112 



EgCx-Laying Competitions. 



[may, 



The following table only includes the "saleable" eggs: — 



Month. 



Total Number 

 of Eggs 

 Produced. 



Average 

 Number per 

 Bird. 



Average 

 Value per 

 Bird. 



! October 



November 



December ... 



455 

 1,144 

 1 . 1 id 



3-8 V 

 9-5 \ 

 9*6 



s. d. 

 3 5 



January 



' February 



i March 



1,204 



1.534 

 1,919 



icro ] 

 12-8 I 

 16-0 ) 



3 7-4 



! April 



May 



June ... ... ... 



2,294 

 2,114 

 1,345 



19-1 ) 

 17-6 fc 

 II-? 



3 4* 



July 



August ... 



September 



1, 167 



655 



967 



97 ) 

 8-o J 



2 2| 



Total 



' 



15,912 



i33"o 



12 71 



Winter Laying. — In connection with this question, it may 

 be noted that the results obtained at four laying competitions, 

 extending over 16 weeks from October to February, give an 

 average production during that time from 412 birds of 31 

 eggs per bird. The yield, however, of the birds taking the 

 first place at each of the twelve annual competitions of the 

 Utility Poultry Club, gives an average of 53 eggs in the 16 

 weeks, while the highest figure recorded in any one year 

 shows 69 eggs per bird in the same period. When it is 

 remembered that the average of 31 eggs is based on the 

 records of selected birds, it may fairly be assumed that the 

 average yield obtained from the ordinary farmer's fowl is 

 considerably less. On the other hand, the fact that the 

 best strains are capable of producing 53 eggs or more at 

 the most profitable time of the year, shows the extent to 

 which by careful selection the laying powers of utility fowls 

 may be developed. 



At the twelfth winter laying competition, which lasted from 

 October 21st, 1908, to February 9th, 1909, a period of 16 

 weeks, a non-competitive pen of four pullets laid 268 eggs, 

 and three other pens laid as follows :— White Wyandottes, 

 250; White Leghorns, 210; Black Leghorns, 211. Out of 

 56 birds, 14, or 25 per cent., laid 60 eggs or over. 



