io4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
February 11 
The Hen. 
THE NEW YORK POULTRY SHOW. 
The tenth annual exhibition of the 
New York Poultry and Pigeon Associa¬ 
tion opened in Madison Square Garden 
January 31 with about 7,000 specimens 
of poultry, pigeons, and pet stock of 
various kinds. The arrangement this 
year is better than common, the num¬ 
ber of exhibits larger, and the quality 
as a whole is good. Some of the judges 
said that the quality of the stock was 
finer than ever before. The best breed¬ 
ers in the country bring their birds 
here, and it has come to be recognized 
that a bird must be a good one to win a 
prize; hence, there is little encourage¬ 
ment for those whose birds are at all 
inferior to exhibit them. Some old ex¬ 
hibitors are missing this year, but there 
are more than enough new ones to take 
their places. Some western men claimed 
that the Chicago show was far ahead of 
New York, but most breeders seem to 
think that this was mere brag and blus¬ 
ter. It was said that the Washington 
show did not begin to approach this, 
and even the great Boston show was 
crowded hard if not distanced by New 
York. 
The Different Breeds —A study of 
the fowls on exhibition shows some in¬ 
teresting facts as to the popularity of 
the different breeds. There was a large 
exhibit of Light Brahmas, and a good 
showing of Dark Brahmas and Buff 
Cochins. Plymouth Rocks formed a large 
class, the old Barred variety being 
crowded hard by the Whites and Buffs, 
which are in considerably larger num¬ 
bers than at previous shows. Silver 
Wyandottes seem to be on the wane, but 
the Whites are holding their own well. 
There were some fine Black Minorcas on 
exhibition, but the White Leghorns 
were not in so large numbers as in pre¬ 
vious years. There was a fair showing 
of Brown Leghorns, both Rose and 
Single-combed. Black Langshans were, 
also, in goodly numbers. The newer 
Orpingtons were represented by a very 
few Buffs and Blacks. There were a 
large number of other classes repre¬ 
sented, mostly by a smaller number of 
specimens of the different varieties of 
Hamburgs, Javas, Sumatras, and other 
breeds. There was, also, a large exhibit 
of bantams of the various breeds, and 
these made up in attractiveness what 
they lacked in size. 
The Ducks. —The greater part of the 
space allotted to these was occupied by 
that old favorite, the Pekin. All the 
great duck farms breed this almost 
wholly, some of them exclusively. It is 
preeminently the breed for producing 
market ducks. It is a great feeder, seems 
to endure confinement well, and makes 
very rapid growth, oftentimes attaining 
a weight of five to six pounds at 10 weeks 
of age. It is, also, remarkably free from 
disease. Mr. A. J. Hallock captured 
nearly all the first and second prizes on 
this breed, with a lot of very large, fine 
birds. He also had on exhibition some 
fine specimens of Indian Runner ducks. 
These are very attractive in plumage, 
considerably smaller than the Pekine, 
but very active. Mr. Hallock says that 
they will not stand confinement, but do 
no damage if left to run at large, even 
though running in the garden. He con¬ 
siders them better eating even than the 
Pekins, as their flesh is of very fine flavor 
and not liable to be so greasy. 
Duck breeders have received low prices 
for the past year or two, especially this 
past Summer, when prices went lower 
than ever before known for young ducks. 
The reason the breeders assign for this 
is that many of the wholesalers who, in 
previous years, had put away large num¬ 
bers of ducks in cold storage, had lost 
money so that last Summer, instead of 
buying and putting them into the re¬ 
frigerators, they kept off the market, 
thus letting the price go all to pieces. 
The breeders now say that few seem to 
be left in cold storage ; hence, they ex¬ 
pect much better prices during the com¬ 
ing season. There were some Rouen 
ducks, and specimens of several other 
miscellaneous kinds, besides geese, 
guineas, turkeys, etc. We shall have 
something more to say about the latter 
next week. 
Sales of Fancy Stock. —Most of the 
breeders seem to be having pretty good 
sales of fancy stock, and prospects seem 
good, but I was told of one Massachusetts 
breeder who had just sent one lot of 
fancy birds to the Boston market, re¬ 
ceiving for them 14 cents a pound, a 
price that he might have received last 
Fall; but he held the stock, expecting 
and hoping to sell them for breeding 
stock. This man, however, is not a very 
heavy advertiser, especially in what is 
known as the off season. As opposed to 
his experience, another breeder might 
be mentioned who is a heavy advertiser 
the year ’round, and who, instead of cur¬ 
tailing his advertising during the dull 
season, increases it, and in this way 
makes heavy sales. 
Incubators. —There was quite a large 
showing of these, but they were not in 
such active operation as usual. Some of 
the older makes were missing this year, 
but the newer more than filled their 
places. The newest candidates for 
poultry honors, were the Star and 
Cyphers, both of which claim improve¬ 
ments in the matter of heating, that 
render the application of moisture un¬ 
necessary, an easy solution of a vexed 
question, especially to the beginner. 
The old Prairie State, Pineland and 
Monitor were on hand, and the Des 
Moines Incubator Company came all the 
way from Iowa to show Eastern breed¬ 
ers what they consider a good incubator. 
