'-J OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE - INTERNATIONAL - POULTRY CONFERENCE LONDON. MARCH llth to 15th, 1919. 41- net [1 Dollar]. Issued by the loternatioDal Association of Poultry Instructors & Inyei tiga tors 31, Essex Street, Strand, London, W.G.2 England, and State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kansas, U.S A. 1919 SF I ^2' New York State College of Agriculture At Cornell University Ithaca, N. Y. Library Cornell University Library SF 481.162 Official report of tiie international pou 3 1924 003 162 686 Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003162686 OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE - INTERNATIONAL - POULTRY CONFERENCE LONDON, MARCH 11 th to 1 5th, 1919. Issued by the International Association of Poultry Instructors & Investigators 31, Essex Street, Strand, London, W.C. 2 England, and State AgricuUnral College, Manhattan, Kansas, U.S A. 1919 3031G8 CONTENTS. PAGE List of Delegates ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Opening of Conference and First Session ... ... ... ... ... ... 6 Tribute to Fallen Poultrymen ... ... ... ... ... 6 Address of Welcome by Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries ... ... ... 6 Votes of Thanks ... ... ... ... ... 9 The Poultry Industry in Relation to the World's Restoration : Presidential Address by Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S. 10 Report on the Present State of Aviculture in France, by M. Chas. Voitellier 14 Present Conditions in Poland and the Poultry Industr}', by Miss H. Mierzejewska ... ... 18 Questions ... ... ... ... 20 Report of Conference ... ... 20 What has been Done in Re-stocking Poultry in France, by Mr. P. J. Poels 21 Second Session. Some Aspects of Commercial Poultry Husbandry, by Mr. T. W. Toovey ... 22 Questions and Discussion ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 25 Poultry-keeping for the Blind, by Captain F. P. Peirson-Webber 28 Questions and Discussion ... ... ... 32 The Poultry Industry in India, by Mrs. Fawkes 33 Questions ... ... ... ... ... _ 34 The International Egg and Poultry Trade, by xMr. Bennett Opie ... ... 35 Discussion ... ... ... ... ... ... ... jy Poultry Industry and Poultry Organisation in the Netherlands, by Mr G. S. Th. Van Gink ^ Third Session. Fourth Session. Sex Linked Inheritance and its Practical Application in the Breeding of Poultry, by Professor R. C. Punnett, M.A Discussion Breeding and Selection of Hens for Laying, by Mr. Tom Barron Discussion Dinner by the National Utility Poultry Society ... 40 Women's Sphere in the Poultry Industry of Ireland, by i\Iiss L. Murphy ... 42 Questions and Discussion 45 Opportunities for Women in the Poultry Industry, by Miss MacQueen ... 48 Questions and Discussion "^ The Contribution of Exhibitions to the Poultry Industry, by Mr. William Clarke Laying Competitions as Contributory to Extension of the Poultry Industry' by Mr. J. N. Leigh Discussion 50 55 57 61 64 65 68 70 The Standardisation of Eggs and Poultry for Export, by Mr. H S Arkell'" 73 The Basic Considerations Underlying the Policy of Greater National Development of the Canadian Egg and Poultry Industry, by Mr W A Brown ... ... . j' j . .v . zi. 75 77 Fifth Session. page Culling by Pigmentation and Use of Light in Houses for Laying Hens, by Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S 78 Questions 80 The United States Government's Campaign to Increase Poultry and Egg Production during the late War, by Mr. Harry M. Lamon 82 Open Conference. Resolutions: Government Poultry Branches 87 Poultry Instruction and Research 88 Poultry Classes at Agricultural Shows 89 Combinations of Poultry-Keepers 91 Relief of Allies 91 Luncheon to Delegates at House of Commons, by Col. Sir Robert Williams, Bart., M.P 92 Resolutions : Control and Standardisation of Eggs Women's Institutes ... Extension of the Poultry Industry International Production and Trade Acknowledgments .. 92 .. 97 .. 100 .. 100 .. 101 Meeting of Members of International Association of Poultry Instructors AND Investigators, March 14, 1919 103 Report of Council Deaths of Members of Council Election of Members Resignation of Dr. Raymond Pearl Members from Central European Countries Election of Officials and Council ... World's Poultry Congress Restoration of the Poultry Industry National Poultry Policies Resolutions from International Poultry Conference Excursion to Dodnash Priory, Bentley, Suffolk ... .. 103 .. 104 .. 104 .. 105 .. 106 .. 106 .. 107 .. 107 .. 107 .. 108 .. 110 The rights of reproduction and translation in this report are reserved. Quotations of or from the respective papers and discussions may be made, subject to acknowledgment of the source and name of author. A 2 LIST OF DELEGATES. (I. A.P.I. I. indicates Member of Council of International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators.) Representing Mr. H. S. Arkell, Live Stock Commissioner, Ottawa, Canada. Miss Balfour, Fishers Hill, Woking, England. Mrs. Baynes, Queen's Court Hotel, Earl's Court, London, S.W. 5. Mr. Tom Barron, Catforth, near Preston. Mr. H. B. Beaufort, Amersfoort, Holland. Mr. Albert H. Brain, Hill Top, \Y,est Brom- wich. Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S., 31, Essex Street, London, W.C. 2. Dr. Chen, Chinese Legation, 49, Portland Place, London, W. 1. Capt. J. A. Clarke, 31, Bedford Square London, W.C. 1. Mr. William Clarke, 18, Meadow Road, Vaux- hall Road, London, S.W. Mr. P. G. Dallinger, 72, Victoria Street, Lon- don, S.W. 1. 409-410, Strand, London, Poultry Farm, Coaley, Central Markets, Lon- Braishfield, M. Jean Delacour, 28, Rue de Madrid, Paris, France. Mr. E. J. Dillon, W.C. 2. Miss Edwards, The Glos., England. Mr. H. Ely, 203-205, don, E.C. 1. Mrs. Fawkes, Woolley House, Romsey, Hants, England. Mr. W. Fenn, Frith Street, Soho, London, W.C. Principal P. H. Foulkes, H-arper Adams Agri- cultural College, Newport, Salop, England. Miss Kinross, West of Scotland Agricultural College, Holmes Farm, Kilmarnock, Scotland. Mr. J. G. KiTSON, 2, Lindsey Street, West Smithfield, London, E.C. 1. Mr. J. N. Leigh, Dodnash Priory Farm, Bentley, Suffolk, England. Miss AIacQueen, 72, \'ictoria Street, London, S.W. 1. Canadian Department of Agri- culture. Poultry Research Society. Women's Farm and Garden Union (England). National Utility Poultry Society (England). Netherlands Ministry of Agri- culture and LA.P.LL Midland Federation of Feather and Fur Societies. President LA.P.LL and Agri- cultural Relief of Allies Com- mittee. Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce. Khaki University of Canada. The Poultry Club (England). Food Production Department, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (England and Wales). Societe Nationale d'Acclimata- tion de France. Queensland Government, Aus- tralia. Women's Farm and Garden Union. London Wholesale Poultry and Game Salesmen's Association. Indian Poultry Club. Retail Poultry Association. Harper Adams Agricultural College. Board of Agriculture for Scot- land. Agricultural Wholesale Society, Ltd. National Utility Poultry Society. Women's Branch, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, England and \A'ales. Mr. Thos. Martin, 63, Chaldow Street, Lon- don, S.W. 6. Miss H. MiERZEjEwsKA (of Poland), 61, Rusholme Road, Putney, London, S.W. 15. Mr. W. MiLESi Brompton Road, London, S.W. Miss L. Murphy, Munster Institute, Cork, Ireland. Miss Newbiggen, Edinburgh and East of Scot- land College of Agriculture, 13, George Street, Edinburgh. Mr. Tom Newman, The Beeches, Rudgwick, Sussex, England. Mr. Bennett Opie, 1, Lupton Street, London, N.W. 5. Capt. F. P. Peirson-Webber, Ettington, Strat- ford-on-Avon, England. Mr. P. J. PoELS, 58, West Smithfield, London, E.G. 1. Mr. T. S. Porter, Upper Merrion Street, Dublin, Ireland. Mr. A. M. PraiNj. St. Andrew Square, Edin- burgh, Scotland. Professor R. C. Punnett, M.A., Whittingehame Lodge, Cambridge, England. Mr. F. W. Rhodes, Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Salop, England. Mr. William Rice, 3, Ludgate Broadway, Lon- don, E.C, 4. Mr. T. R. Robinson, 3, Vincent Square, Lon- don, S.W. 1. Mr. Edwin Russell, Moulscombe, Lewes Road, Brighton, Sussex. Rev. Seymour Shaw, Warcop, Westmorland, England. Mr. D. T. Sproat, St. John's Street, London, E.G. 1. Mr. Stanley Street, The Manor, Coveney, Cambs., England. Mr T. W. ToovEY, King's Langley, Herts, England, Chairman I^eultry Advisory Committee. Dr. Sergio Garcia Uriburu,- Consul General, 121, Oxford Street, ' London, W. 1, England. Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink, 10, Koningin Maria- " straat. The Hague, Holland. Dr. J. J. L. Van Ryn, 8, Hart Street, Mark Lane, London, E.C. 3. M Chas. VOitellier, Maitre de Conference i I'Institut Agronomique, 16, Rue Claude Bernard, Paris (Ve), France. London Egg Market. Reader of Paper. Retail Poultry Association. Department of Agriculture for Ireland. Board of Agriculture for Scot- land. The Scientific Poultry Breeders' Association. London Egg Market. National Service Poultry Club. Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee (England). Department of Agriculture for Ireland. Board of Agriculture for Scot- land and I. A.P.I. I. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (England and Wales). Harper Adams Agricultural College. The Poultry Club (England). National Utility Poultry Society (England). Agricultural Education Associa- tion. The Scientific Poultry Breeders' Association. London Wholesale Poultry and Game Salesmen's Association. Agricultural Wholesale Society, Ltd. Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (England and Wales). Argentine Republic Ministry of Agriculture. Netherlands Ministry of Agri- culture. Netherlands Ministry of Agricul- ture. French Ministry of Agriculture and Soci6t6 Nationale d'Accli- matation de France. THE INTERNATIONAL POULTRY CONFERENCE was held at 16, Bedford Square, London, W.C.I, (by kind permission of the Royal Agricultural Society of England), on March 11th, 12th, and 13th, 1919. Mr. EDWARD BROWN, F.L.S. (PresicJent of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators), Presided. Capt. J. A. CLARKE (Khaki University of Canada), of Charlottetown, P.E.I. , Canada, and M. JEAN DELACOUR (Societe Nationale dAcclimatation de France), Paris, acted as Vice-Presidents to the Conference. Mr. T. R. ROBINSON (National Utility Poultry Society, England), and M. G. S. TH. VAN GINK, The Hague, Holland, performed the duties of Secretaries. Opening of Conference and First Session. Tuesday, March II th, 1919, at 10.30a.m. The President : Ladies and Gentlemen, — In an International gathering of this nature, and especially at such a time, our memory goes out to those who, lilce many of ourselves, were engaged in the Poultry Industry, and who have sacrificed their lives in defence of human liberty. Some of these men would have been with us to- day, probably, had they been spared, and I feel that it is a fitting thing to com- mence our proceedings by paying a silent tribute of respect to our former colleagues for what they have done upon land and sea and in the air. I am asking you, with myself, at the beginning of this Conference, to stand, and for a moment, in silence, pay this tribute to their memory. {The delegates rose and paid the tribute in silence.) The President : A\'e are favoured this morning in having the presence with us of Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture. I have received a letter from the President of the Board, Lord Ernie, expressing his regret that pressure of other business prevents his being with us. He has very kindly asked Sir Arthur to attend this morning in order to express the interest of the British Government in our gathering. I will now ask Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen to address the delegates. Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen, M.P. (Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries), who, on rising to speak, was received with cheers, said : Mr. Brown, Ladies and Gentlemen, — As the Chairman has told you, I am ontllt hi k'^P'^'^"' ^H ^°'"'^ °^ Agriculture and Fisheries and to extend to you Ernie i™f H""!.?* cordial welcome. My chief, the President of the Board, Lord SoDle i these tr!'" '°"l '^^'u^^- '^'""•'' ^^ ^^'^ '" P^--^""- •'"t- "ke all of us Sal bu fnesV.n'^^Tl'^"^'',^^ '' """'y '""'^^ "^'^"P'^l ^i* ofificial and depart- You must no' thin?A^^ .f '"''^^ '"^ '^^''^°'' '° '•^P'-e^'^"' him on this occasion. EmleTnornr^^n h ^^'■'/; ""^ '"^'^ ^*'''^'^' ^^'<^''^°'«e from the fact that Lord Ernie is not present, as he would very much have liked to have been. ,f. '''t!^',^ '^.'"^V. "" "'A"^'' ^P"; congratulation and of great interest that, so soon after the termination of hostilities the International Association of Poultry Instruc- ™,? ^"h T, i^t ■"? '^""'"^ '?°''* '^'' Conference. We are very glad to welcome in R^[«r^ f ^^f ^T^°'"7o"°"' ^"""^'S" ^"'^ ^"''^d countries, from France, from JrS^'p 7" ^^'^^ U"''^^ States of America, from the Netherlands, from the Srft^nH 't 1 / T^i^',^""' "^Pr ^ °thers-and also, of course, from England. ^nH A^cl ^'^^'^^^J^'^ Wales; and I believe, also, delegates are present from cinada wherehv .J^"- f^^^^l'^^ the great value and importance of these Conferences Z^rr, LT^ t ]T''^u''^f' '^'^' ^-"^ ventilated, new vie^^•s are brought for- ward and the knowledge that has been acquired in various countries is all put into the common stock for the benefit of the industry as a whole. I wi-sh to say. on behalf of the Board, that we as a Board, charged with the promotion of all that is best for agriculture, recognise to the full the importance of your Poultry Industry. We recognise it as a most important industry from the point of view of food production, production of the most delicate, healthy, delightful food for human beings. We recognise it on account of its great commercial value, both as a distinct industry and also as the most valuable subsidiary industry or side line to the farmer, the smallholder, the cottager and so on. We recognise also that it is a pursuit of the greatest interest, a fascinating pursuit which must appeal to a very great many. There are special reasons why we recognise its importance to-day. First of all, looking at it from the point of view of our own country, we are endeavouring to, what is commonly called, reconstruct village life, to bring back to the land more of our people, to interest many more in country pursuits. We are engaged in a very large scheme, which I hope will be successful, settling on the land as smallholders in varying degrees some of the gallant soldiers and sailors who took their part in the great War. The smallholder, whether he be occupying a small mixed farm, or be more in the nature of a cottager working for others, but having a certain patch of land to whi'ch he devotes his spare time and money. I feel sure will be a wise man. and will add to his profits and to the interest of his life, if he devotes part of his time, of his energy, and of his land to poultry rearing. It is important to look at the matter from the point of view of some of our good friends and Allies. Any of us who have served in France and Belgium know the terrible havoc that has been wrought by the War. Practically every industry, urban and rural, has been nearly swept out of existence over vast districts, both of France and Belgium. The reconstruction of the industries — and among them, of course, that of the Poultry Industry— is a matter of urgent and pressing importance. Whether it be for enabling our smallholder here to make the best use of the Poultry Industry, or to re-start and re-stock the industry in France and Belgium, what is of the greatest importance is that we should work on the best lines, that we should have all the experience that we can gather from every part of the world. I think, therefore. Mr. President, that your Conference to-day is singularly opportune as affording an opportunity to gather the best fruits of experience at a moment when so much has to be done in this and other countries to re-start the industry. I have been looking at the programme, and was interested to see the nature of some of the papers. To-day, I think, most appropriately, we are to have papers from our French colleagues on the measures taken in France. Then we are to have —characteristically, and quite properly — a paper from one of our American friends. who will tell you the most up-to-date methods of instruction and experimentation. I am sure we shall profit by them. vfR„.,\ti^^ I would like to say, on behalf of the Board, that we have had great difificuU e^ in this country in connection with the industry. While we have not suffered like Fraince or Belgium has suffered— we have been fortunate in being spared from the tyrannies of the unspeakable Hun— hostilities interfered with the industry in this, as in every other country, and the Board of Agriculture took certain steps to meet the difficulty as far as they could. . , , , ,, The matter of chief importance was to provide throughout the country fowls of real value, at reasonable prices, so that our stocks should not disappear; certainly that the best strains should not disappear. I am glad to say that the action of the Board on the whole has been satisfactory. Do not think I am saying that in any self-glorification. All this was done by the Board long before I joined it; at the same time, it is satisfactory to think that certain steps were taken which, on the whole, ITave proved successful. I might, perhaps, mention just one or two in a moment, as a matter of interest to the Conference. The Board started some 150 Egg Stations throughout the country, so as to ensure in different parts of the country a supply of young chicks of the best strains of layers. The basis adopted was this : The owners received premiums of £5, and in return agreed to dispose of not less than 60 sittings at a stated price. Then we established Chick Distributing Centres, Incubation Centres^ which were largely started through the medium of County Councils; and in various ways we succeeded in a time of emergency and stress to do what we could to keep the industry going on the best and proper lines, though I cannot deny that the industry suffered in this country very considerably. But I do not want you to think that the Board of Agriculture is willing to confine itself merely to what I may call war-emergency measures. We wish to give this industry a push forward in every way we can— we are thoroughly interested in it, and deeply impressed with its potentialities. The lines upon which we wish to proceed are, roughly, three. We desire more practical instruction and general dissemination of practical knowledge. Secondly, there should be demonstration upon small poultry farms, where the latest and most up-to-date methods are employed, and upon a commercial basis, so that we can prove to people in general that these latest up-to-date methods can be made' to pay. Thirdly, of course — I put it last, but it should come first, as it is the root of all things — we ought to have more research. Research means the addition to the sum total of knowledge. Upon sound research and investigation will depend the future progress not only of this industry but of all other industries. I am glad to say that, in collaboration with, and in consultation withj the Poultry Advisory Committee — to whose admirable work I desire to pay a tribute — the Board are hoping to proceed on the lines that I have suggested, and it may be by the formation of a National Poultry Institute, or something of that sort, we may be able to liave our demonstrations, possibly to have our research, and also to give that practical instruction which will take the form largely of instructing the instructors, those men arid women who are intended to disseminate the knowledge throughout the country. One more remark I would like to make — perhaps it will come rather curiously from one who is, at all events, for the moment, a Government official. My strong advice to all who are interested in the Poultry Industry is that they should, as far as possible, combine and make their aims and objects known to the public and to the Government. I am speaking now, not so much from the point of view of an official; but, as one who has spent most of his life in Parliament, I can say the only way to get anything done is to hammer very hard at the door of Government Departments, and those who hammer hardest will probably get best served. (Laughter.) This advice, I am sure you will realisej is purely disinterested, because I am one of the first whose slumbers will be disturbed by your hammering. (Renewed laughter.) g I do not wish to occupy your time longer, but merely repeat what I said at the beginning, and that is, on behalf of the Board I most heartily welcome you, and hope that much good, much useful knowledge, and much general information and improvement will result from your deliberations this wgek. The Pkesident : I will ask Captain Clarke, who is here representing Canada, and who himself has had a great share in the superintendence of the Experimental Stations in one part of the Dominion, to make the acknowledgments of the Conference to Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen for this welcome, and Miss Edwards, who was one of the first to take up the work in the Ladies' Branch, to second that acknowledgment. Captain J. A. Clarke (The Khaki University of Canada) : Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, — On behalf of the delegates I wish to thank Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen for his most cordial welcome which he has given us here in London, the home, as we think, of the Empire, and the centre of all that we love — I might put it that way. I also feel deeply indebted for his most excellent advice which he gave us at the close of his Address. I happen to be a Civil Servant, and have to do some knocking, as well as try to help out some of the other fellows who come along looking for what they ought to have. Sir Arthur summed up very nicely some of the things that we ought to have at the present time — first of all, more practical education, and in regard to that I would like to say a word as to what we are doing. We have in connection with the Khaki University of Canada over 10,000 Canadian ex- soldiers studying poultry-keeping at the present time. Our instructors are men who were district representatives in their own counties in Canada ; they were also practical poultry breeders themselves. I would like very much to invite a few of those men, so that they could take away from this Conference some of the good things that I know we are going to hear, and carry them to the Canadian soldiers at the present time. I was very much interested, too, in the statement made that there were, during the period of war, 150 of those Egg Stations, and I realise that that is one of the things we might very well copy, to organise a number of Egg Stations for that purpose. I was able myself through one to reach a constituency of about 50,000 people, and I must say that the work was tremendously appreciated — our trouble was that we could not supply either eggs or day-old chicks enough. On behalf of the delegates, I wish to propose a vote of thanks to Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen for his very kind welcome. Miss Edwards (Women's Farm and Garden Union) : I have great pleasure in seconding ^he vote of thanks to Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen. I am sure we are all very much obliged to him for his advice as to how we are to get at the Government, which is generally a very difficult job. The President : It has been proposed and seconded that we offer our warmest thanks to Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen for the welcome he has given us, and ask him to convey that to the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. As we know that Department is part of the Government, we shall be very glad indeed to take the hints that he has given us already. Those in favour say " Aye !" On the contrary, . That is carried unanimously. We thank you, Sir Arthur, for your welcome. Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen : I am sure I am very much obliged to the Conference for their vote of thanks. I was very interested to hear what is being done in Canada. I think it is splendid to think that 10,000 ex-soldiers,are training in this industry. I shall have the greatest pleasure in conveying this vote of thanks to Lord Ernie, who, as I said before, takes great interest in your proceedings. (Cheers.) 10 THE POULTRY INDUSTRY IN RELATION TO THE WORLD'S RESTORATION. By Edward Brown, F.L.S. (President International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators.) This Conference has been convened by the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators for the purpose of considering the present position of the Poultry Industry and what steps can be taken as a contribution to that recon- struction which is one of the problems of to-day, as will continue to be the case in the years before us. Few can grasp what is involved by an inadequacy of food sup- plies. For a decade prior to 1914, that most fateful year any of us have ever known, or shall again know, food consumption throughout all lands was increasing more rapidly than production. War, with its absorption of human endeavour, with its sacrifice of those engaged in supplying the world's needs in relation to food, whether as producers, manufacturers, transporters or distributors, with devastation and de- struction over vast areas in its train, has exaggerated a hundredfold this condition of affairs. Famine is stalking over Europe. Every nation is suffering to a degree, by actual shortage in some directions, by high cost of living in all. I say nothing as to the unspeakable anguish of a stricken earth, of which some here know more than others, except to urge that we should " turn our sorrows to noble uses." During my visits to America in 1917 and 1918 a proposal was made to summon as soon as possible after Peace a Conference such as that in which we are now assembled, which was adopted by the Council of the Association in November last, in order to consider how and in what manner those of all countries engaged in Poultry Husbandry can apply the knowledge and experience already gained to the service of humanity. As Maximus of Tyre said in ancient days, " What use is knowledge unless we do the things for which knowledge is profitable?" Our hope and confidence is that this Conference may be able to make an important contribu- tion towards rebuilding the world community, and secure that extension of egg and poultry production which is so imperatively needed. There are delegates present who will be able, from first-hand knowledge, to present facts as to the depletion of poultry in countries most affected, directly or indirectly,_ by the war. One piece of evidence of what has taken place, and of inter- ference with international trade, is that of eggs and poultry imported into the United Kingdom. In 1913 the eggs received from other countries amounted to 21,579,950 gt. hds. ; in 1918 these had fallen to 2,656,415 gt. hds., a decline of 18,923,535 gt. hds., or 157,000 tons, equal to 87.69 per cent. In 1913 the poultry imported amounted to 227,573 cwts. ; in 1918 the total was 34,614 cwts., a drop of 182,759 cwts., equal to 83.91 per cent. These reductions would have been greater but for the largely mcreased supplies from Egypt and America. Such facts are suggestive, yet not surprising when we attempt to visualise what must be the conditions, after nearly four and a-half years of war, of the countries which were formerly the great poultry districts of Europe. Russia, torn by revolu- tion with her railways and ports closed, and her entire economic system in a state of chaos: Germanv, blockaded and swept bare of her stocks of poultry; Austria- Hungary unable to feed her people; Galicia crossed several times by contending armies; the Balkans ruthlessly despoiled; Belgium, for long under the heel of waTre'sheH t"' ""7^ "",' North-Eastern France, the scene for years of furi us warfare, shell-torn and desolated. In addition Denmark and Holland have been 11 40 per cent, of what was the case in 1913. I should estimate the declension in eggs alone at 1,000,000 tons, or upwards of 14,400,0(^0,000. It is not too much to suggest that the European stocks of poultry have been reduced by 180,000,000 head. Thus the problem presenting itself in this one branch of food supply is, indeed, vast. In approaching questions such as those before us there must always be a due sense of proportion. Great though the impwtance of eggs and poultry, these articles of food occupy a relatively lower plane than the staple foods such as bread and meat. Only in times of actual scarcity do we learn what are the necessities of life. Attempts have been made to belittle the food values of eggs and poultry. Yet their place in human dietary was never brought home to householders as during the last two or three years. The influence of such experience will be felt more as conditions become normal, provided supplies are forthcoming. A question here presents itself, namely, what will be the effect in devastated areas upon the breeds or races of poultry previously kept, and the methods of control and management in operation? So far as breeds are concerned, in some of the countries referred to were special races, apparently fitted to the districts where evolved, or even to wider fields. These it would be a distinct loss if entirely dis- placed. Probably that would apply to Belgium more than any other land, yet it is true elsewhere. Every effort must be made to preserve many of these races. In respect to other areas there might be a distinct advantage in restocking with breeds of a better and more productive type. In the doing of that, however, great circum- spection will be necessary. The predeliction and tendencies of people must be considered. Upon the Continent of Europe meat qualities usually hold an important place on their breeds of fowls and other poultry. Moreover, in not a few districts the inhabitants have been breeders of poultry for centuries, and their inherited know- ledge of the pursuit is very great. What appears to be the most promising field for development is in the control and management, in which directions there must be abundant scope. A large part of the Continent of Europe has practically been untouched by the changes in respect to breeding, housing and incubation which have marked recent years in western lands on both sides the Atlantic and in the Southern hemisphere. No such favour- able time for revolutionising methods has presented itself. There will be a readiness to learn, if knowledge and experience are presented in the right manner, not found before. War has broken down many barriers between the Allied peoples, who have realised their inter-dependence. Such work needs great wisdom on the part of all. Reasons which convince, and are practical, can alone overcome prejudice. Some one has said, " Scatter seed wisely for the harvest; seed is no good in a heap." Know- ledge must be imparted, not forced. If too great in bulk it causes congestion and the whole has to be disgorged. Thomas Carlyle sagely remarked that " Human brains have such a talent for taking up simply what they can carry, and leaving all the rest." A ladder can only be ascended one rung at a time. jGreat are the opportunities for rebuilding the Poultr)' Industry on surer lines. There must, however, be no uncertainty as to what are those lines, and how far they are adaptable to various conditions. It is here where science can render the most valuable service to practice, and where traders are indispensable factors. The work of the scientist is to test practice, and of practice to prove science, each working for greater and more economic production. Those engaged in trading, by organisation of the business, can ensure adequate returns to practicians. There has been too much sense of superiority with each of these classes of workers, which should cease. The scientist needs to be in greater part a practician, and the more a practician or trader is scientific in spirit the greater will be his accomplishment. There is a French proverb which says that " Who runs after two hares loses both." That does not apply wholly to the Poultry Industry. Science and practice are two limbs of the one body. It is in this way that " Knowledge leads to knowledge in an endless chain." One impelling reason for holding the present Conference is to bring home the responsibility of non-devastated Allied and neutral countries in aiding to bear the burdens of those who have been so sorely stricken. Upon that much could be said. 12 When we think of Belgium, innocent and neutral Belgium, outraged for more than four years; of North-Eastern France'under its prolonged agonies; of Serbia, betrayed and martyred, yet never yielding the hope and faith of five centuries ; and of Russia, whose death roll in the war has been greatest of all, every people who by geographical and other reasons have been protected from the greater horrors of war, feel, and must feel still more, a sense of indebtedness that can never be wholly discharged. In that connection Poultry can contribute more than almost any other branch of domesticated live stock. These are more rapidly reproductive than other food animals, and, save milk cattle, are more continuously productive. ^ Not only do hens lay eggs for human food, but, by hatching a moiety of these, in a few months the productive stock can be multiplied several fold, and restoration in that direction be speedily effected. Such has been abundantly proved by the English Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee; which has already given several thousands of fowls for restocking the reoccupied departments of France. There is need for considerable numbers of breeding poultry for Belgium and Serbia, and an opportunity is afforded to breeders in non-devastated countries to express their sympathy in this manner, which would, I am convinced, be readily responded to if an invitation be given. Such is commended to the consideration of delegates. A point of supreme importance, one which will specially appeal to producers in every country, making for a vast development of the Poultry Industry, is that we shall assuredly not see prices of eggs and poultry fall to their old levels, and that in both these products there is a greater recognition of nutritive values. Such may not be true where distances or want of intercommunication prevent sales beyond the immediate districts, or where artificial barriers are set up. Each country must be free to determine its own policy. We all hope that the old spirit of selfishness, of " Cribbing the Sunlight," will be discarded, that there will be a broadening of vision, a closer affinity between the various nationalities, and an earnest desire for that universal brotherhood for which men in all countries have longed and of which poets have sung. There is every reason to work for enhanced production. And, further, as prosperity increases consumption of eggs and poultry will become much greater. In several countries which formerly exported largely home demand has absorbed all the supplies. Rivalries between people and classes and individuals there will always be. Nor should these be discouraged so long as they are peaceful and friendly. Sir Donald Ross has said that " Rivalry is the only instrument which Nature possesses to maintain racial efficiency." Striving to excel is an impelling force in all progres- sion. Without it we should slacken and become effete. Rewards to those who produce the best as well as the most promise to be greater than ever before, by reason of enhancement of prices, which fact should constantly be brought before present and potential producers everywhere. Even when the costs of production fall, due to lower rates for feed, we shall not see an equal drop in prices of eggs and poultry, owing to the shortage of supplies already indicated. The programme of the week's proceedings in your hands indicates subjects to be submitted for consideration. It is not my purpose to anticipate these or the dis- cussions which will follow. I may, however, be permitted to say that the imperative need for being prepared to act should be kept constantly in view. Construction is the object at which to aim. Whilst it is true that restoration and extension in every country must be in accordance with its special conditions, all can learn from each. To that end there should be effective unity, certainly of purpose and aim, not alone of poultry men and women, but on the part of Government departments, teaching and investigational institutions. Poultry Societies of all grades, and those engaged m the important business of distribution, in order to stimulate and aid towards greater and better food production. More and better poultry should be the motto, and I should place the better before the more. Our purpose is not to set up charitable institutions for cocks and hens. A vastly more important question is that of helping to feed the world's populations, in the doing of which the financial rewards to those engaged in this work must be adequate, as in every other phase of human industry. 13 " Not what you inherit counts but what you create," has characterised those engaged in extension and promotion of the Poultry Industry. So should it be in the future to an even greater extent than in the past. Restoration is not enough, important though that be. It must be accompanied by construction, even to the degree of attempting what has hitherto been regarded as beyond the range of possibility. I may, therefore, be permitted to name a few of the points which should constantly be kept before us. First and foremost are the problems associated with breeds and breeding, upon which we are to hear from Professor Punnett. Of the races of poultry we know much ; of the forces involved in breeding we understand little. Let me at once say, " You cannot smoke looks." Not the visible but the invisible are determining factors. The field for research and investigation appears to have no horizon. It may be that the quest in some directions is what has been described by Signor Marconi, namely, " The attempt to express one-third as a decimal fraction." It is never ending. Yet upon finding, if that be possible, solutions for many difficulties depends the future of all stock breeding for supply of human food. Then there must be recognition of the fact that the Poultry Industry is highly diversified and has many branches, all of which demand consideration, all are con- tributory to a more complete accomplishment. Greatest of all, perhaps, is how to compass extension of production and the greatest success in association with agriculture, whether on large or small farms or on what we call allotments, whence are derived the great bulk of supplies. In this aspect is involved the raising of chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys, as well as the production of eggs. There is also, the question of specialised methods, known as Commercial Poultry Husbandry, ever growing in more thickly populated and industrial countries. That appears to have passed, or is passing, through the experimental stage, though there are many problems involved for which a solution has yet to be found. No more important question presents itself for consideration than the collection and distribution of eggs and poultry. It is useless to produce unless proiitabie (outlets are available. Unless by expedition and at a reasonable cost the producer can dispose of his goods, obtaining a return which makes his part of the work profitable, and consumers secure supplies which in respect to quality and price will stimulate demand, there can be no great development. Such is a more complex and costly process, except where consumption is local, than is generally recognised. To reduce charges to the lowest point by simplification of method is essential. Lord Morley has written that " We all know such a multitude of things of which it does us no harm to be reminded." Repetition of the obvious and accepted is necessary in every generation. That, however, is but a small part of the work of teachers and instructors, though a useful and essential part. The instructor has to reach and influence the great multitude whose knowledge is small, and who cannot expect to succeed unless that is increased. Nothing, in my opinion, can be of equal importance to experimental and research work, to the seeking for explana- tion of the causes as well as the codifying of effects, attempting discovery of the as yet unrevealed mysteries of nature, finding better, cheaper methods of production, and, above all, of testing old theories that have been long accepted and practised, or of new ones brought forward as panaceas for every difficulty, not a few of which latter have but a brief hour. I have only to mention the problems involved in incubation, rearing and feeding to indicate the wide field for investigation. In all these directions mathematics must be the unprejudiced and final arbitrator. It is the theorist whose visions make for progression. Yet his dreams must be subjected to the stern judgment of experimentation before there can be reliable demonstration. Limited indeed is the influence of isolated individuals upon general extension. Governmental or central action and support are essential. National and interna- tional needs demand that the greater work involved in propaganda, in support of education, of experimental and research work, shall be undertaken and maintained by public funds. The words of a leading scientist may fitly be remembered in this connection, namely, that " Fuel is effective in proportion to the draught of the 14 grate." We need Governments and other public authorities to create and direct this draught. Abundant evidence is forthcoming of what can be accomplished when such is the case, and direction is by those who know the industry and its possibilities, and whose range is far beyond the immediate. It is our purpose to widen the sphere of activities in all countries and prove ourselves worthy of their operations. r u- j Many other questions suggest themselves, such as .removal of hindrances and restrictions, of transportation, and of how women, who during the war have revealed a new force in human endeavour, and whose co-operation is needed to a greater extent than ever before, not on a limited but a vastly extended scale, can best be utilised.- What has been stated, however, indicates the greatness of the subject we are here to consider. The delegates at this Conference represent many countries and many interests. To each and all a sincere and hearty welcome is accorded, none the less because over us are the shadows of war, of the great cataclysm through which the world has passed, leaving upon each the sense of suffering and loss, the thought of millions of young lives which have been yielded that we might be protected. You have gathered here to consider how far it is possible and by what steps to make anew, to extend the Poultry Industry, not only as a field of human endeavour, but as a contribution to the prosperity and happiness of mankind. You are welcome because it is hoped that as a result of our deliberations' there may arise a greater, a clearer conception of what are the opportunities in every land and nation, and how far these may be realised. In the work we have undertaken there is no finality. It is That untravelled world whose margin fades For ever and for ever as we move. With every advance there will come a widening of the horizon. As we know more we see more. And as it has been well said, " It is by the active pursuit of an immediate duty that the vista of future duties becomes most clear." We are hoping and praying for establishment on a permanent basis of the League of Nations to ensure universal Peace. May we not contribute towards the accomplishment of that great ideal by a League of Poultry Workers, seeking to unite all engaged in extension of this branch of food production regardless of frontiers, or geographical and racial divisions? The past years have called forth heroism un- bounded on land and sea and in the air, and, also, in the respective homelands. In the pursuit to which we are devoted there is abundant scope for a Heroism of Service, and for what has been called a Sovereign and Steadfast Unselfishness. REPORT ON THE " PRESENT STATE OF AVICULTURE IN FRANCE." Presented by M. Ch. Voitellier (Maitre de Conferences de zootechnie k I'lnstitut National agronomique, Membre du Conseil Sup^rieur de 1 'Agriculture, Paris, France). Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, — On the 12th of December last you sent an invitation to the French Minister of Agriculture and Ravitaillement, begging him to designate a Delegate of the French Government to submit a report " on the needs of France for the revival of her poultry industry." The material help that France has already received from her Allies during the War, as regards agriculture, has been so much appreciated that such an offer, which implies evidently the intention to participate effectively in the economical reconstruc- tion of the devastated areas, could only be highly esteemed. \'ou can well understand the great sorrow we felt when we saw annihilated, after the German offensive at the beginning of 1918, most of the great work of re- construction in the devastated areas of 1914, to which the English breeders by theii 15 gifts of breeding cattle, and the American Red Cross by their financial aid, had so largely contributed. We cannot forget the manner in which these gifts were offered ; we know very well how the donors chose in their stables or herds, or in theii poultry-yards, the best of their animals. Every one who, in France, has been able to see or to appreciate the value of the gifts, was very much moved by the show of sincere friendship they represented. Thus it is with the greatest pleasure that I answer to-day the call of your President. Knowing the disinterested feelings of your Association, its wish being to obtain, by developing scientific researches and by diffusing Icnowledge, an improve- ment in avicultural production, I very much count on the exchange of views during this Congress and on the ulterior action of your Committee. No doubt you know that before the War France did not produce, as she used to, the quantity of eggs necessary to her consumption. During the 19th century France exported many more eggs than she imported. The difference between her imports and her exports was on an average of, during the period of 1880 to 1890, about 15,000,000 kilograms, mostly sent to England. Since 1900 the excess of imports on the exports has always been regularly in- creasing; only on rare occasions has some slight fluctuation been noticed from one year to another. This excess in 1913 increased to 22,392,000 kilograms, and had a value of 35,880,000 francs. In 1912 this excess reached the considerable figure of 25 millions of kilograms, representing a value of more than 40 millions of francs. The same state of things exists in Great Britain and in Germany; it is even more noticeable than in France. In England egg imports, which represented only a value of about 20,000 of francs in 1860, rose little by little to 240 millions of francs per year. In Germany the excess of egg imports rose to 175 millions of francs per year. In short, the deficit of national production, compared with consumption, represented about 10 eggs per inhabitant in France, 50 in Germany, and 75 in Great Britain. Notwithstanding this, it is nearly certain that in one or the other of these countries egg-production had not diminished ; it was even increased. No agricultural statistics enable us to give a definite indication on this point. If production had been less, it must be assumed that complaints would have been raised by the com- missioners or the suppliers of great markets. As nothing seems to have been noticed, we must conclude that there is only a remarkable increase of the consumption cor- responding, in fact, to the general welfare of the conditions of living. The egg is looked at to-day in the same way as milk, as an indispensable food for children, old people, and invalids ; it is greatly used in the nourishment of adults. All the hygienists agree on this same point of view that the egg, when fresh, is a food for weak organisms, and that, on the other hand, the egg when not fresh presents some defects. If eggs frozen or preserved by any other means can be utilised in the general food, and be thus imported from the farthest parts of the globe, they cannot play the same part as fresh eggs. It is necessary to obtain fresh eggs in our own countries. That is a problem of general hygiene we must try to solve. We must try to obtain the greatest quantity of eggs, and we sincerely regret that the shortness in production does not enable us to give sufficient to those whose health has suffered on account of the War. Production has been considerably reduced during the hostilities. Not only the poultry-yards of the zone where the armies stayed and where they fought have been destroyed, but in the whole of France, as was the case in England, the prohibition, since 1917, against feeding cereals to the poultry, and the impossibility for breeders to secure concentrated feeding stuff's, have been the cause of a consider- able reduction in the number of fowls and of their productivity. Advices are very numerous on the importance of the reduction in the production of eggs in non- invaded territory. Nevertheless, it is no exaggeration to say that this reduction represents in 1918 50 per cent, of the quantities obtained in 1913. The shortness of grains for fowls is still felt. In spite of the high prices reached by eggs during the whole winter (600 francs per thousand wholesale in Paris), 16 numerous breeders of fowls and farmers' wives have not been able to increase the yield of their poultry-yards. Poultry breeding for table use has also considerably diminished during the war, The price of chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese is four times higher than in 1914, though since 1912 they had already risen, as was the case with all land products without exception. The balance which existed then between imports and exports of live poultry and dead poultry will not continue in future if the production of poultry-yards is not increased to the old figures. But the production of the fiesh of fowls does not present the same pressure as that of eggs. We think, starting from this point of view, that we must proceed by slow degrees in the work of reconstruction ; nevertheless, we must not forget that, in giving to poultry-breeding all the extension compatible with the other agricul- tural necessities, we shall thus aid the production of eggs. In spite of all the scien- tific researches on the determinism of sex in animals, poultry-breeders or cattle- breeders have no means to obtain a higher proportion of female than male. To have a given number of laying hens it is necessary to breed, on an average, double the number of chickens of pullets required. In spite of the fact that keeping fowls on open runs secures an important con- tribution in animal food, it is nevertheless necessary for fowls to find a great quantity of grain, or that this be given to them, which is less economical. In examining the problem of the reconstruction of poultry-yards in the whole of France, as well as in the devastated areas, it is .necessary not to overlook that the quantities of available grains for fowls, let us say what has fallen after harvesting, or coming from the sorting of seeds, or other causes, is the principal factor in the revival of the poultry production. On the other hand, it is necessary not to forget that though, however easy and quick the multiplication of poultry may be, the reorganisation of farming in the Northern regions cannot be done at once. I.n fact, it will be necessary to have recourse to an import of four millions of adult fowls to re-establish the pre-war state of things ; this figure of four millions, I hasten to say, is not made on secure basis. Nevertheless, it is likely, and more probably, less than the reality. In the eleven departments invaded in 1918, whose total surface is 6,876,595 hectares, there is, from the recent returns made to the Chambre des Deputes, 2,837,000 cultivated hectares more or less devastated which are made up as follows : Hectares. Zone of hard fighting 109,000 Zone of trenches and bombardments 810,000 Zone merely occupied 1918 000 2,837,000 To this area invaded in 1918, we must add that invaded in 1914, • 796,000 cultivated hectares. In a study of the question which we published at the beginning of 1914 we gave a likely figure of the population of the poultry-yards in France, kept for the produc- tion of eggs and that of young chickens, 65 millions of hens, one million of ducks, and 250,000 of guinea fowls. As the total surface of France is 52,952,000 hectares, there will only be an average of one hen per hectare. But the Northern Departments had a cultivated surface, rather important, in which small and general culture were predominant. When saying the figure of four millions for adult poultry, the statement is less than the truth, nevertheless this figure can help to fix the mind on the rapidity with which poultry -yards can be restored. It is not such a deficit that it cannot be quickly filled if only the stock was fully maintained in the remaining poultry-yards in France. That has, however, dimmished by 50 per cent. If we admit that it was previouslv renewed by a third or by 17 a quarter, a minimum of three or four years would be necessary to produce again- in the North of France the previous numbei- of fowls. The difiiculties which meet the inhabitants on reinstating themselves in the devastated areas are great. Although the breeding of cattle is compatible with camping and temporary settlements, agricultural households taking over their own ground will have so much urgent work to do that very little time will be given to the care of a poultry-yard, and above all to the breeding of chickens. It is well known that uncultivated ground is most favourable for poultry, but it must not be forgotten that these fowls will be taken little care of and not be protected against wild animals of all kinds, wild birds and small mammifers which actually frequent the solitudes of the devastated areas, riiost favourable for their multiplication. The restoration of farms and villages in the invaded regions will require many efforts unthought of. As nobody had anticipated the gigantic operations war brought out, nobody can, exactly, realise the dreadful consequences. History teaches us that ravaged towns of olden times have never been restored as they originally were, and that the surrounding country never recovered its prosperity. Nevertheless, pessimism must be left out, we must keep up the same steady confidence of the farmer who knows how to support life and its worries, because he realises that Nature always takes its rights, even in the most devastated regions, and that under the influence of sun and water plants will always grow, and when vegetation is in full growth every kind of animals recover quickly enough their prosperity. We still hope in the future, because for the first time since the world exists, ravaged towns are those of the victorious countries, and for the first time, too, and before victory was achieved, most of the Allied and neutral nations have given help so much needed. AH these statements give us the right to say very sincerely that we shall heartily welcome all the help and aid that will be offered us. A material aid, well thought out, will certainly be of immediate assistance, also scientific aid and help for extending the best methods, will oertaiiily give good results. The management of poultry-yards in France is, in some regions, rather poor, although the climatic conditions and the different soils and cultures, are very favourable for breeding poultry. The teaching of poultry-farming, in spite of the prominence given ,to it, during the last ten years, by the institution of economical travelling schools, has been of a superficial character. The results of poultry experiences, and the laying competitions in Australia, United States, and> Great Britain have been too long unknown to the great numbers of Frendi breeders. Their records have aroused curiosity, but up to the present no public authorities and no agricultural society has endeavoured to carry out such researches so as to bring the selection of fowls to a practical issue. However, it is necessary for our breeders to know, by the diffusion of such experiences, the relative value of the various races. The diffusion in France of your scientifical researches on breeding would have a very stimulating effect on the teaching of poultry-farming. We shall seek out together, if you wish it, the best means to secure it. Suggestions that will come from the studies and debates of this Conference, and the mission it will most probably give to the Committee of International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators, of following the question of reconstructing poultry-yards in the devastated areas, cannot fail to be most profitable. We shall greet them with gratitude. The President : I think there are two main facts that ought to be impressed again. First, that the egg and poultry production of France — perhaps M. Delacour will correct me — according to M. Voitellier, has decreased by 50 per cent. M. Delacour (Soci^t^ Nationale d'Acclimatation de France) : Yes. The President : That is taking the whole country ; and the second point is that there will be a need for four million breeding birds to help in restoration. Those are two factors. B 18 A Delegate : What is a hectare of land ? The President : About 2i acres, a little over ; that is, roughly speaking. I am sure we are all very much indebted to Monsieur Voitelher for his paper, and we shall probably take an opportunity, in our private conversation, of drawing attention to the losses borne by our brave Ally, France. PRESENT CONDITIONS IN POLAND AND THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. By Miss H. Mierzejewska. Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,— First let me say how greatly honoured I feel to be elected the delegate at this International Conference for Poland and to be allowed to- address you to-day. I wish to give you a short description of the present condition of Poland before I proceed to my paper. , ,. Before the war Poland, as you know, was for over one hundred years under ttie yoke of three powers— Russia, Prussia, and Austria— who oppressed twenty-one millions of my countrymen, hindering their national and economical progress. Ihe Polish Kingdom, with its capital Warsaw, belonged to Russia. That was the largest part of Poland. Austria absorbed Galicia and part of Silesia, with the large towns of Cracow and Lemberg. The Grand Duchy of Posen, East Prussia, and the re- maining part of Silesia were under Prussian rule. My remarks to-day will be confined to the Polish kingdom commonly known as Russian Poland, of which I am a native. It is four and a third times the size of Belgium and four times the size of Holland. The climate is similar to that of Central Europe, though the Carpathian moun- tains cut off the southern warm winds. On the other hand, the Baltic modifies the severity of the winter cold and the summer heat. The warmest part of the kingdom is that which lies between the rivers Vistula and Oder. Warsaw and Lemberg experience the coldest winters and the hottest summers. The average number of days in the year on which rain or snow falls is from 152 to 158, increasing towards the Baltic. In central Poland the rainfall is from 21 to a little over 23 inches. Towards the south, owing to the proximity of the Carpathian mountains, the average increases to a little over 30 inches. Of this amount Spring has the lowest (about 17 per cent.). Summer 29 per cent., Autumn 21 per cent. ; Winter has the largest fall in the shape of snow (about 33 per cent.). As you can imagine, in Winter the snow lies very deep. The Spring, however, sets in early. In Spring the country is deep in mud, the roads being almost impassable. In Winter frosts from 4 to 22 degrees below Zero (Faht.) are not uncommon. The rivers are covered with ice for two and a half to three months in the year. The prevailing wind is westerly, with north-east and south winds in Autumn and Winter, and east wind in the Spring. The soil is very fertile, and Poland, even in the eighteenth century, was known as the granary of Europe. It is now an almost entirely agricultural country. The soil is chiefly a black humus mixed with clay. There are 'also red and white sand, black peaty sand, peat, chalk, and light and heavy loam. All sorts of grains and roots are cultivated. Small holders occupy more than 50 per cent, of the cultivated land, and it is very important to bear this in mind when considering the question of poultry rearing and the egg industry. Only about six per cent, is held by medium-sized farmers, while the rest is in the hands of large estate owners. The total number of small holdings in the Polish kingdom is nearly 1,102,000. The average size of these small holdings is a little under five acres. The peasant, or what you would call the smallholder, can only get from this sized property a very meagre living. The peasants in Russia, and specially Russian Polish provinces, were much better off, and their property reached sometimes 20-40 acres. 19 The large estafes were well administered, but thei. number had greatly decreased owing to their being divided up. The land was worth in 1913 about £20 to £30 an acre. Labourers earned from 2s. to 3s. a day. The peasants are deeply attached to their land. Cultivating it is their chief occupation. They are also good at cattle breeding, but have no knowledge of modern or up-to-date methods. Before the War the foreign Governmejits which had divided the country between them did nothing to encourage farming. What has been done is entirely due to private initia- tive. Commercial farming associations were started, also agricultural societies for the protection and the agricultural education of the peasants. These had enormously developed, especially in the Polish kingdom and the Grand Duchy of Posen. Then the War came and stopped all this good work. The country became a battlefield. In many parts nothing but ruins and graves remain. What shrapnel and bullets spared was stolen or destroyed by the Germans. In many parts of Poland at the present moment neither machinery nor live stock exist. Houses are razed to the ground aind the forests destroyed. As the peasants depend on the latter for build- ing material and fuel their destruction is a terrible calamity. Up to the present time we have been able to communicate but little with our friends and relations in Poland. We do know that numbers of peasants are in terrible condition — walking about in rags, short of food, and of all the necessaries of life. Though politically the future looks bright for Poland, there are at the present moment two dangers — famine, and, following this, the menace of Bolshevism. The chief industrial districts are idle, as all the machinery has been removed by the Germans. The result is there is no cloth, and the workmen are unemployed. Much of the land is derelict, or only partly cultivated. There is a lack of seeds and of agricultural machinery, &c. Despite all the efforts made to relieve her, Poland is very near starvation, and only well- organised effort can save even half the population. Now having, I hope, given you some idea of my country and its present condi- tion, I will proceed to the question of Poultry. Before the War, besides few well-organised private farms on large estates, particularly in the Grand Duchy of Posen, a Polish kingdom, the peasants were the chief suppliers of eggs. They did not keep pure breeds, only mongrels. They knew nothing as to the sorting or packing of eggs. The trade was in the hands of Jews, who either visited the peasants at their homes or met them at fairs or markets. They gave a very low price, but took all they could get, whether large or small, fresh or stale, dirty or clean. These they sent to the wholesalers in the large towns, who exported them abroad. The peasants had no inducement to try and improve the size or the quality of their eggs ; 78 per cent, were sent to Germany, which got the best ; a large number of second quality eggs were sent to England ; the inferior ones being consumed in Poland. In 1913 a movement was started by the Dairy Societies to open Co-operative egg depots, and in a few months' time eleven of these organisations were in operation. Between December, 1913, and May, 1914, about 348,000 eggs were sent to the central depot in Warsaw. Strict rules were imposed upon producers as to freshness, size, cleanliness, &c. These eggs were placed on the Berlin, Vienna, and London markets with very satisfactory results. The village centres, by giving higher prices for large, fresh, clean eggs, encouraged a more careful system of poultry keeping. Now as to what can be done to restore and improve poultry keeping in the Polish kingdom? The country is an excellent one for the industry. There is plenty of land available and cheap labour. The chief necessity is to introduce pure breeds. We should like to -supply these smallholders with a pen of pure-bred birds and housing for them. A few Co-operative experimental farms should be started, from which eggs could be collected and disposed of to the best advantage. These could supply the smallholders with good stock and advice. You will have gathered from my description of the climate, &c., that for about three months of the year the birds will have to be shut up. For the rest of the year they will have a free range. Hardy light breeds which are good foragers, such as Leghorns, are therbest suited to the country. n2 20 I hear that there is a plan for re-stocking the devastated countries, ^nd hope that Poland will not be forgotten. I shall be most grateful for any help o-" advice 1 am alrea-dy in communication with the agricultural societies in Warsaw ^nd the FoUsh representatives here, and we hope that by the end of next summer the communication bv sea through Danzig, between Poland and England will be open. I must not o course touch on political matters here, but unless that port is given to Poland that country can never free itself from the evil influence of Germany. Rev Seymour Shaw (the Scientific Poultry Breeders' Association) : I should like to congratulate the reader on the most interesting and valuable paper that she has given to us. With a view to bringing about a better condition of things, I should like to ask her whether the peasants of Poland are teachable. Miss MiERZEjEWSKA ; Certainly. Rev. Seymour Shaw : Some peasants are teachable, some are not ; and I fancy before any large sums of money were spent in providing stock, if it could be arranged to teach your peasants so that they could get good stock and manage them properly, there would be some hope for the future. Your peasants may be very different to English peasants ; in the North of England they are very conservative, preferring to do exactly what their fathers did before them and nothing else ; you run your head against a stone wall if you try to teach them anything different. Such a thing as providing teachers to travel round giving lectures to peasants, to teach them how to conduct the industry, I think would be very helpful. Miss MiERZEjEWSKA . I may tell you the peasants of Poland are very clever and have what you call in England a lot of common sense ; they are very adaptable to new methods. Of course, before the war, we were so oppressed by the Governments that we could not do anything in connection with this question, not only with educa- tion but with practical working. But I can assure you all they will be most grateful and certainly will follow any good advice and help. I have lived all my life in the country, with the peasants around me ; they are very willing indeed to adopt any ideas and advice. An Hon. Delegate : May I ask if there is a Polish Agency in London, or what Agency we could approach to help Poland ? Miss MiERZEjEWSKA : There is a Polish National Committee, with a Branch at Canada House, Kingsway. I am in touch -w^jth them. We have talked about this matter and they invited me to act as representative at this Conference. Perhaps you would like to communicate with them. The President ■ Of course there is one thing we have to keep in view at a time like this. In reading history we find that nations which have been oppressed for long periods, wh'm the time comes Ihcy attain freedom, have a disposition to look more broadly than in old days. There is nothing more demoralising than prosperity in any country. We have only to see what happened in the little country of Denmark to realise that. After their war with Germany they set themselves to rebuild. I am getting an old man, and envy those who are younger, because they will be able to see the fruits of the rebuilding that some of us must leave to other hands. I am sure we all wish to thank our friend for the excellent contribution which has been made to our Conference this morning. REPORT OF CONFERENCE. Mr. A. M. Prain (Board of Agriculture for Scotland and I. A. P. I.I.) : Mr. Presi- dent, would you be good enough to state what arrangements have been made for reporting the proceedings? In view of the excellence of the papers which have been read, and the fact that interesting discussion is likely to ensue, and some of us cannot be here all the time, I wondered if you had arranged for a Reporter. 21 The President : That is a matter on which I have been in considerable difficulty. The International Association, as you know, was only in existence for a few months before the war broke out, and, as might be expected, our funds were not very large. The war came, and we could do nothing ; we had to suspend operations and our funds are small. The only thing I have done up to the present is that I have arranged for a Reporter for the opening proceedings this morning. The papers will be handed in. I have had no intimation, except in one case, that these cannot be printed'. It is a matter of raising the money necessary to print these papers. I think that is the point. I cannot, on behalf of the Association, pledge it to do so, because it has not the opportunity, as you know — our membership is limited to some extent — but I do think that some steps should be taken. It could be done easily if each of the countries that are represented would undertal^e to contribute £10 towards it — and I think their Governments could do that. We could then print the papers and supply them with a number of copies ready for use. I am very glad you have raised that point. Dr. J. J. L. Van Ryn (Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture) : Does that provide also for the Reports to be made in shorthand? That is an important point. If there is not a -shorthand-writer here, he should be provided at once. With regard to the suggestion made by the Chairman about foreign countries contributing towards the expanses of this, I do not think there would be any difficulty at all. We have Inter- national Dairy Conferences sometimes, and at those Conferences each of the countries has to pay its share. As representing 'Holland, I have no doubt my country will pay its share towards the expenses, but I should like some shorthand-writer to bfe here to make reports of everything that is going on, and it could be left to the Secretary later on to revise. The President : We have here all the arrangements, therefore they will be con- tinued. I do not think there is any difficulty. M. Delacour speaks on behalf of France at once, and I think I can see my way to the same. I will arrange for the reports to be made. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN RESTOCKING POULTRY IN FRANCE. By Mr. P. J. Poels (Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee, England). The Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee, of which your President and myself are members, was formed in 1915 on the initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, to help the farmers in the neighbourhood ^.of the battle zones to resume cultivation of their land at the earliest possible moment. In this matter the Royal Agricukural Society are acting as they did after the Franco-German War of 1870, when they provided the peasants in the ravaged districts of France with seed corn. Owing to the uncertain military situation, the Committee have, up to the present, had to be content with giving help on a small scale, leaving the carrying out of their main task until the evacuation of the occupied countries. Poultry has figured prominently in the relief the Committee has given. Since 1915 five shipments of most useful birds have been sent from this country to France, numbering in all about 6,000 head. These have either been contributed direct by well known English breeders or have been purchased by the Committee. It should be stated that breeders have responded instantly and most generously to the calls for help which the Committee have made, and, consequently, the purchases represent but a small proportion of the total. Poultry is asked for both in France and Belgium, owing to the quick return which it provides for the peasant making a fresh start. The Committee have en- deavoured, as far as practicable, to furnish particular districts with that class of 22 fowl which was previously bred tfiere, but they have also included a large number of birds better known on this side of the Channel. The Committee's gifts have found their way to the villages of the Marne, the Meuse, the Somme, the Aisne, the Oise, and Pas-de-Calais, and everywhere they have been highly appreciated. In one parish of the Marne the Maire was so amazed at the excellent type and condition of the birds that he would not permit them to be distributed until they had been seen by everybody in the neighbourhood. Accord- ingly he organised a Poultry Show, charged a few centimes for admission which were handed over to the Red Cross, and forwarded a letter to the Committee ex- pressing the deepest gratitude of the inhabitants. The Committee have from time to time had evidence of the value of these gifts in lielping the small man to make a fresh beginning on his holding, and in a few weeks' time they hope to be able to send a fufther consignment to France, together with a valuable shipment of cattle. Belgium is also to be helped in this way in the near future, and with the continued support of poultry keepers, the Committee hope to respond to a very pressing demand made by the farmers of the Yser Valley. Mr. T. R. Robinson (National Utility Poultry Society) : Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen, apropos of the reconstruction of the allied countries, the National Utility Poultry Society have been asked to make a special national appeal, not only to the members of their Society, but to poultry-keepers in general, to help the de- vastated districts. That appeal will go to the Poultry Press very shortly; we only got it out last week ; and I hope it will be in the papers next week if wp have time to get the typewriting done. Any money collected will be ear-marked specially for the poultry industry of our allied countries and Poland ; so I hope it will go forward from this hall that we are doing all we can, in co-operation with the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee, for the relief of the poultry industry in Europe. After further discussion, the Conference adjourned at 1 p.m. SECOND SESSION. On resuming at 2.30 p.m. : SOME ASPECTS OF COMMERCIAL POULTRY HUSBANDRY. By Mr. T. W. Toovf.y (Chairman Poultry Advisorv Committee, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, England). This new industry, now out of its infancy but still in childhood, has many aspects. It also has a great fascination for manv, or we .should not have spent the money and time we have on its development. The points proposed to put before this Conference are mainly concerned with housing and the care of the land In housing layers we have probably approached nearer to a standardisation than in anv- other factor connected with production. AVe English have to thank our American cousins for our initial ideas. The first large houses I saw were on the Worcestershire Poultry Farm, and one was very large indeed, so large that a horse and cart could be driven through it. Probably the owner would now admit It was not exactly in accordance with modern ideas. The large laving house has solved the problem of Commercial Poultry Farming, both as regards'the economical management and the proper care of laying stock, and, also, it has taken the place of the numbers of small colony houses at one time used for housing the voung stock, o the great benefit of their health, as well as affording also far greater economy in labour and ease in management. The large house has, in fact, established commercial poultry (arming. Without it that branch of the industrv could not exist 23 I Mr. Hanson, of Basingstoke, as far as I ajn aware, was the pioneer in building tiie first really commercial poultry laying houses in England;' in the year 1911. The house he favours is 180 feet long by 9 feet wide. If I had had the pleasure of his friendship in 1912, as I have now, it would have saved me much trouble and expense. In 1912 I built, on the King's Langley Poultry Farm — a farm that had been in existence since 1899 — fifteen large houses, 35 feet long by 20 feet deep ; and although these houses are still in existence and doing good service, they are deeper than is desirable, although the depth is met by an increased height, as they are 9 feet 6 inches in front and 5 feet at back. At the same time, with the greatest respect that is due to the most successful poultry farmer on commercial lines in this country, I do not think the Viouses need be so shallow as 9 feet if back ventilation is given. The standard house now adopted on. this farmj and of which a considerable number have been built, is 50 feet long by 14 feet wide, 8 feet 6 inches high front, 4 feet 6 inches back elevation. The farm contains room for just over 5,000 adult birds, which is considered large for this country. The fiocks are all in units of 150 head. When poultry were first housed on the large block system on this farm the houses had, according ;o the regulation instructions, all their openings in front, a large portion of which was wire netting, always exposed. Yet very severe outbreaks of roup took place until a. little back ventilation was given. In the older houses 1-inch holes were bored under the eaves every 9 inches or so, all along the back. In the newer houses it is given in a more scientific way. There is no doubt locality must be taken into consideration in designing houses and, probably, also in deciding upon what sized unit or flock should be adopted. The farm in question is situated on the lower slopes of a valley near a considerable river. The land is ideal for the purpose, but there is room for objections as to the altitude of the site. Still, every one of the forty-four large houses, except three, has back ventilation, and it has been proved beyond all doubt that for the laying house in the valley to be without back ventilation is most distinctly asking for trouble. The exceptions consist of three houses in one range, only 8 feet wide and 6 feet high at bark and 7 feet in front, with a protected front, and 2 feet skirting board and 5 feet netting. The house was built as a brooder house, but, owing to its proving an ultimate failure for this purpose, it was converted into three houses for taking the chickens from the cold brooders and in which they are taught to perch. It is 250 feet long, and is partitioned completely into three separate houses, each 84 feet long. The proper stalling-off of all these long houses is a most vital matter, as other- wise they are very cold and draughty. These stalls undoubtedly assist in breaking up the flocks, and, I think, in helping fertility. The 50 by 14 house is divided off into four sections by stalls that proceed from the back, from floor to ceiling, about 8 feet, or rather more than half-way across the house. The war hit the poultry industry hardly in this country, but it also taught us some things. We have learnt to build more economically, and by the use of home- grown timber and felt roofs, it is possible to-day to build long houses at the rate of £1 per foot-run. In fact, a felt roof made of the best obtainable felt, laid on larch rafters and dressed with a mixture of tar '1 gallon), pitch (2 lb.), lime (4 lb.), is more reliable than one of felt laid on boards in the usual way. The size of the unit adopted of 150 birds will appear small to our American visitors probably, but if the farm had to be reconstructed throughout, the same unit would be adopted. It is large enough to be economical, and is well under control and inspecrion. Also, it must be remembered the houses are on grass land, which although preferable to arable land in many ways, will not carry as many birds to the acre. Under the old colony system, with its, comparatively small house, small flock, and large run, the number of birds to the acre on grass, it was generally considered, must be restricted to 120. The modern laying house, with its comforts and attrac- tions, induces the birds to largely live in the houses, using the grass runs or paddocks 24 for recreation, and to obtain green food. On the old system the ^j'"'^^. "^.^/"l!,^'! in the runs, using the houses chiefly to sleep in. This fact, coupled with the cus om of feeding a!i the corn in the litter, and all mashes, either dry or wet, also inside, allows for about double the number to the acre, or rather more, always provided the land is allowed to be alternately in use or vacant, and is otherwise properly treated. It is probable that nothing has helped more besides the practice I have alluded to to keep grass lands in a healthy and sanitary condition than the use of basic slag. The analysis of basis slag is approximately as follows : Lime, of which 2 or 3 per cent, is caustic lime 46.93 Phosphoric acid ( — to 30 per cent, phosphates of lime) 16.95 Oxides of iron and alumina 29.27 Insoluble silicious matter 6-85 Total 100 It will be observed' what a valuable product this is, how if complements the deficiencies of poultry manure, and no doubt supplies to the poultry, through the herbage, extremely valuable elements for both growth and egg production. The turf on which the chickens are reared is dressed at the rate of 12 to 15 cwts. to the acre, and the farm as a whole at the rate of 10 cwts. to the acre yearly. This \s money well spent. Another factor which appears to me to assist in maintaining the land healthy is on the enclosure used alternately throughout the year to avoid having any trees or bushes of any kind under which the poultry are sure to congregate, keeping every- thing open to the sun — the great purifier. The land immediately round the houses should receive special treatment each time the houses are cleaned out, which certainly should be at intervals not exceeding six months. The surface is removed, then a heavy dressing of lime should be given on the bare spots, with a sprinkling on the turf nearby. Fresh soil, or, if available, ashes are better still, replaces what is removed. The whole of the land receives, therefore, disinfection, for basic slag is no doubt a disinfectant and has been so recognised by progressive farmers in rela- tion to the care of the land for larger live stock. It will be seen that the whole of the occupied land is disinfected yearly and the specially occupied spots three times. While dealing with this phase it will be as well to mention the system of disinfection practised in the houses. Each occupied house is treated at least once a fortnight with Izal powder. The powder is sprinkled over the roosts and manure pits, as manure boards are not used in the large houses on the King's Langley Poultry Farm. A good amount is also spread on the litter, 8 lbs. of Izal powder are used each time per house, so over 100 lbs. is distributed throughout the litter and manure during the six months between one cleaning out and another. When a house is cleaned out the floor and surrounding woodwork is saturated with a strong solution of liquid Izal. In the drv months, from May to September, the whole interior of the houses arc sprayed monthly with Izal solution. This is preferable and less trouble than whitewashing. Under this treatment insect vermin are practically unknown and the birds enjoy good health. It involves some labour, but after all, dead poultry and dead chickens are the most expensive items to have about a poultry farm. At one time each of the houses was fitted with a double run. During the war a !arge proportion of the netting became worn out and w as irreplaceable. This led to another system of yarding. Five, or even six, houses were placed in paddocks of some three and a half to four acres; the poultry from the different houses ran together, Ihev kept well to their own houses and there was no tendency to overcrowd as it was ftared there might be. Still, however, the principle was not right, as the land had no complete rest, and as a compromise between the old cramped conditions with its inlerminable fencing and hindering gateways, the large enclosures, now netting is obtainable, will be divided into four. Each enclosure will be about seven-eighths of an acre, and the bii-ds of two or three or even four houses can be turned into one run at a time. On an average there will be three, so that 450 birdi 25 are run on an acre and three-quarters. Two acres would be better no doubt. As it is, tlie numbers of birds to the acre are as nearly as possible 250. There is in the management of grass runs still more to consider, as the grass in the growing season would in quantity be far beyond the poultry's needs. Grass is probably the favourite green food with fowls, which is another argument in favour of grass runs, but poultry are very uneven grazers, and only eat if possible the youngest and most tender shoots. The solution is with us to make hay on the whole of the grass runs, and to graze the aftermath with sheep, which are about the only livestock of the larger kinds that are suitable for poultry runs. This arrangement will have to be modified in the future owing to changes which appear imminent. Probably a small flock of breeding grass sheep will be kept all the year round, and a much smaller quantity of hay will be made. It will' be seen that the modern principle of growing a crop concurrent with the use of the land by poultry is fully recognised by what I have read. The war, it has been said, has taught us lessons. Another, perhaps, at least it was so in my case, is that the use of large quantities of various vegetables in the feeding of poultry, is both economical and, more important still, greatly in the interests of the poultry's health. If that is so, and I think few will deny it, it appears that a portion of cultivated land should be a necessary corollary to a poultry farm, whether large or small. A portion of rough low meadow land was reclaimed on my farm last year, and a much larger area is being added this year, the total will be about five acres. This intensively cultivated should produce some 100 tons a year of cabbages of various kinds, kohl rabi, mangels, swedes, turnips, and potatoes, sufficient not only for 5,000 head of poultry, but for some breeding sows and a few sheep. It will be possible with proper rotations to take somewhere about three crops in two years on most of the land. The morning wet mash during the past winter has consisted of 40 per cent, of cooked potatoes. The birds have laid better than usual, are healthy, and the early chickens, of which there are over 1,000, have done remarkably well. Of course the potatoes have been balanced with such food as fish tneal, yeast food, cocoanut cake, and wheat middlings. It is hoped another season to feed rather less potatoes, with such nitrogenous vegetables as cabbage, winter kale, and kohl rabi. Scientists tell us that coolted vegetables lose a large proportion of the vitamines ; other scientists say that unless the cellulose cells of the vegetables are broken down by cooking the nourisliment contained in them cannot be properly assimilated. The plain man does not know exactly where he is. Dry mashes, as generally understood, have been discontinued, but dry bran is always before the birds. In fact dry bran is fed from the cradle to the grave, a certain proportion being fed to the chickens from the outset. A point lately that has been raised as to whether artificial hatching and rearing has any inimical effect on the stamina of poultry is of particular interest to me, as all the. chickens, some 6,000, are hatched and reared by hens. Mr. A. H. Brmn (Midland Federation of Feather and Fur Societies) : Mr. Toovey mentioned tlie fact that he does not have houses in the runs. What pro- tection do the birds get from the sun, and what facilities are there for dust baths? Mr. ToovEY : The houses are so built that there is atmndant shade in them, and on hot days we do not find any birds outside. First of all we spread on the floor of the house a load of fine ashes and straw. These floors are all cement or lime concrete ; we usually use lime concrete. That is where we want the birds to dust, not in the runs. The dust is all disinfected by Izal powder. Mr. Stanley Street (Agricultural Wholesale Society, Ltd.) : May I be allowed to say a word in support of Mr. Toovey 's remark with regard to back ventilation for poultry houses? I use a house 16ft. wide, and I found that I got roup. The reason was insufficient ventilation. The house was too deep; the birds roosted in the back or the lower part, and during the night they were breathing impure air, in spite of the fact that the front of the house was open. Like Mr. Toovey, I remedied it by boring inch-holes right under the back eaves at the top ; since doing 26 which I do not think any bird had a cold. They are not in a draught, but the through current of air from the bacli to the front carries all the foul air away— it is a direct ventilation. I consider it very effective, and if anyone who has these houses without back ventilation will try that, they will find it a great benefit. Mr. TooVEV : This question is a very important one. I think it depends to a certain extent on the situation, because I have seen houses on breezy uplands without ventilation. It was most remarkable. The houses referred to were built in 1912, and the outbreaks of roup in 1913 were very bad. We attributed it to all sorts of reasons except the right one. I remember a friend coming to visit the farm. He advised me to alter the perches at right angles to the back, and the perches are never more than 4 feet, and in a 50ft. house 3 feet, long. Those attacks went on. We stuck it through the winter of 1912-13, and then when the winter of 1913 arrived these outbreaks recurred. I remember quite well one of the poultrymen saying to me that there was a house of fowl sickening for roup. That house had hitherto escaped. I said, " I believe it is ventilation; we are doing what is quite unorthodox, but will try it." I sent for the carpenter to bore holes through the back. That stopped the attacks of roup. I think it has been not an uncommon experience when large houses have been adopted to have, first of all, an outbreak of roup. In my opinion, it is entirely due to the fact that there is no ventilation at the top, and when the atmospheric pres- sure is against the wire netting there is no outlet, and the birds are breathing impure air. Miss Newbiggen (Board of Agriculture for Scotland) : I should like to know why Mr. Toovey abandoned dry mash. Mr. Toovey: We gave dry mash a six months' trial, and, after comparing records, we thought we had better results from wet mash. Another great reason was that we were adopting vegetable feeding largely, and it was not suitable for dry mash. • Rev. Seymour Shaw : Mr. Toovey said he would tell us of a plan that would be more scientific than boring holes at the back for the sake of ventilation. I do not like the holes myself ; my houses are only 4-J feet high from the ground, and as far as I can see there must be draught. I shall be glad if Mr. Toovey could tell us the scientific way. Mr. Toovey : In a number of instances we have no manure boards, and our perches are only 18 inches from the floor. In building these newer houses we bring the boirding at the back to the top of the plate on which the eaves rest. We cut the eaves off about 2J inches, or something like that, and batten off level, and then nail a batten against them, so that the air has to enter obliquely and passes over the top. Mr. Robinson : Would Mr. Toovey kindly say how many feet floor space he gives his birds, and also, if he were building new houses, would he advise that the light should be on the floor; that is to say, what we call bottom lights? All the smaller newer houses that I have seen made within the last few years have had the light on the floor where the birds are. Would that be applicable to the large house, the same as I believe it is to the small house? I have another question. Mr. Toovey talked of raising sheep. Does he find sheep damage the wire ? In my own case I found the sheep were constantly butting against the fence. Mr. Toovey: So far as the light is concerned, we endeavour to compromise; the front is half boards and half wire. We do not wish to be compelled to go round making adjustments every night. A window is placed in the south-east side to let in the sun. There is no reason why glass should not be put in the boarded front. As regards sheep, we use extra large, stout posts, and as the netting wears out it is replaced with sheep netting, which is much stouter ; but it is only 3 feet high. To get over that difficulty we run fine wires above the sheep netting. 