The industry appears to exist at isolated places in East and 

 West Prussia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hanover, Oldenburg, and 

 at Wangenau, near Strasburg. 



In the district of Winsen, Hanover, eight poultry breeding 

 stations have been established by the district authorities in 

 conjunction with the Agricultural Chamber, for the purpose 

 of supplying the district with the breeds of fowls especially 

 adapted for the production of early chickens. The breeds 

 selected in this district are the Ramelsloher, Wyandotte, and 

 Orpington, and these breeds are also crossed among them- 

 selves and with the native breed. The establishment of the 

 stations has helped to prevent in-breeding, and the introduc- 

 tion of fresh blood has made the fat chickens more capable 

 of endurance and early ripening. It is asserted that the 