They have a new device for turning eggs 
in the incubator, which is a little ahead 
of anything else I have ever seen. One 
thing is noticeable; extremely low-priced 
machines that we see advertised are not 
in evidence at these shows. 
The Brooders. —Nearly all poultry- 
men admit that the hatching is the 
easiest part of chicken raising. The most 
difficult part of the job is raising the 
chickens after they are hatched. A large 
number of brooders for this purpose were 
on exhibition, both for indoor and out¬ 
door use, some heated by hot air, some 
by hot water, some by lamps, and some 
to be attached to a regular hot-water 
circulation system. Every incubator com¬ 
pany also puts out brooders. In one par¬ 
ticular, they are all sinners alike, for 
they claim a capacity about twice as 
large as they should ; for instance, a 100- 
chick brooder should really have only 
about 50 chicks for best results. There 
was the usual display of bone cutters 
and all sorts of poultry fixings. The 
Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply Com¬ 
pany made a most complete showing of 
every conceivable appliance needed in 
the poultry yard, either for handling or 
feeding, as well as for shipping eggs both 
for market and for hatching. 
Egg Display. —This was not large, 
but represented several different breeds. 
A noticeable thing about it was the 
great variation in color. Most of the 
Leghorn and Minorca eggs were a pure 
chalky white, but some were whiter than 
others. The Minorca were larger than 
the Leghorn, but not so much larger as 
we generally expect. The Brown Leg¬ 
horn do not seem to be so pure a white 
as the White Leghorn. Some Hamburg 
eggs were nearly as large and white 
as the Leghorn ; we generally expect 
smaHer ones from this breed. Some ex¬ 
tremely dark brown eggs were from P. 
Rocks and Silver Wyandottes. Lt. 
Brahmas also gave fine-looking speci¬ 
mens, though lighter colored than the 
two last named. 
A very fine dressed poultry exhibit, 
something in which this show has been 
deficient heretofore, was in process of 
arrangement when this was written. Of 
this, more will be said next week. f. h v. 
AYRSHIRE BREEDERS' ANNUAL 
MEETING. 
The Ayrshire Breeders’ Association met at the 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, February 1. About 25 or 30 
members were present, representing a number of 
different States, and a large number of others 
were represented by proxies. The treasurer’s 
report showed a balance on hand of $3,451.31. 
Eight new members were elected from several 
different States, one as far west as Minnesota, 
and one from Canada. 
The secretary’s report showed that the number 
of animals registered each year is steadily in¬ 
creasing. He also reported that the demand for 
Ayrshires for breeding purposes is on the in¬ 
crease, also for the purpose of crossing on other 
breeds and on native stock. The Ayrshire breed¬ 
ers claim that their breed is crowding out the 
Holsteins. The secretary reported that he had 
been doing considerable missionary work by 
sending short articles about the Ayrshire cow, 
accompaniedjby cuts, to different papers for pub¬ 
lication, and that he had received numerous in¬ 
quiries in relation to them, as a result of these 
articles. The demand for Ayrshire cattle seems 
to be increasing in the West. He gave a little 
variety to his report by reading a large number 
of letters received recently from different parts 
of the country, from individuals who had heard 
something about Ayrshires, but who failed to 
find them advertised for sale in any papers; they 
inquired where they could buy stock, and where 
they could get further information in relation to 
the breed. If the breeders had had any sense of 
humor in their make-up, they would have seen 
the point in these letters, for it is doubtful 
whether any other class of breeders do so little 
advertising as the Ayrshire. They are even slow 
to grasp the opportunity for free advertising 
when it is thrown at them. Perhaps they have 
no cattle to sell. 
The Committee on Home Dairy Tests reported 
that five herds had been entered. The best 
record for a week was 16 pounds 8 ounces of but¬ 
ter, and 258 pounds of milk. In this connection it 
was stated that, in estimating the amount of 
butter, the Ayrshire breeders add one-sixth to the 
amount of butter fat, while Jersey breeders add 
one-fifth, and Holstein breeders one-fourth. All 
agreed that the latter was entirely too much to 
add. These tests, as well as the tests at State 
fairs, are to be continued. It was brought out in 
the discussion that the amount of butter fat in 
a cow’s milk varies widely at various periods of 
lactation, and this was news to even some of the 
older breeders present. 
These officers were elected, all being reelected 
excepting two members of the executive com¬ 
mittee: President, L. S. Drew, Burlington, Vt.; 
vice-presidents, Obadlah Brown, Providence, 
R. I.; H. R. C. Watson, Brandon, Vt.; B. C. Sears, 
Blooming Grove, N. Y.; John Stewart, Elburn, 
Ill.; secretary and editor, Chas. M. Winslow, 
Brandon, Vt.; treasurer, Henry K. Smith, Enfield, 
R. I.; editing committee, C. M. Winslow, J. D. W. 
French, North Andover, Mass. In the executive 
committee, John C. Scott, Austin, Minn., was 
elected in the place of John Bratton, who had died 
during the year; J. Andrew Casterline, Dover, 
N. J., was elected to succeed C. S. Barney, and 
C. H. Hayes, Portsmouth, N. H., was reelected. 
There are 
weeds in every¬ 
body’s garden, 
and no garden 
was ever plant¬ 
ed in which 
weeds did not 
insolently pre¬ 
sent them¬ 
selves. They 
come without 
invitation and 
without a wel¬ 
come. If you 
recognize them 
as weeds, and 
if you have 
sense enough 
to know that 
weeds choke 
flower 8 , and 
pull the weeds 
up, root and 
branch, you 
will save the 
flowers. 