27 Mr. Robinson : And the floor space ? Mr. ToovEY : In each house we reckon 700 feet of floor space for 150 ; but in mentioning that it is only right to say we have a manure pit 3 feet wide, which, to a certain extent, takes off from the total space. The Presidrnt : May I say a word on the very suggestive point raised by Miss Newbiggen as to dry versus wet mash food? In America last year I came across one very peculiar thing : that east of the Rocky Mountains dry mash is almost universally adopted amongst commercial poultry farmers, and west of the Rocky Mountains, on the Pacific slope, they will not have dry mash at any price. I cannot give any reason; it may be due to the " cussedness " of the Americans; but there is a fact, and I am inclined to think that there is something climatic which we have not considered in this matter. East of the Rocky Mountains they like hot-air incubators, and west of the Rocky Mountains they will not have anything but tanks, which shows there are multitudes of questions that we have to study, in connection with environment and climate. Mr. ToovEY : I believe myself that if you are to use dry mash you ought to bring up chickens on dry mash, and never have wet mash at all. By accustoming birds to the two mashes they will only eat the dry mash when they are starving. That is perhaps one reason why it did not answer verv well with us, because we used the two mashes. I remember an old poultryman of mine who had been with me some years. He particularly begged that we should go on with wet mash. He showed me some birds that were being fed on it, and he said, " Look at them, they ar& eating it with tears in their eyes." (Laughter.) That was wet mash. Mr. Buvington (Midland Federation) : I should like to ask Mr. Toovey at what age he allows his chickens to perch ; whether he has had any experience with regard to the crooked breast-bone? Mr. Toovey: As a rule they begin to perch about ten or eleven weeks old. I cannot say tliat we are free from crooked breasts. Mr. Buvington : Has any experimental work been undertaken ? Mr. Toovey: No; we have no"t experimented with it; we are anxious to get them on the perch because of the less trouble. They generally perch in about three months. A Lady Delegate : I desire to ask Mr. Toovey if he approves of the method of feeding dry mash in the middle of tjie day, and the wet mash later. _ During the war we have been using an enormous quantity of vegetables m the middle of the day. In that case it would probably be inadvisable to feed the mash at the same time in the wet state. Do you think that is a good plan, leaving the wet mash for later m the afternoon? Have you tried it? Mr Toovey • I have tried wet mash in the morning and evening, and I do not think it makes much difference. It is more convenient to give it in the morning. Of course it takes more time to feed the wet mash, but I do not think it ma ters whether you give it in the morning or at night. A friend of mine, a small poultry- keeper, has been very, very successful, and he always feeds it at night. A Lady Delegate : At what temperature do you prefer to feed it? Mr. Toovey : We feed it .warm, but I cannot give you the exact temperature; not very hot. A Lady Delegate : Do you consider it a disadvantage to feed it rather warm? We always cool ours. Mr Toovey : I do not know. Someone came to see me a long time ago ; he was having a great deal of trouble with his birds. I asked him a great many questions and I found he was feeding his mash very hot. I told him not to do it. Ours is prepared in this way : in the afternoon the vegetables are cooked and put in the mash tubs and then they are broken down with mashers. Then the feed, such aa 28 cocoanut cake, fish meal and maize meal, is mixed with it. The mash tubs are nearly filled, and over the mixture is placed four or five inches of middlings ; that keeps the warmth in till next morning ; then it is dried off with middlings. When loaded in the barrows and taken round to the houses, it is just warm. Mrs. HoRNE : Do you find the mash goes sour over night? We find the mash goes quite sour by the morning. Mr. ToovEY • We do not find it goes sour, or, of course, we should not do it. I am generally on the watch, and ask the men in charge. Do you use bran? Mrs. HoRNE : Yes. Mr. ToovEY : Bran has a tendency to go sour rather quiekly. The middlings are not damped until the morning. The vegetables, after having been cooked, are mixed with fish meal and cocoanut. The other middlings are put on dry, and are used in the morning to dry off the whole lot. The effect of boiling generally checks anything going sour. Cocoanut is a very valuable food. One pound of cocoanut will make four pounds of feed after it has been soaked in water. If anyone is_ using cocoanut they should first of all soak it in hot water ; it wants a special soaking by itself. It is a rich food and contains 20 per cent, of albuminoids. We find it specially suitable for feeding ducks ; when we leave that off we soon notice the difference. A Lady Delegate : Do you find that cocoanut cake goes rancid? Mr. ToovEY : We do not find it so. Mr. BuviNGTON : In the interesting address that Mr. Toovey has given, he has not mentioned anything with regard to the breeds. What are the breeds he has had greatest call for? Mr. Toovey : The breeds have been reduced in number very considerably during the last few years, partly to fit in with the new system of penning, and partly, I am inclined to think, because the number of breeds suitable for commercial poultry farming are not very numerous. My breeds are about 2,000 White Leghorns, 1,600 White Wyandottes, 600 Single-combed Rhode Island Reds, 300 Light Sussex, and 300 Buff Orpingtons, also 200 Indian Runner Ducks ; and we generally have 300 birds that are partly mismarked or surplus birds. These are mixed together, not mated. POULTRY=KEEPING FOR THE BLIND. By Capt. F. P. Peirson-Webber (Director National Service Poultry Club, England). Mr. President, foreign delegates, ladies and gentlemen. To-day is one of the greatest days of my life. Some twenty years ago, when I was invalided home, and first talked about keeping poultry, everyone said it was no good, it was a silly idea, mad, hopeless. At that time, though people did not mean to abuse one — except from a nice point of view, they only wanted to help — it was very difficult to get the support that was wanted, because it seemed so foolish, and so impossible to other people. I do not propose to talk about myself ; I have had a certain number of little booklets printed, which I will present to the foreign delegates, showing what I am doing, what I have done, and what I am prepared to do. What I propose to do this afternoon is to give a certain amount of information which may be useful to others. The great thing is to appreciate it entirely from the other fellow's, the blind man's, point of view. Very few sighted people can appreciate this off-hand; they jump to most faulty conclusions. I say it with the greatest respect and greatest remembrance of their kind sympathy and help, but what so often 29 seems to them so difficult, is easy, and that which seems to them so easy is difficult. When you s^e a fellow first bowled over, that is when he is hit. ^ I would ask you 'to humour him, have that practical sympathy which will leave him alone, and give him 'help in that sort of way. Never talk about his affliction ; that is a word no one can understand. Talk about his being handicapped by all means. At St. Dunstan's there are heaps of fellows pushing along and performing really useful work. I want you to appreciate the fact that you do not see with your eyes alone; you see with your brain, you see with many other senses besides; you see by smelling, touch and hearing. What does it matter as long as you get there? What is the good of looking at a hen if you do not know whether it is a bad one. You only really see it when you recognise its utility merit and market value. You want to get blind men in touch with people who will talk to them quietly, and who have done these things. Nothing is more impressive to a man than to have someone to talk to him who shows it can be done. If 3'ou go to St. Dunstan's Hostel, Regent's Park, London, thanks to the powerful organisation of Sir Arthur Pearson, president of the movement, soldiers and sailors, blinded by the war, will be found happily employed in countless directions, including netting, knitting, basket-making, chair-repairing, carpentry and joinery, shoe and boot repairing, typewriting from notes taken by a system of shorthand for the blind, reading and writing Braille's system of embossed characters, a French system of such popularity and practical simplicity, that it of necessity forms part of the business training in the lift of the blind. Telephone switchboard service is also taught as well as telegraphy and verbal tubes, while massage forms a feature of such importance that a special section is devoted to its necessities, and on completion of the course, the men pass the full test as certificated masseurs. But you may be sure of this, life at St. Dunstan's is not all work and no play, for besides the enter- tainments which are so liberally provided in the form of concerts, and tale-telling recitations, &c., the men have an excellent Jumbo Band of their own. Some play mouth organs, accordions, Jews' harps, tin whistles, banjoes, and kettledrums, while many are capital pianists ; so that St. Dunstan's is seldom without the merry strains of popular music. Exeixise is provided by long walks taken with friends, boating on the Thames and Serpentine, cycling on tandems, an occasional tug-of-war, always MuUer exercises, and one day a week in winter capital evening dances. Perhaps you may say, what on earth has all this to do with Poultry culture for the blind, which is the subject of my paper. Do not you see, unless I had explained to you the power and capacity of sightless energy properly trained, the practical importance of Poultry culture as an occupation for the blind, could not be fully grasped ? The poultry farm and country life section of St. Dunstan's was initiated by me, thanks to fifteen years of practical experience, and to the whole-hearted support of Sir Arthur Pearson, who gave me a free hand to make the most of the opportunity, so that within a very few weeks I had installed a hatchery, chick- nursery, laying-sheds, breeding pens, and a fatting system. Now let us see how a blind man can handle these various sections of a poultry farm. Hatching. — The hatching of chicks is by incubators or hens, preferably the former, as the work is so much more concentrated, and consequently more quickly completed — a consideration at all times. Although the sighted-eye will be made use of as a check to thermometer registrations, all the same a blind man can gain a capital guide to the truth with tank machines by the heat of the water, as denoted by the escape-pipe, while the position of the regulator and the height of the damper is also a fair guide to the steadiness of the machine. If the lamp is smoking, the nose will soon detect the trouble, or if it is about to do so, the wick usually sings. As soon as the egg-drawer of the incubator is opened, the hand accustomed to such work can tell without hesitation within half a degree the true temperature, while on the seventh day, when we test eggs for vitality and fertility, a sighted-eye is used to report the observation, but a blind man can supervise the occasion quite 30 well, by adjustment of the information recorded by the sighted-eye. Thus if the sighted-eye reports the appearance of the egg to resemble that of a fresh egg with a red streak through it, of course it is a case of rupture, whereas if it is reported that a red spiderlike form is to be seen, it is a sound embryo-chick, and so on. The rest of the work is performed in precisely the same way as it is usually practised by competent sighted poultrymen, and within thirty lo forty-eight hours the newly hatched chicks are transferred from the incubators to the chick nursery. Chick Nursery. — The chick nursery consists of a number of coops with hens, or foster-mothers and brooders, all of which can be managed by blinded labour quite well, provided they are arranged in sequential order, so that there may be a rapid recognition of specific detail and helpful whereabouts and ensure a speedy " round " of work. Nursery chicks may be grouped into cockerels and pullets, the sick and the fit. Sex is distinguishable to the blind at all ages on my system of detection, though I admit there are occasions when a true decision is most baffling, but there is no mistaking the fit from the sick. The fit chick is busy and active, its little voice is cheerful whensoever it speaks, and mind you nursery chicks are great talkers, and have a considerable vocabulary of phrases. When quite young the contented twitter as they feed, plainly saying " clear it up," and when, a little later in life, one finds a worm and with excited pleasure dashes off to devour it, chased by half a dpzen more, he plainly cries, " mine, mine," whereas a sick chicken stands or crouches, with drooping wings and part-closed eyes, from time to time a plaintive cry of " seek, seek," will tell his whereabouts, and when picked up it will be found to handle light and flabby, whereas the healthy chick picks up and handles heavy for its size, and as firm as a rubber ball. Again, the nursery chick very soon tells one if the brooder or foster- mother is too cold, by the plainly expressed shivery chirrup as they huddle together in search of greater warmth, resting their heads each on the others' back, till at last when all are snug and contented, silence reigns. Foods and Feeds. — These are regulated by being ever present and ready for use, while their recognition is easily mastered by practice, through sense of touch, smell and taste. Selection of Stock. — -In the selection of stock I have to thank our chairman, Mr. Edward Brown, for the excellent tabular statistics, given in his book, " R6Ies of Domestic Poultry." For it is by this grouping of definite characteristics that the blinded poultryman is enabled' to recognise the several breeds and varieties that exist. Thus we find that although the majority of breeds have four toes to their feet, some few have five toes to each foot. So if one is handed a hen and it proves to be one with five toes, it might be either- Dorking, Houdan, or FaveroUe, and we are able to discard the suggestion of it being any of the four-toed varieties, such as Leghorn, Orpington, Wyandotte, or Ancona. Having thus established one group- factor, the hand next gains a rapid appreciation of general characteristics, till it reaches the head, by which time the identity of the individual is known for a certainty. All varieties of Dorking are clean-headed, and have legs that are fine and devoid of muffling, and the weight of the Dorking, as well as its solid square appearance, is unmistakable, whereas the Faverolle, although it has five claws like the Dorking, has legs and feet that are lightly muffled or feathered. The Houdan, although it has five claws like the Dorking, and clean legs, too, in general characteristics the breed is absolutely different; there is less weight and size, while the head carries a leaf-comb and feathered top-knot, as against the clean head of the Dorking that is fitted with a small single comb. And so it is with one and all of the several breeds that exist, each has its distinctive features easily detected in this manner. So far as my own craftsmanship is concerned, it will be seen by the records of service which I will give you that as a result of constant practice over the best part of twenty years' experience I can further select stock for definite laying power, fertility, stamina, constitution, vigour and persistency, while as a general rule I can 31 also determine their age, and the size of egg laid as well as its depth of colour and hatchability. Fatting of Chickens. — The fatting section will be managed by trough-feeding after the Sussex principle, and cramming can also be practised, as well as the shaping and dressing of table poultry. Language of the Poultry Yard. — ^The language of the poultry yard must be learnt by all blind poultrymen, for it is the greatest help in determining what is happening, as well as the whereabouts of particular stock. Game cocks have a crow that is quite distinctive, which the French term caccarico, is most expressive of their challenge, while the light breeds are again quite distinct in the pitch of their voices from the heavy breeds. "1 go so far as to say that each individual has a different voice, and just as a huntsman can recognise the voice of his individual hounds as they own to the line of a hunted fox, and can also tell precisely from the tone and quality of " music " in covert what to expect, and what sport is afoot, so can a practised poultryman tell from the " music " of the poultry yard what is going on. I will now gtve a few interpretations of talk in the poultry yard. Cock talk : 1. Caccarico, and cock-a-doodle-doo, the well-known challenge of Chanti- cleere " who woke the priest all shaven and shorn." 2. Tewick-tuck-tuck, " Come along, here's a fat worm." 3. Chick-a-chuck, " Hurry up, settle for the night." 4. Kiawah, a long-drawn cry, descriptive of alarm, as when an owl or hawk appears, occasionally given to a low-flying aeroplane, meaning crouch, lie low. Hen talk : Hen talk is distinctive from cock talk and quite well understood by both sexes. 5. Tuck-tuck-tuck tyah, a cry of triumph, " I've laid an egg "; also associated with alarm. 6. Cluck-cluck, cluck, " I think I should like to have a brood of chicks! " 7. Neang-Neoun, a kind of squawl, " Don't disturb me, I'm comfortable., I'll hatch out twelve to the dozen." 8. Chick-a-chick tuk, tuk, tuk, " Come along children." 9. Ka-ka-ka-ka-kayo, proclaimed all together. " Here's a stranger about." Often a rat or dog. 10. Perryewe-perryewe, a soft contented exclamation to newly hatched chicks. There are many other " calls," but time scarcely permits these being giyen. So far as I am concerned, I was very disappointed that I was' not able to accept the invitation to go to France early in the war, which was so kindly sent to me, be- cause when I put it before my chief at St. Dunstan's he said he wanted me here. Otherwise it would have been the greatest pleasure to have gone. As far as the foreign delegates are concerned, if I can help them in any way, at any time, they have only to write to me — they will find my name and address in the little books which I am distributing — and I will always be able to put them in touch with those people or institutions who can help them. There is no reason why a blind man should not take up poultry with practical commercial success. In the booklet I give an instance of a St. Dunstan's man, Eaton, who has done quite well. It seems to me there are a great many important things to be talked about in this Conference. I want you to appreciate the fact that poultry-keeping for the blind has come to stay ; it is going to stay; plenty of blind people are keeping poultry with success — whether they are keeping them to commercial success is another matter. A man will keep 20, 30 or 40 birds in happiness, economy and prosperity, but when it comes to large numbers, that depends on the particular person, whether they are sighted or blind. 32 Miss Newbiggen (Board of Agriculture for Scotland) : I have very much enjoyed Captain Peirson-Webber's remarks on poultry-keeping as an occupation for the blind. I have something to do with the training of Scottish blinded soldiers in Edinburgh. I find they are entering with the greatest enthusiasm into their work. If the keeping of poultry did nothing else, what would justify it is that it gives a choice of conversation with the visitors to the hospital. You would be surprised at the tactless remarks that some visitors make to the soldiers. In Scotland poultry-keeping is only in its infancy. Three of the men are already settled ; those three men are men of exceptional intelligence, and I am certain that they will get on well, because they have the intelligence, and they have very intelligent wives. M. DiiLACOUR : The French blinded soldiers number 3,000. The President : Are any of them learning poultry; will poultry be included in training? M. DiiLACOUR ; Yes. *• The President : One of the most remarkable things I ever witnessed in connec- tion with blind men was at St. Dunstan's, where I conducted an examination. We had fourteen boxes of various kinds of feed. I took these boxes, and in turn the men came up, and by feeling and smelling had to say what they were. We mixed up the boxes between everyone, so that there was no memorising. Seven men out of twenty-one got everyone right. I could not have done it if I had had my eyes shut. It was really marvellous, as Captain Peirson-Webber has said, to hear the men at their planes and other work singing and whistling away. You realise that a great joy has entered into their lives. Captain Peirson-Webber then demonstrated with a live bird. In the course of the demonstration he said : It often happens that people think if a fellow cannot see he must necessarily be slow. If I am with another blind man I often say to him, " Take care, there is a step." (Laughter.) We have to break down all that. This bird comes from Roehampton. I had the privilege of establishing a demonstration roast there; I have just had particulars of the profit it made over and above the corn bill. At Queen Mary's 'Hospital last year they made, from October to October, £59 10s. from 40 birds over and above the corn bill — no fancy profits, it is £1 a week over and above the corn bill, which quite leads to happiness and prosperity. I am very keen on handling birds. The point is they do not mind, if you hold them by one wing. Lots of people have not grasped that ; but tell your blind men as it helps them. Another point of handling that we are keen on is with regard to seeing what condition the birds are in when they are preparing to lay. You know the way in which beginners think they are getting the bird too fat. If they can get into the way of handling, they can do it very quickly, and can tell just what they like. There is no reason why a fellow should not dress his bird quickly. He can do the bird in three and a half minutes, the same as a sighted man can, when he is fully expert and in practice. The President : Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure that everyone of us must be greatly indebted to Captain Peirson-Webber for not only himself having proved what can be done by blinded men, but for thp self-denying and noble labours which he took up since the war broke out in order to help those who were the victims of the loss of sight in that war. I think you would wish me on your behalf to say to Captain Webber how keenly we shall watch his further developments, and if we can help him in any way we shall render that help. His example we commend to others equally handicapped. 33 THE POULTRY INDUSTRY IN INDIA. By Mrs. Fawkes (Hon. Sec. Indian Poultry Club). Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen. It is a great privilege as well as a great pleasure to me to introduce myself to you as a representative of the poultry industry in India. It may perhaps be a revelation to some of you to hear that such a thing as a Poultry Club for India exists, as we poor folk out there are such a very long way off that I fear we are not much in the public eye. Now that India has done such loyal service to the Allies, I feel sure youi will all wish to help her. I hope to try in a few words to bring you into touch with what is being done in India to further the industry, but regret that at the outset I am obliged to confess that, compared with other countries, we are very much behindhand. Although India is one of the most important and one of the wealthiest colonies of the British Empire, she is certainly the poorest as regards poultry. But she has immense possibilities. My principal object i;i placing this paper before you to-day is to bring these possibilities to the notice of your Conference, and through your support to secure assistance and official recognition to the pressing need of encouraging those who are trying, for the good of India, to promote poultry and egg production out there. I should like to put before you : Firstly, the condition of poultry in India at the present time ; secondly, what the Indian Poultry Club has dorje ; thirdly, what is needed to encourage the industry ; fourthly, to invite co-operation with Australia, as well as with Great Britain and our Allies, with regard to stock and appliances. Firstly, India is the home of the Jungle Fowl, commonly looked upon as the ancestor of the present day fowl. Besides the wild Jungle Fowl India has an enormous number of domestic fowls to be found all over the country. As a rule the birds are of what we might call the " A.O.V." type, of all shapes, sizes, and colour, very much inbred, and poor layers of very small, bantam-sized eggs. As table birds they neither excel in quality nor quantity of meat, and, unless curried, seem to have no flavour. In some parts of India, such as Chittagong, the species are much better. The Game Fowl is largely bred for fighting purposes. The people who keep these birds (if keeping it can be called, as the birds mostly feed on what they can pick up), are generally of quite low caste, as only low caste Indians will keep fowls, they are looked upon as unclean. It is difficult to induce an educated Indian to take any interest in poultry, for which reason Governments do not help us much out there. We hope that as people become more broad-minded this will be altered. Poultry and eggs are to a very large extent the staple article of diet for Europeans living in India, and a better class of produce would be a great boon, as the climate being so hot and enervating, nourishing food is most essential. The Hindu, of course, will not touch the flesh of fowls nor eggs, except the very lowest castes, but the Mahomedan enjoys his chicken pillau and curry and eggs. For the sake of having better food, the European domiciled in India has tried to improve matters. Second : In order to help and encourage this latter class of people, the Indian Poultry Club was formed some ten years ago. It started in a small way in Lucknow, with the Viceroy as patron. During these ten years it has weathered many storms, and has some hundreds of keen members scattered all over India. (To show how keen some members are, I have known them travel with their birds over 1,000 miles to a poultry show.) Under the club's auspices poultry shows have been organised in various cities of Northern India, and also in Madras by its sister society, the South India Poultry Association. Hundreds of valuable birds have been imported into India, the effect of which is very marked in districts near European settlements, as the local fowl has improved greatly in size and quality. The club also publishes a most useful monthly paper and keeps in touch with the agricultural departments out there, who make small grants of money towards the club's show expenses. A certain number of Indian gentlemen support the club and enjoy exhibiting valuable birds they have imported from England. . We hope in time to convert many to c 34 interesting themselves in this way. The climate on the whole is dry and suitable for poultry and chickens grow well. The light breeds give best results in egg production, and are easier to acclimatise, but the heavy varieties also do well, though more inclined to broodiness and apoplexy. Tick fever, a deadly enemy to all newly imported stock, we have combated by means of injections of soanin into the breast muscles of the birds. This last year we had our first laying competition, won by a pen of Black Leghorns. Third : What is needed in India is (1) a large increase of imported utility birds to improve the existing poultry and a stock established of pure breeds. (2) Financial support and encouragement from Government. (3) Training college and experi- mental breeding stations, where poultry farmers can be instructed in all branches of the industry, and research work be carried out, in order to combat successfully the diseases, &c., which birds are subject to in a tropica! climate. Lectures and experts should be sent out from England and elsewhere to educate the people. (4) Enterprising capitalists are wanted to start poultry farms for supply of large centres, such as Simla, Delhi, Calcutta, &c., with high-clacs produce. (5) Some amelioration in the high rates of exporting birds to India. Possibly in the near future valuable eggs might be transported by aeroplane, though perhaps this is a visionary dream, yet one cannot help wishing it might be possible. Fourth : I suggest that Australia co-operates with us by sending us stock and advertising her goods in our Indian papers. I understand she has a superfluity of stock, and as the climate of India is very similar, possibly some arrangement might be come to. In conclusion I would assure you that there is a wide field open in India, only needing the necessary energy and organisation to make it a success. I shall be happy to communicate with anyone interested in the subject and put them in touch with Indian fanciers. My hope is before very long to tour India, lecturing on poultry matters, and I shall be glad to receive photographs or matters of interest that would help forward the industry for the good of the Indian Empire. Captain Peirson-Webber : Have they got any Government breeding stations in India at the present time? Mrs. Fawkes : There was one started at Pusa, but the birds got sick and the Government gave it up. Captain Peirson-Webber : Is Pusa in the Hills? Mrs. Fawkes : No; in Bengal. Captain Peirson-Webber : Would you not recommend that they should be in the Hills-^Darjeeling? Mrs. Fawkes : I find they do excellently in the plains as long as they are kept in out-of-door places. Captain Peirson-Webber : They drink a lot of water. Mrs. Fawkes : You want wire houses protected from vermin. Captain Peirson-Webber : What do you do about the mongoose? Mrs. Fawkes . We have very small wire netting. Captain Peirson-Webber : Do you not find that snakes are very fond of eggs? Mrs. Fawkes : Yes, they are ; but labour is cheap, you can get plenty of people to watch the eggs. or.- r t- Mr. T. R. Robinson • Is any attempt made to cross the Jungle Fowl with other kmds of poultry? Mrs. Fawkes . Yes ; Europeans have done that with very good results • but the natives do not attempt anything of the kind ; they use the Jungle Fowl ' to give exhibitions of fighting. ^ 35 A Delegate : There is a duck which is called the Indian Runner. Is it Indian? Mrs. Fawkes : I believe it is supposed to conre from there, but it is not found at the present day. It is imported. Another Delegate : With regard to the immunity of birds from disease, is there any difference between birds that have been hatched from eggs in India and the birds that h'ave been imported? Mrs. Fawkes : Yes ; the birds that have been hatched from eggs are more immune to disease. The first thing they get is this tick fever, which attacks them as enteric and typhoid fever does human beings. This wonderful discovery of soaninjjas checked that fever. As soon as the birds are hatched, we inject them andtHey are "practically immune; if they are attacked it is generally not fatal. Until we did that we did not import birds. The President : How long does the injection last? Mrs. Fawkes : It seems to keep them immune one season, and then we have to repeat the process. Soanin is a solution of arsenic, and it is injected into the bird's muscles. •.-'-~~ —- THE INTERNATIONAL EGG AND POULTRY TRADE. By Mr. Bennett Opie (London Egg Market). j\lr. Bennett Opie : I have undertaken to give a paper or speak for five minutes only. Mr. Brown takes the breath out of me by saying that I am to speak on the International Egg and Poultry Trade. Now, I know less about poultry than I do about the moon, I was going to say — (laughter)— that is to say, my only knowledge of poultry would be in regard to the eating. (Renewed laughter.) I know nothing about it. I am a Londoner in this sense, that I have been in the egg trade in London selling what you have been producing for thirty-eight years. I have simply undertaken — I think my letter to the Secretary will bear it out — to speak from the market point of view of eggs only, I know nothing about table poultry. In all industries, I suppose, we are passing through a period of introspection and reconstruction, but introspection must always precede reconstruction. If there is any branch of industry connected with what you are discussing here which requires to be looked into it is that of preparing your eggs — eggs in particular, for the market- to compete with other countries. . You have other countries who send eggs to our market represented here, and I should like to congratulate them on the rapid strides they have made. In fact, I was going to say they are cutting us out ; they have, to a very large extent, beateh us upon our own market. Fifteen or eighteen years ago I represented one small firm here m London, among many others. My friend, Mr. Martin, will probably remember that. We were selling 15 tons of English eggs per week during the plentiful season— 55 dozen eggs weigh 112 lbs. The Danish eggs came along in a much better marketable form than ours, and the result was that my particular trade dropped down to half in about two years. That is in quantity; my business did not go down. Why? Because I had to get the Danish eggs for my customers and to sell Danish eggs instead of our own English produce. Now that ought not to be. I wish to point out to you that an English egg always ought to be worth more than the Danish egg in our own country. Now, I ask you, is that so? No. You will find in a fortnight's time, when eggs reach their lowest price, that the Danish egg will be fetching from Is. to 2s. more a hundred than the English egg. There must be a reason for that, and two reasons I am going to give you. c2 36 As I told you, I do not pretend to give any information on production, but on the question of the proper marketing of eggs which may be sold. I will deal briefly with two -points in connection with this subject; the first and foremost is waste. Immediately eggs reach bottom price here in England, there has always been considerable waste' through carelessness in collection and packing, that can be accounted for, to a very large extent, not by vou ladies and gentlemen here who are poultry farming scientifically, but oh the ground that most of the eggs produced are produced by farmers and cottagers, who treat them as a sort of by-product. The wife of the farmer gets the value of the eggs for her own pocket. It is not done as a business, and people do not pay attention to collecting the eggs in the proper way and grading them in the right manner ; therefore we get waste. If you came to my ware- house at the end of June or July and tested a dozen cases, it would be to find from ten to twenty eggs waste; that is to say, bad. Perhaps someone will say the man who is buying those eggs or collecting them for you ought to see to that. He has not time to do :t. One man sends me, perhaps, 50 to 100 boxes a week; he has not time to test those eggs. It should be watched by the farmer, who should be compelled, in some way, to bring them in to the collector fresh. In pre-war days Denmark was able to send eggs of a more uniform quality than any other country, and for reliability the Danish took precedence over the home- produced article at many seasons of the year. This is due — I see a Danish gentleman is here; I should like him to tell us if it is true — this is due, I am told, to co-operation between the farmer, the packer, and the exporter, a system being in vogue by which bad eggs, if not eliminated by the farmer himself, are traced to him by whoever receives them, and are deducttd for. That is to say, if a man sent in eggs that were stale or bad they would not be paid for. This system, by which the stamping of each egg was the result, has proved highly satisfactory, and has resulted in Danish eggs being more reliable than any other. Thus the Danish egg in the most plentiful time of the year will fetch from Is. to 2s. -per 120 more than the English. The other important point I would like to make is dealing with eggs by weight. Now I said this is a lime of introspection. Do you know of anything in the world of commerce, except an egg, that is not bought at least by weight or measurement? I do not know of anything. Hence the lack of incentive to people to produce the best article. Here, again, the Danish people have gone ahead of us. It is a fact, as I said, that nearly everything is bought by weight or measurement. This also is an important feature in the Danish system. In this country a farmer who is enter- prising and offers large eggs has had to be content with the same price as his neighbour who has smaller eggs to offer. Eggs should be bought by weight, and the cultivator of the larger eggs encouraged. .Such would lead automatically to the grading of the eggs by the farmer or whoever produces them. I simply want to try and provoke discussion on this matter of eggs being packed properly for the market, and being bought, and, if you like, sold by weight. I am a trader, I am not afraid of selling eggs by weight ; I should be glad if thev were sold at so much per pound. But they should be bought by weight, so that the man who is putting his intelligence in should have some incentive. Mr. J. G. KiTSON (Agricultural Wholesale Society, Limited). Ladies and Gentlemen, — I am at the present moment engaged in selling eggs for Co-operative Societies through the Agricultural Wholesale Society, and our President was re- .sponsible for laying down the scheme which was originally worked. I cannot say that his lines have been followed as closely as they might have been, but they were very much on the Danish method. Small collecting societies were formed in various parts of the country under the Industrial Provident Societies Act, having their own membership, providing their own capital, and running their own little businesses entirely on their own account. Each member was provided with a particular stamp with which he marked his eggs. They were then either sent into or collected for a depot, and when brought in they were tested. You can easily see tha*- the producer who sent in a wrong one with his number on it was easily traced aw the egg went back. 37 Then there was a further development ; the eggs passed as first grade were marked with the trade mark known as the Rose Brand; that was a valuable insti- tution, and the egg could be traced from the breakfast table back to the hen that laid it. That was an excellent scheme. It was thoroughly well worked out, much to our President's credit, and if it had only been capable of being carried out in detail, as it has been in Denmark and Holland, we might have had an enormous egg trade here and been able to guarantee quality all through. Unfortunately, the Society that originally started the scheme, the National Poultry Organisation Society, was not Intended to be a trading body. It was formed of ladies and gentlemen united solely for the benefit of poultry-keepers in this country, and who desired to teach people to market their eggs in proper condition. I think we can say we have accomplished a great deal of the work. Many of the Societies which are formed supply a large number of eggs which are of very good quality. The Society named, however, nevei- intended to go into the business, and it had not funds to advertise the work that was being carried out. There are very great opportunities still for co-operation in this country and carrying out the work as it was originally intended. For our own Society, I can say we are doing the work; we sell a great many eggs every year for those Collecting Societies, and there is no reason why the business should not be developed. So far as selling by weight is concerned, I always contend that eggs are sold by weight to the trade, because they are sold at so much per 120. That does not get over Mr. Bennett Opie's objection from the buying side, but there is no reason, as far as I can see, why the buying merchants should not discriminate between a large and a small egg. It is manifestly unfair that a man should receive 6d. for two large eggs and another man with three small eggs 9d. That is largely in the hands of the buyer. In practice I make a deduction for small eggs when paying the Societies. If the eggs are not up to size I grade them and pay less for the small eggs than the big ones. That is the only fair way of doing it. It really is not sufficiently known that these Societies are established in various parts of the country, and the work we are doing is not sufficiently considered. There is great scope for further develop- ment, and I think we are on the road to doing much in that direction. Dr. J. J. Van Ryn : I would like to say just a few words. When we are all talk- ing here about trying to get the best results, and to organise our industry in such a way so as to be able to guarantee a really good fresh egg, the principal point is this — that we should not meet in the market the unfair competition of eggs which are called " fresh eggs." A good many shop-keepers in this country, and others as well, do not care very much about the quality of an egg as long as they are satisfied that the egg was new when it was laid. (Laughter.) I think some protection for that is necessary. We have experienced some loss in Holland. The question was raised, " What is a new laid egg?" Those in the trade will know how difficult it is to establish before a magistrate what really is a new laid egg and what is not, and the difficulty of convicting someone who was really selling a bad egg for a good one. Therefore, when you start dealing with this problem you must obtain protection from unfair trade. I understand that you do not object to foreign competition ; but even foreign competition, of course, must be in the first instance fair. Now there are two ways of protecting the honest producer. One is by Acts of Parliament which result in law proceedings before you convict one who acts in con- travention of the law. The next point is for you yourselves to come to the front and prove to the public in general, informing them so that they know that \\-hat you produce is of first quality. I have followed -with some attention the Rose Brand. I noticed in the beginning they were going ahead, and was very sorry to say they had to drop its use. But we should try to fix some standard to induce not only the producers to find a system of guarantee for the whole produce, but also that Governments in foreign countries who allow the export of eggs ought to see that when a box of eggs leaves that particular country, and has the name " fresh eggs " on it, there is a guarantee that they are fresh. You may be able to trace a bad egg when it is produced in this country, but 38 it is very difficult to trace that egg when it is imported to this side from abroad. Eight or nine years ago we, of the London Chamber of Commerce, tried to get an international arrangement by which a guarantee could be given that eggs, cold- stored or pickjed, were only imported under a certain mark. I think that this Con- ference should seek to get in touch with the Authorities in this and other countries, so that an International Committee be formed, with a view to an arrangement being made by which Governments guarantee to each other that whatever eggs leave their country under a certain name really represents what it is marked. I think it is a practical point and closely connected with the international egg trade. I will leave the poultry side out. I sincerely hope that the Council of this Conference will take oteps in that direction. The President: I will ask Dr. ^''an Ryn to draft a resolution, so that we may take up that question. Mr. T. S. Porter (Department of Agriculture for Ireland) : I wish to say a few words on a point that was referred to by Mr. Opie — that is, the purchase of eggs by weight. I understand Mr. Opie's point to be that the poultry-keeper in Ireland — whom I am interested in — and I suppose in England, ought to sell the eggs by weight; that is to say, the egg merchant in Ireland ought to buy them by weight. I am not at all clear that that would be fair. I did for a long time think it was the fair way. I have not the least doubt that in any district in Ireland where purchase by weight has been introduced — and I think, with few exceptions, it has only been introduced by Co-operative Societies — it has resulted in a, general increase in the size of the egg that is marketed, because when you sell by weight it is to the interest of the poultry- keeper to produce a large egg. On the other hand, when you pav the same price for a small egg as a large one, and the same for a soiled as for a dean one, there is no object; and it is not policy, on the part of the poultry-keeper, to eat the small egg and sell the big one ; it is much wiser to eat the big one and sell the small one. We have gone into the matter closely, and have come to the conclusion that what the British public want is an egg of about two ounces. If we could induce our hens to lay nothing but two-ounce eggs we should probably arrive at the solution. When we get above the 16 lbs. egg— I dare say Mr. Opie may be acquainted with what is known as the Portadown egg— I do not think it is of economic use. I knew of several instances in which people were, on the advice of my Department, grading their eggs closely. I followed the matter up with several large salesmen on this side— I am not to mention their names, because I do not think it would be proper for me to do so. They gave me full information, they let me see their results, but the effect was that the actual price per lb. at which the eggs were sold fell as the eggs rose in weight per 120 over 15 lb. That is to sav, the price per lb. of a 16 lbs. egg was rather less than a 15 lbs. The President : Proportionate to the weight ? Mr. Porter : The selling price on this side per lb. The price per 120 went up, but the price per 120 was not proportionate to the weight of the egg. A great many people had been advocating the production of a larger egg. My Department, the Department of Agriculture, have been for a long time trying to induce people to produce the large egg, but I am quite convinced that the public over here do want a new laid egg — I am not very clear whether anybody knows what that means — but they do not want a new laid egg not exceeding 15 or 16 lbs. I do not think that the producer in Ireland would be quite correctly treated if the eggs were purchased by weight. It seems to me the only fair way would be — perhaps it is a little too round- about to fix a price — to take the 15 lbs. egg as a standard, and to say the price will be so much more for the IS-J lbs. , and so much extra for the 16 lbs. egg. I think that is really a fairer way than purchasing simply by weight. As regards the other question which I may refer to, the verv troublesome ques- tion of the stale egg and the bad egg, I believe that our great difficulty in Ireland is what I call the stale egg — that is the dangerous egg. I will not go into the knotty question of what is a stale egg. I very much doubt if I asked people what a stale 39 egg is they could tell me. Everybody knows what a stale egg is, but when you go into a Court of Law there is the difficulty. The stale egg is the real danger to us m the Irish trade, and we are making strong efforts to get rid of it by teaching people to test. But the plain fact is that when inspectors go to the egg merchant, the exporter in Ireland who buys from the farmer, and say, " You ought to test your eggs "—which they can do perfectly well if they like—" You ought to test your eggs and reduce the price of any eggs which are stale or bad," they say " It will not pay me to do it; I get no more from the buyer in England." I think Mr. Opie will confirm what I say, that it is a very rare thing to purchase eggs as " fresh." They are bought as " selected " or " extra selected." I have seldom in a contract heard of an egg described as " new laid " or " fresh." If the particular exporter has a good reputation they know he will take trouble and give them a good article, but the ordinary eggs are not bought wholesale as new laid or fresh. The great trouble on the other side is that when we try to advocate the selling of the fresh or new laid egg, they say, " We will not get the extra price that will pay us for grading and testing." Mr. Thomas Martin (London Egg Market) : If you are going to bring this matter up again in the way of passing a resolution I shall have a better opportunity to_ speak. I would just like to say one thing on the question of weight. Everybody will know that the criterion is in the manufacturing of cakes and pastry. I think I am right in saying that there are more eggs consumed in that way than at the breakfast table, and therefore weight must stand for everything. A confectioner does not require to use so many eggs in cakes if they are large as he does if they are small ; therefore it is most obviously unfair that a small egg, a ISlbs. egg, should be worth as much as a 161bs. or 171bs. egg. If you study the matter from a con- fectioner's point of view you must see the unfairness of that. I quite agree that the public would like a ISJIbs. egg. A ISJlbs. egg is the most popular egg for the breakfast table, but in producing an egg surely the heavier egg is worth more money and should be treated as such. Mr. Stanley Street : I would like to ask Mr. Opie, is it not ai fact that, if he could get Irish eggs sent over to him with the cases marked as tested eggs and of a certain weight, he could make a better price for those eggs on the market here which were a certain weight per 120, and tested ; that is to say, if he could get a price for those eggs to repay the people on the other side of the Channel who had tested those eggs? It has always seemed to me that we in this country have failed in marking our produce — poultry, eggs or fruit ; we do not take the trouble to grade as they do in Canada, for instance. In this country if you go to Covent Garden and buy a barrel of apples from Nova Scotia or the Western States of Canada, those are marked " grade one," and if you see one of those barrels opened and you buy twenty you will find every one of those apples is as good as the other.. Every apple is graded and packed and marked with the grade, and is sold at that grade. The same thing should apply with regard to grading in the selling of eggs. It is a certain thing that if the public want a large egg for confectionery purposes and could go to the wholesale market and buy a case of eggs which is guaranteed 161bs. per 100, they would be prepared to pay a bigger price than for 151bs. eggs which were not guaranteed as tested. We have to educate our farmers, in the first instance, to take proper care in collecting the eggs. That can only be done by making them pay for any faulty ones. In the first instance it seems to me that it is for the merchant who buys from the farmer to see that the eggs, when he buys them, are graded ; if a farmer has so many eggs to sell, to see that so many of those eggs pass as 161bs. eggs. Directly I see an egg I can tell whether it is 161bs. There are so many eggs of 161bs., so many of 151bs., the price for one should be different to the other. When the merchant gets them home they are packed in different cases. I think that is the only solution of the problem. 