Laying Competitions. 



581 



contests for 1910-1911, and the South Australian contests 

 ending March 31st, 191 1. In both instances there were two 

 places where the trials were conducted. The former were for 

 sixteen weeks, the latter for twelve months. Therefore, actual 

 comparisons are impossible. Further, the laying of each hen 

 is recorded in the English tests, which are much more com- 

 plete, whereas we have only the pen totals for Australia. 

 There are, however, important lessons to be drawn. 



English (Utility Poultry Club) Competitions. 

 Two of these were held, one in Lancashire and the other in 

 Worcestershire. In the former there competed 34 pens (four in 

 each), or 136 birds; in the latter 78 pens, or 312 birds. The 

 final results in totals were as follows : — 



No. of 



Eggs General 



Section. Laid. Mean. 



Northern 6,830 50*22 



Southern „ 12,362 39 '62 



Total 19,192 42-84 



The differences are considerable, namely, that the birds com- 

 peting in the northern section gave an average of io'6, or 

 more than 25 per cent., above those in the southern section. 

 From the returns published it would appear as if a large pro- 

 portion of the birds moulted, and a smaller number became 

 broody, more especially in the southern section. Those which 

 kept their feathers came out best. That fact is suggestive. 

 Too early hatching is almost as bad as when it is unduly 

 delayed. 



In Diagram I. are shown the variations in number of eggs 

 produced by individual hens, indicating how many such hens 

 laid the respective numbers of eggs. I have been compelled 

 to take the eggs laid in groups of five, otherwise the diagram 

 would have been unduly extended. It will be seen that 

 17 hens failed to produce a single egg, 12 hens laid 1 to 5 eggs, 

 46 laid 46-50 eggs, and so on, until we arrive at the one which 

 laid 103 eggs. Although the frequency curve has consider- 

 able irregularities on both sides of the mean, these variations 

 are in the main very uniform. It is satisfactory to note that 

 the greater number of hens were above the mean. Had it not 

 been for the 17 eggless drones, the mean and the highest 

 point would have been identical. The rapid fall above 60 is 

 very marked. 