There are 
weeds in the 
health-garden of many a man and woman. 
The doctors call them disease germs. If 
you have sense enough to distinguish them 
from the flowers of health, and root them 
out, you will be robust, healthy and happy. 
The most dangerous of all the weeds in the 
flower garden of health is that deadly 
creeper consumption. 
There lias never been but one medicine 
that would choke out this weed, root and 
all. That medicine is Dr. Pierce’s Golden 
Medical Discovery. It acts directly on the 
lungs through the blood, driving out all 
impurities and disease germs, and building 
up new and healthy tissue. It restores the 
lost appetite, makes digestion and assimi¬ 
lation perfect, invigorates the liver, puri¬ 
fies the blood and fills it with the life-giv¬ 
ing elements of the food and tones and 
builds up the nerves. It sustains the ac¬ 
tion of the heart and deepens the breath¬ 
ing, supplying the blood with life-giving 
oxygen. Medicine dealers sell it. 
“A doctor, who is considered an expert on 
lung troubles, told me I had consumption and 
could not live long,” writes Mrs. James Gatfield, 
77 Mary Street' Hamilton, Ont., Can. “Three 
bottles of Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medical Discovery 
c ured me completely.” 
Free. Dr. Pierce’s Common Sense Med¬ 
ical Adviser. Send 21 one-cent stamps to 
cover mailing only for paper-bound copy. 
Cloth-bound 31 cents. Address Dr. R. V. 
Pierce. Buffalo, N. Y. 
POULTRY 
♦ We keep everything In the POULTRY LINE, j f 
♦ Fencing, Feed, Incubators, Live Stock, Brooders < ► 
♦ —anything—it’s our business. Call or let ns < ► 
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+ the asking—it’s worth having. < ► 
♦ Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply Co., ♦ 
+ 28 Vesey Street, New York City. O 
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A VALUABLE BOOK MraWH 
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Worth $25. to anyone; tells every thingabout poml* 
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How to build Poultry houses, etc. Send 15c. for mailing. 
JOHN BAUSCHER, Jr., Box 66 Freeport, Ills. 
BRABAZON’S POULTRY-GATALOGUl 
FREE 
It’s a beauty; over 50 colored plates. Illus 
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J ' Ducks and chickens; gives prices of fowls & eggs. Finest 
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OIFFKN. Lock Box 85. St. Clairsville. Ohio. 
MORE EGGS 
are laid by hens when kept free from 
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LICE is the remedy, lt costs but 10c. to 
try it. My 61-page Poultry Book free. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box 307, Apponaug, R.I 
THEY HATCH MILLIONS 
of Chickens, Ducks, Turkeys 
ind other fowl, in every state 
and territory in the Union and 
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THE PRAHIIE STATE 
INCUBATORS. 
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SOLD ON TRIAL! 
Buy no Incubator and pay far it 
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Many people have loet faith in lncubatora b* 
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Plans for Brooders, Poultry Houses, etc., sent on receipt of 25c. 
Von Culin Incubator Co. 60 Adams St. Delaware City, Del. 
FREIGHT PAID 
H to any uddre**. That’s the way 
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THE CYPHERS INCUBATOR CO. Box 101, Wayland, N. Y. 
SulMtegulatlng 
50 Chicks from 50 Eggs 
Mrs. M. T. Duval, Old Church, Va. 
hatched with Bantam 49, 50 and 48 
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HATCH CHICKEKS 
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Incubators on 30 Days’ Trial. 
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Large valuable catalogue, 6 o. 
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G reat hatches \ 
THE MONITOR INCUBATOR 
is thoroughly successful, self regulating, 
easily operated by unskilled person. We pay 
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ijj Brooder connected $10. Catalogue Free. 
ifThe Monitor Co., Box 54, Moodns, CL 
Some Bargain Combinations. 
This is a popular combination. The four books are 
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Price alone 
Poultry Keeper.10.50 
Inter-State Pou ltry man.50 
Designs for Poultry Houses.25 
Incubators and Brooders.25 
Diseases of Poultry.25 
How to Judge Fowls.25 
The Rural New-Yorker. 1.00 
Total.$3.00 
Combination price, $1.50. 
Thrlce-a-Week World. 
Gives you all the news of the whole world 
every other day. It Is the next thing to a 
great dally paper. We can send it and The 
Rural New-Yorker, both one year, for $1.65 
Hoard’s Dairyman 
and The Rural New-Yorker, both one 
year, for »i.65. 
THU RURAL NKW-YORKBB, NEW York. 