40 POULTRY INDUSTRY AND POULTRY ORGANISATION IN THE NETHERLANDS. Konsultent by G, S. Th. Van- Gink (The Hague, Holland). Holland is very well suited for poultry-keeping. This industry was making considerable headway up to the time of the outbreak of war. The export of eggs was well established, supplies of which were sent to England as well as to Germany. Great attention had been paid t.o improvement of the quality of the exported eggs, and just at the outbreak of the war a considerable number of specially designed export cases was put into service. According to information received, due to these efforts, our Dutch eggs realised at times top prices in their grades or classes. Cases of eggs which were shipped a little before midnight at Rotterdam and the Hook of Holland were often on the London market the next day. ,Eggs can reach the Hook of Holland and Rotterdam in a very fresh state. The heavy egg-production in Limburg and North Brabant makes it possible for these provinces to export a con- siderable number of eggs, v-jhich are forwarded via Flushing. Holland, as the northern part of the Low Countries, is not entirely a low country. Behind the Dunes, in North Brabant, Gelderland, Overysel and Drenthe the land is rolling to a considerable degree. Pine woods and sandy soil cover a great part of the Netherlands. Limburg is quite hilly. Where the soil is sandy, poultry- keeping is mainly in the hands of the smallholders. On the better soil poultry is kept on dairy farms, almost every farm carrying a fair stock. In North Holland is a large area of land below sea level. The soil is naturally wet, and can only keep more or less dry by pumping. Poultry are there under most adverse conditions, yet have been kept for more than a century. The system adopted by these poultry-keepers (cottagei's and smallholders), proves that the industry has been widely undertaken and received careful study. These poultry-keepers know how to tell the sex of day-old ducks and chicks with amazing certainty. The male ducklings are picked out with more than 95 per cent, certainty, which method is generally practised. The mating of golden-pencilled males with silver-pencilled females is no longer practised, as the small eggs of the Hamburghs are not liked on the market, but in bygone days these people told the sex of their day-old chicks from the fact that the greyish chicks all developed into silver- pencilled males, and the brownish chicks all turned out to be golden-pencilled females when fully grown. Better layers and winter egg laying with bigger eggs were necessary, and as a consequence the Hamburgh fowl lost ground in that neighbour- hood, and poultry-keepers didn't trouble themselves to experiment with other and more profitable breeds which would answer the purpose just as well. Up to 1910 thousands of greyish-white day-old chicks came to the Amsterdam market, and the lucky " buyers would find themselves the owners of a company of lusty crowing roosters within two months. Duck-keeping in that part of Holland is very peculiar, as these ducks roam about and only return home to lay. In the spring the ducks, with their broods, live as wild ducks, finding all the food they need in the hundreds of ditches which abound. These ducks have a white spot on the breast, and the duck-keepers are anxious to maintain this spot, as they say it helps them to track every cross with the wild ducks, which is very common in North Holland. The ducks are not great layers, but they take care of themselves during the greater part of the year and " keep to the water." Crossbreds with Runners invariably tramp over the'meadows and the dairy-farmers object to this, as it ruins their long grass, making mowing difficult. Goose breeding is largely undertaken in Dwente. This class of goose is a very early brooder, often laying in November and becoming broody . shortly afterwards. They fatten very well on grass with a little extra feed, and reach the market as green goslings before any other variety. Since 1916 poultry has been very considerably diminished in the Netherlands on account of the scarcity of food. The stock in 1918 numbered only a quarter of what was the case in 1916. In 1918 no food for poultry was obtainable, and the 41 poultry-food committee distributed siftings of green pveas to tiiose poultry-keepers who kept pure-bred fowls and were declared to be so by the judges who visited them. From twenty-four to thirty head of poultry was about all each breeder could obtain food for from this committee. In this manner 50,000 head of breeding stock could be kept alive. Egg production almost invariably decreased as a result of this feeding, and how could it be otherwise? Poultry organisation in Holland was of little use under the adverse conditions prevqjling in 1917 and 1918, but it was maintained, and is now helping greatly in the work of reconstruction. Both fancy poultrymen and utility breeders are well organised. The latter have, among other societies, one large organisation, the V.P.N., which has 33,000 members. This association has eleven branches, its own experimental stations and technical staff. The main experi- mental station is at ..4«S££^'^''' '" ^^^ middle of Holland, and the speaker was appointed to succeed MrfT^ B'. Beaufort, in January, 1919, as director of this institute. The food scarcity extended iitself even to the experimental station, and we have been compelled to breed less stock than we can house and keep. Leghorns are mainly kept at the experimental station. In addition to these, there are also White Wyandottes, White Orpingtons, Coucou de Malines, and Barne- velders (a Dutch utility breed). At the branch experimental stations only a few pens are kept, which are tested by trap-nests. Furthermore, there are a great number of breeding-pen owners whose birds are regularly inspected by VrP.N. judges. The main experimental station furnishes eggs for hatching and breeding stock to the branches, breeding-pen owners, and to every member of the Association who desires to purchase stock. When possible good specimens are brought from the branches to the main station in order to give the entire country the opportunity to benefit by it. More and more pure-bred stock are taking the place of the barndoor fowl, even in out-of-the-way places, and the results are visible in the better grade of eggs that is now coming to the market. The greater part of eggs are now sold on a co-opera- tive basis, and Roermond, Leeuwarden, and Amsterdam handle enormous quantities. (Adjourned until 12th March, at 10 a.m.) 42 Second Day (Third Session). Wednesday, 12th March, 1919, at 10 a.m., at 16, Bedford Square, London, W.C.I, MR. EDWARD BROWN, F.L.S., (President of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators), in the Chair. WOMEN'S SPHERE IN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY OF IRELAND. By Miss L. Murphy (Poultry Instructor, Munster Institute, Cork, Ireland). As regards the poultry industry, the women of Ireland occupy a position which is probably unique. With the exception of the shipping of the produce, almost the entire industry is in their hands ; all the teaching is now done by them, and with greater success than has been attained in any other country in so short a time. Farm and Cottage Poultry-keepers. — As might be expected in a country of small holdings,* poultry-keeping forms an important branch of rural industry, and the great bulk of the export trade comes from the small farms and cottages. In some parts of the country the women are highly skilled rearers and feeders, and everywhere the hens are depended upon to bring in sufficient to pay a substantial portion of the housekeeping bills. Very few of these poultry-keepers keep pure-bred flocks, but owing tc the great number of egg distributing stations (728), pure-bred male birds are quite commonly used. Breeders of High-class Pure-bred Stock. — A rapidly increasing number of educated women, 'many of them farmers' wives and daughters, are now success- fully undertaking the more difficult work of raising pure-bred stock. The keeping of accurate records seems to have a special fascination for these women breeders, while the conditions under which they work as regards land and relatively low cost of feeding, place them in an ideal position. The result is that several have built up a very successful trade in stock birds, eggs and day-old chicks. In Ulster a great many men are engaged in this work, but here as in other parts of Ireland, some of the most successful laying strains are owned and managed by v/omen. This is not due to any superior skill on the part of women breeders, but to the fact that until a couple of years ago every man skilled in breeding devoted his attention to fancy rather than to utility poultry. There are, however, many indications that in future women breeders will have to work hard to maintain their position. Egg Production the Main Industry. — ^The fattening industry as usually under- stood has never made any headway in Ireland and does not appeal to women. Egg production is the branch most favoured in Ulster, Munster and Connaught, while over the South-Eastern portion of Leinster, the raising of lean chickens for the Sussex fatteners forms a very considerable portion of the trade. It is not improbable, however, that this branch may decline considerably in the near future. A New Branch of the Table Poultry Industry. — There is increasing evidence of success in marketing small lots of fat or half-fat chickens direct from the farms. In counties where the type of bird is suitable, the instructors have made a point of encouraging this trade. Chickens brought to the clas,ses by the pupils are first trough-fed and then pellet-crammed under the supervision of the instructor. When ready, the birds are killed and plucked by the owners, a label being attached to each * Out of a total of 572,574 holdings 409,353 are under 30 acres in extent. 43 chicken. These are then consigned to salesmen in London, most of whom are exceedingly kind and helpful in suggesting improvements and criticising the different birds, thus strengthening the hands of the instructor and giving most valuable help to the pupils. It is to be hoped that this is only the beginning of a much larger industry, as many of the instructors report that the most enterprising of the women carry on the work unaided once they have been shown at the class. The objection to this system is the heavy cost of marketing small lots, but such initial attempts may later be developed into co-operative societies. Large numbers of turkeys are now being marketed in the same way and with considerably enhanced profit to the raisers. Women as Teachers. — As regards teaching, the women of Ireland have made this portion of the work peculiarly their own. Conditions in 1900. — In 1900 when the' Department of Agriculture was estab- lished, the poultry industry was in a deploraole condition. It did not pay to keep utility fowls except on farms where the feeding could be done at a trifling cost ; the heavy laying hen, as the term is at present understood, was unknown ; the most useful and popular breeds of fowls now to be seen by every roadside had not been heard of outside a few fanciers' yards; the marketing, which is still in too many cases badly done, was in an indescribable condition, eggs being often unsaleable for cash, and where cash was paid, 5s. per hhd. was considered a very good summer price, so that the profit to the poultry-keeper whose hens laid the bulk of their eggs in spring and summer was small indeed. The most depressing feature of all was the attitude of the average farmer who viewed fowls with distrust or open hostility A man might be interested in the breeding of horses, cattle, sheep, or swine, but fowls were beneath his notice. The machinery by which it was proposed to alter this state of things has been already fully described in a paper* read byiMr. S. J. Gordon at the first conference of this association held in July, 1912. Early Difficulties. — The initial difficulty that presented itself was the want of suitable teachers. There was no lack of applicants for posts, one of the first adver- tised bringing replies from about three hundred, of whom only three had any special training or experience, and only one of whom passed the qualifying examination held by the Department of Agriculture. Early Training of Teachers. — Thereafter, until, in 1905 the Department decided to train its own teachers, the pass certificate of the Reading College Courses in Poultry-Keeping was accepted as a qualifying standard. These short courses at Reading, while admirable of their ki.nd, lad two serious (Itsw backs as a training for Irish teachers : (1) they were too costly for any but well-to-do students, and (2) they were too short and too theoretical for those who had no previous experience. When the decision to establish a course of trainmg for County Instructors in Ireland was taken by the Department, a small but very complete plant was fitted up at the Munster Institute, Cork. This has since been repeatedly enlarged, and is now one of the best of its kind in the Kingdom. Present Method of Training. — ^A brief account of the training and work of these women teachers may be of interest. The training school is residential and run on very democratic lines, all pupils, of whom there are fifty-six in residence, paying the same nominal fee of £3 3s. per term of eleven weeks. In addition to the dairy and poultry work, every student, no matter vi'hat her object in entering the school may be, has to take out a course in domestic economy for the first nine months, it being held that to be of real use to the country people a young girl going out to teach should be able to take a practical and intelligent interest in everything pertain- ing to the farmhouse and its surroundings. That this training enhances the value of their work many instructors have abundantly proved. It is no uncommon thing for one of them to choose, cut out, and help to make the dresses and aprons to be worn by her class at a churning * " The History of the Development of Instruction in connection with the Poultry Industry in Ireland." 44 competition. One instructor began to teach her landlady how to cook and soon had several of her neighbour? coming in the evenings to see what they could learn. This was, of course, trespassing on the ground of the cookery teacher if there was one, but when there is real work to be done red tape has often to be ignored. The Ideals of a Farm School— Every effort is made to teach these young girl students the dignity of labour, above all of the farm woman's labour, and no instructor is qualified who shows any disdain for such work or who is not willing to use her hands. . Many more young girls off farms are now sent to Secondary and University Schools than was the case twenty years ago. It is much to be regretted that many of these get an exaggerated idea of their abilities if they succeed in passing the ordinary High School examinations, and that the atmosphere of these schools is not always sympathetic towards agriculture or any form of manual work. There is no work in connection with a farmhouse or with its dairy and poultry which is beneath the dignity of any farmer's daughter, no matter how great her talents may be. This applies to a still greater degree to the work of a farm school where the conditions are ideal. Objeciions to Women Instructors. — At the beginning it was urged by many people that women would never make a success of county work, that physically they were not equal to the fatigue and exposure involved, that they would look upon the work as a stop-gap until such time as they got married, and that men would do the work much better because they did not suffer from any of these disabilities. The results have effectively disposed of all these forebodings. Wherever one turns the beneficial influence of the activities of the county instructors is to be seen, and while there have been few failures there have been many outstanding successes. Results of Agricultural Shows. — One marked result of the quickened interest in agricultural matters engendered by the work of the Department was a great increase in the number of shows at which classes for poultry were subsidised by the local authorities. As a result of these shows, a new and pressing difficulty arose for the instructors. The egg station holders became very anxious to win prizes, and an essential condition in purchasing a bird was that it should be able to win at the local show. If these " Department birds," as they were commonly called, failed to hold their own, a good deal of adverse criticism fell to the lot of the instructor, and it soon became evident that, even in the purely egg-producing breeds, laying qualities were being completely ignored for the sake of outward appearance. To offset this undesirable tendency, the Department decided to hold a series of laying competitions, and in 1912 laid down a plant to accommodate 50 pens of six pullets each. The results of these competitions, which are managed entirely by women, may be summarised as follows : Eleven months No. of No of Average No. Averng : Value Cost of Food Average Price of Return per Bird over Cost ending Pullets. Eggs Laid. per Bird. per Bi d. per Bird. Eggs per 31st August. dozen. s. d. s. d. s. d. IQI.I M» .38,199 120. T II 2.8 5 « 13.05 S 6.8 I914 282 .19.216 I39-" 13 3 6 5 «.3 13.77 7 7-3 1915 264 .39764 150.6 17 6 7 0.5 16.7.1 10 .s..^ I916 294 49. 830 169.S 23 0.5 8 II. 8 19.58 14 0.7 I917 210 36,660 174-6 32 7.2 13 10.7 26.89 18 8.5 1918 210 36,106 171. 9 47 4 16 6 39.66 30 10. 1 The success of the competition itself is, however, of small importance compared with the influence it has exercised on the industry in Ireland. The educational effects of the demonstration have surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the promoters, and whatever may be the nature of the criticisms levelled against laying competitions in general this particular one has had far reaching results for good. Women Inspectors of Marketing. — The latest move on the part ofthe Depart- ment has been the appointment of four marketing inspectors, chosen from amongst 45 the most experienced and successful county instructors. The work is of peculiar difficulty, but already there are signs that an improvement may be expected. As an indication of a better outlook, one of the oldest and most extensive shippers in the south has, at the instigation of one of these insptectors, consented to try hand packing of eggs and to have lessons given by her to two of his packers. Girl Packers v. Men. — Girls are being successfully employed at the work of testing, grading and packing, and the breakages are less than where men are em- ployed at similar work. An Irish firm engaged in the wholesale egg trade was recently good enough to furnish the Department with the following particulars of records which they had taken indicating the packing capacity of four batches of workers in their employment. (a) man and lad packed in one day 26 deep. 6 hhd. cases. (&) lad ,. ,. ., „ 30 (c) lad „ „ „ „ 32 (d) two girls „ „ ,, 52 The man in squad (a) was an experienced packer. The lad in squad (a) was also a permanent hand regarded as very expert. The tw'o girls in squad {d) had only been employed for six months at this work. The interesting fact is that the two girls did far more work than any other com- bination even when put against experienced male workers. The conditions as to working were similar in all cases and the workers were unaware that their work was being observed or recorded. The quality of the work done by each batch of workers was pretty even and satisfactory. The work consisted of unpacking cases as received from country suppliers, separating duck eggs from hen eggs, grading the latter,, counting and repacking by tray in divisable 6 hhd. cases. The poultry industry in Ireland has made such progress that it now furnishes the second largest item in the country's exports of agricultural products. The figures Year. Eggs Exported hhds. Vnliie Poultry cwt. Value £ Total Value .Eggs and Poultry. 1904 I917 estiimted. 5,470,260 7,265,000 2,188,104 7,689,000 233.525 263,600 625,870 1,599,000 2,813,974 9,288,000 Excluding cattle the estimated value of the chief agricultural exports for 1917 are: Pigs, £2,172,000; sheep, £2,399,000; horses, £527,000; dairy produce, £7,987,000. Need of the Present Day. — The great need for the present stage is for research.. Intensive cultivation brings problfems unknown under the old happy-go-lucky system and numberless questions dealing with hatching, rearing, housing, feeding, heredity and disease are ripe for investigation. So far it may be said that nothing has been done in this direction by any Government Department in Great Britain, and the work is such that it cannot be- undertaken by private individuals or by schools engaged in teaching. The Irish poultry industry, as has been already shown, is no longer of insigni- ficant proportions ; it has given the best return for the money spent on it of all the schemes inaugurated by the Department of Agriculture, and hence it has made good its claim to an investigation of the causes of the difficulties which at present hinder its full development. • The Presidknt : I think you will realise, after what we have heard, that we were- more than justified in asking Miss Murphy to read her excellent paper. Some years ago, in Dublin, Mr. T. P. Gill, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, said that he thought before many years were over the export of eggs from Ireland would be worth £10,000,000 sterling. I looked at him with a little- astonishment ; I find 'his imagination was more certain than mine. It has come- 46 nearly up to that already, When you look at what has been done in Ireland, I think it is one of the wonders of the Poultry Industry. Principal P. H. Foulkes (Harper Adams Agricultural College) : Miss Murphy has given us some interesting figures with regard to what is being carried on in Ireland. Her work we know very well indeed. I should like to know whether they restrict the entries for their laying fowls to those who have bought the chicks or to those who have been supplied with eggs. Miss Murphy : No, we take the entries from anyone, provided the birds have been raised from Irish stock. The reason for that is, that just before the first competition we came to the conclusion that some unscrupulous breeders would buy the best breeds they could get on this side and then send them over and enter them for our competitions. There is no reason why our competitors may not buy stock from the best breeders elsewhere. That is getting the best stock into the country ; we en- courage that. At the same time, a great many of the winners in the competition are station-holders. Princioal Foulkes : Could Miss Murphy give us any idea what the Department are spending in Ireland upon this Work ? She has given us a most interesting account of what the Department are doing. We know the Department are encouraging the industry. Miss Murphy : The total amount spent from Headquarters is £13,612 — £6,594 of that goes to pay the instructors. The Department pays five-ninths of the salary and the local authorities the remainder. In some counties the Department pay a little more; in some counties they pay £2 to every £1 contributed by the local authority. The amount spent on egg stations is £7,000 a year, and the number of egg stations in the country is 728. The amount spent on horses is £16,000 a year, and on cattle £21,000. Mrs. Fawkes (Indian Poultry Club) : I should like to know a little more about the details of training of the women, how long they are trained, and what salaries they receive as the result of their training. Miss Murphy : Eighteen months is the length of the training, except in the case of a very young girl, who may be kept for two years. During the first nine months she has to do dairying, attend to the poultry, cooking, sewing, &c. The initial salary of the instructors is £100 a year, and they get increments of £10 a year until they reach a maximum of £160. At present they are getting 15s. a week War bonus in addition to that. They have to keep themselves out of their salary. Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink (Netherlands Poultry Organisation Society) : Miss Murphy has been telling us about the trouble they have to get pure bred birds into their egg-laying pens. We had the same trouble in Holland. At The Hague we have Utility Classes, and they are judged entirely on a different standard to all the other classes. That is the way we solve the diflficulty. The people who send down beautiful show birds to these Utility Classes never have a chance, because we simply judge the birds by their utility points ; however fine they look, they do not take a prize. The Government is giving prizes in the Utility Classes, and that is the reason why all the breeders send their best birds there. A year ago we had 80 per cent, show birds in the main classes, and the chief Judge cut them all out. This year, after I had got through the judging of the fancy iDirds, I found I had done 60 per ient. of my work. I happened to have a list of the egg-laying which had been done in the Utility Classes and the name of a man who had been very successful in those classes. He gave me particulars of those birds which were good layers, and I found they had an average percentage of 178. That is very good for Wyandottes ; they took all the prizes in the Utility Classes. That is one case where utility and beauty can be combined. We want only a few Utility Classes. We do not judge by the legs or by the feathers, but by the condi- tion the birds are in. A bird in our Utility Classes must be either in laying" condition or bound to lay in a few days, and must be in good condition — possess a good back- 47 bone and breast-bone. I think we can solve the question in that way, by not allowing SUiy bird in a class for utility that is not in a good laying condition at the time of the show. Mr. T. R. Robinson : Apropos of the last remark, I should like to say that the National Utility Poultry Society intended to provide Utility Classes for Wyandottes and Leghorns at the forthcoming Dairy Show. We have only heard this morning that, in the wisdom of the B.D.F.A., the scheme is turned down. That is what I understand. I had a 'phone message half an hour ago. Mr. Tom Barron (National Utility Poultry Society, England) : With regard to the feeding of poultry. I have never been in Ireland, although I know the world pretty well. It is a common opinion in England that all poultry in Ireland are fed on potatoes. Yesterday Mr. Toovey, in his address, mentioned that he had been using 40 per cent, potatoes, and he hoped shortly to reduce it. Why? Potatoes, I take it, are very cheap. If poultry can be brought up on potatoes — we have an enormous supply in England at the present time — why could it not be diverted to the feeding of poultry ? Miss Murphy : The great drawback to the excessive use of potatoes is that they are not balanced by any other food. Country people use a great quantity of potatoes. What we have been trying to do in these competitions is to point out that the excess of food of that kind must be balanced by some food with a high percentage of flesh matter. I think we have shown how very economical it is to use such classes of food. Mr. Barron : This is what made me think that potatoes could be used to a great extent. Some years ago a friend of mine had some turkeys, which he had bought alive. He came to me in a great state because he had tried them for a week with every kind of food he could think of, and they would not eat. I asked him whether they came from Ireland. He said "Yes." I said, "Have you tried potatoes?" " No," he replied, " I have not." He went home, gave them potatoes, and they did well. We all know what splendid turkeys we receive from Ireland. Why should we not use potatoes in England for poultry, and compete with the Irish people ? I think we can grow far more in this country than we do at the present time. Mr. Albert H. Brain (Midland Federation of Feather and Fur Societies) : I should like to ask Miss Murphy whether the question of using lime instead of oyster shells has been considered ? Miss Murphy : You cannot get the hens to eat the lime. I have succeeded in getting good shells on the eggs by using calcined flint instead of oyster shells. That is the only substitute. When we could not obtain anything else we got sand from the seashore. Later on I found this to be a very good substitute. If they have been ac- customed to eating oyster shells, however^ they refuse the others. Miss Kinross (Board of Agriculture for Scotland) : We are using what is called carbonate of lime, which is obtained from lime works near. It contains carbonate of lime, and we find poultry eat it very well, and we use no other. I think it contains 80 per cent, of carbonate of lime, and we get it cheaply, about £2 per ton, in two- ton lots. The President : It is pretty easy assimilated. Miss Kinross : Yes. The President- Perhaps I might interpose to say, with regard to what Miss Murphy has stated, that those of you who live near the seashore have a great advMit- age in getting sea-sand and grit. In one district of California which I visited last May 1 was puzzled for a long time to discern any reason why they had done so well there while there were difficulties in the interior of California. I found the universal explana- tion, was that they were close to the seashore ; they brought wagon-loads of the sand from the seashore and covered the floors of their poultry houses with it. Of course, 48 you cannot do that unless you live near the sea, but those who are near the sea ftave great advantages in that respect. Miss Murphy : Yes, we covered the floors of the houses with sea-sand. Captain Peirson-Webber : Would there be no danger from the salt ? The President : Apparently not. I have never found it. Mr. Barron : I have had a little experience in putting sea-sand in my poultry houses. About two or three years ago I was at my wit's end to get anything to keep the house dry. I obtained a lot of sea-sand. The railway company brought it down from the seashore for me, which plan can be adopted in any part of England ; it does not cost much to procure, and the whole cost is railway company's carriage. It did not cost me very much ; my place is only about 20 miles away from the sea. Since I adopted the plan of sanding my poultry house floors — the salt in the sand may have something to do with it, acting as a deodoriser — I find the poultry have done much better. I used to sand all the bottom of the houses, and I do believe it is one of the best floors that we could possibly have for poultry houses. I generally fill in my floors in the dry weather. In the summer time I get six wagons of sand and cover the floors four to six inches deep in the houses, taking out the old sand each year, and renew yearly, so that it is practically a new floor. I much prefer this to any wooden, cement, or other kind of floor; it is a better floor, and the poultry do better in the sand. The floors of my houses are only wet in the winter time. I really believe that sea-sand, when it can be obtained, is of great benefit to poultry keepers, especi- ally for the floor of poultry houses. Mr. Van Gink : In some parts of Holland we have found the soil too wet to erect a house on. To better the situation I advise them to take up about one foot of ground and put in sea-sand, upon which the building is to be erected, and, in practice, that has already proved to be practically the only -way to solve the difficulty. The fowls then sleep every night o*a dry piece of ground. OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. By Miss MacQueen (Assistant-Director Women's Branch, Food Production Depart- ment, Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, England). It is with great diffidence that I approach this subject, realising that possibly I am the only person present who is not a poultry expert. I propose to deal with it from the point of view of a woman who is at present outside the industry but who would like to come into it. During the war we had large numbers of women doing some form of agricultural work who never attempted it before. In the Land Army alone we have had 16,000 women recruited from our larger towns who have left other employment to serve on the land. The numbers of local women who have come out to work have increased by 200,000. These numbers do not include women who have worked in their own gardens or allotments, the total of whom must be very considerable. Many of these women have acquired a liking for outdoor work and are very anxious to continue it in some form. In the Land Army about 7,000 have expressed such a desire. Our experience of the work of women during the war has shown clearly that they appear to be specially adapted to undertake the care of stock and young animals, and their success in this direction is very marked. The problem now is : how can some of these women be encouraged to start poultry-keeping and to what extent can they be of economic use to the country, and I shall be very glad to have the opinion of those present? Unfortunately we have nothing in English history which is parallel to poultry work by the women of Ireland. This is due very largely to a want of knowledge on 49 the subject, as well as want of organisation. In this country I have noticed that in those districts where instruction has been provided, interest has been very much stimulated. In my opinion the women who are likely to succeed in the poultry industry come under two headings : (a) The woman who prefers the commercial side or practical part and would always be a producer. (b) The woman who takes an interest in the work from other than a, solely business point of view and would prefer to teach or undertake research work. It is possible that more women of the second group will have to be trained before there can be sufficient assistance effectually to help the first group to develop themselves to the fullest advantage. In the first group may be included the woman who can produce in small quan- tities, i.e., the woman who has a garden or small piece of ground and whose efforts in poultry-keeping would be subsidiary to other work — the farmer's daughter, and the woman who enters the industry as a whole-time worker. Great assistance should be given to the small producer by the Women's Insti- tutes which are rapidly developing in this country. Up to the present moment there have been 919 of these institutes started and the number is increasing each week. The institutes could develop in two ways, either by encouraging each member who has sufficient ground to keep fowls, and then arranging some system for the supply of food, collection and disposal of produce, or the members could combine and run a co-operative poultry farm. In this latter case one of their number might possibly be appointed manager, or they could appoint some other skilled woman. The latter method is not likely to be so usual and it is to the small producer we shall probably be indebted for a great part of our future supplies. The institute should fill a great need by obtaining instruction and expert advice when needed for their members. The poultry industry probably offers more chance of success to the farmer's daughter than to any other class of woman ; in her case the difficulties of obtaining land and casual labour will be much minimised. She could be advised to seriously consider this branch of work, taking care, however, to equip herself thoroughly before starting by having a good training in the work and in business methods. The woman who is not a farmer's daughter, and who comes into the industry intending to make a commercial success, has a much more serious problem to face. She must be thoroughly equipped as regards knowledge, experience and capital. She must carefully consider what particular branch of work she will undertake and make her plans accordingly. She will be faced with the difficulty of not always being able to obtain land exactly where she desires. It is probable that this class of woman will have more success by becoming a specialist in one or other branch, such as breeding, hatching or egg-production. In any case she must take precaution to have supplies of all necessaries and disposal of produce well arranged, and not to start on a larger scale than her capital will justify. The want of success in the past of many poultry-keepers has been due to three things — lack of knowledge, lack of business method and lack of capital. For those women who have insufficient capital to start on their own account, but who have had training and experience, there will be a certain number of openings to start as workers or managers for others. Training for all classes of women at the moment is very limited and a great increase in this direction is urgently needed. The problem is especially difficult for the town woman who is eager to take up this work, but who has no capital and is not able to obtain the advantages sometimes open to the rural dweller. The woman who desires to take up poultry-keeping as a profession is in the minority, but there is and always will be a somewhat limited opening in this direction. In this case training must cover a longer period. She requires, in addition to college or school training, considerably varied experience, and a woman who has D 50 had this experience probably extending over two or three years should be able to command a salary which would justify the expenditure of time, energy and money. At the present moment the salaries which are offered are quite inadequate, a"" '* 's essential that these should be much increased if the type of woman who ip likely to make a success is either to be secured for, or to be retained in, the profession. Miss Balfour (Poultry Research Society) : I would like to ask Miss MacQueen if she found in the Land Army that girls who had previously been on the land —farmers' daughters and such like— predominated, or whether it was the class of girl wFio had not worked on the land at all ? Miss MacQueen : In the Land Army I think we have very few farmers' daughters. The farmer's daughter was already considered to be doing very good work at home. We have a few cases of farmers' daughters, but the bulk of the Land Army are women of the industrial class and from the industrial towns. We had a fair propor- tion of educated women, who had probably other occupations, but the bulk of them belonged to the industrial class. They came from every form of industry; we have a number of domestic servants ; we have women who have worked in mills and in shops. In fact, I do not think there is one industry from which we have not had a certain number of women. Mr. Stanley Street : I have listened with very great interest to the remarks of Miss MacQueen with regard to the future possibilities of women in this country, who have engaged in land work, taking up the Poultry Industry. I think we must all of us admit that the Poultry Industry in this country has failed as an industry through lack of organisation. That has been brought home to us from the addresses we listened to yesterday from Mr. A'an Gink and to-day from Miss Murphy, which show what organisation has done in Holland and in Ireland. It is the very lack of that organisation and instruction in this country that has always kept this industry back, and I do feel that the women of this country who have during this war proved to all of us a revelation of what they can do — those women, if properly trained, would probably do more to organise the work of the poultry industry in this country than mere man could do, partly for this reason — if a woman has brains and ambition, she puts very often more energy and force into her work than many men do. Miss MacQueen has mentioned one or two classes. She mentioned the farmer's daughter. I think those who are acquainted with the country will agree that the greatest delinquent in the poultry industry to-day is the farmer. We, in this room, are all more or less professional poultry keepers, and we keep our poultry and run our business on business lines. I have often heard a farmer say: " Oh! bother the old hen; every egg costs me 2d., and I only get Id." I say: " I believe it does; but if you had paid the same attention to the other stock on your farm as you paid to poultry you would have been bankrupt years ago. You are particular about the breed- ing of your stock or horses ; you run them on business lines and pay attention to the breeding, but what about your poultry?" There is no poultry keeper in the country who should be better able to produce poultry and eggs at a profit than the farmer, and if we can educate the farmer through the farmer's wife and the farmer's daughter, to breed a better class of stock and give more attention to the breeding of that stock, I feel that the poultry industry in this country will have one of the greatest starts towards success. The farmer's wife and the farmer's daughter must be in- duced to take interest. They have the land, they have the help where they need it, and they can produce poultry and eggs better than anyone else. Then there is the girl who wants to take up that profession, and who must of n_ecessity go to a good training centre, not only to learn the theoretical part of the business— which itself is good, but alone is useless— she must have the practical experience, and she must go through the course that will make a good business woman of her, apart from the knowledge of poultry. Centres must be provided for that class. Then there is the other class of girl who might possibly think of taking up the industry on her own without any previous experience. Now I would like to say this, that anybody, man or woman, who think they can take a small piece of land, if they 51 have a little capital, and start poultry keeping and make a living out of it, without any knowledge of the country, is doing something which is absolutely disastrous. There is no doubt that any amount of professional people in this country who have re- tired from business have sunk their capital and lost it all. I would not advise anyone to attempt poultry keeping unless they have a thorough practical knowledge of the subject. As to how to get that, I would say the best possible course for girls of that kind is not to go to a college, but to go to a good practical poultry farm and do actual work. That is the only way that anybody can get the practical side of the business, and there is no need for a woman who is taking up poultry farming commercially to go to any other centre than an up to-date poultry farm, where they go round every morning and learn every phase of the duties. With regard to the period of training, I should advise not less than three months ; but should prefer six. Provided she has a liking for that subject, and has lived on a poultry farm, I feel sure she can, if she has sufficient capital — I emphasise that — carry on poultry-keeping and get a living; I do not say she will make a fortune, but she will be able to obtain a living, and have an occupation that will give her pleasure and profit. A Delegate : May I ask Miss MacQueen whether she has any instance of a woman who is working on the land being allocated solely to poultry-keeping? I ask that question for this reason : The English farmer neglects his poultry manage- ment to a scandal almost, and the Irish farmer is worse than him. If he treated his cattle and poultry in the same way, he would, as Mr. Street has said, very soon become bankrupt. Miss MacQuEEN : I do not think we have ever had an instance of that descrip- tion sent to Headquarters. I know occasionally they have been asked to help with the poultry, but generally in connection with marketing. Miss Kinross : I have a Land Army girl under me as my poultry assistant, who does nothing else but look after poultry. Captain Peirson-Webber : I appreciate the work of the woman on the land with poultry. Mr. Philip Bury, of Weston-cum-Welland, has 500 hens, and he has a wonderful woman who has been with him three years, who performs the whole of the duties of management. The eggs all go to one market, which means great saving of labour. She does the whole duty and rears 1,000 chickens. Miss Balfour : Can anyone tell me if there is a Poultry Farm in this country, which is run on really commercial lines, that would take paying pupils? The President : I think you had better ask Miss MacQueen privately. We are not here to advertise ourselves or anybody else. (Laughter.) Miss Edwards : With regard to what someone said about the starting of girls who wish to take up poultry-keeping as a business, I think the mistake often made is that they go in for a large undertaking. They ought to start in a small way, and grow, and keep on growing. Of course, many women are not possessed of the capabilities. I think that is why many of them have failed. When they start they do not look upon it in the same light as they would many things. It does not seem to them a business at all, but they must go in for it on the same lines as any other business in order to succeed. Miss Maidment : I rise to say a few words with great diffidence, as I came here as a visitor. It might be of advantage if I pointed out the lack of Government encouragement given in the past to Local Authorities who wish to start poultry- keeping or instruction in poultry-keeping. It is a great many years ago since I was extremely anxious to take up this work, and I found the only school for instruction in this subject was in France, and I had to go to France to gain instruc tion. I went to the only school, I believe, in existence in any country at that time, and visited a very large number of commercial centres and others in France. The one thing that struck me most there was the success of the small poultry-keepers. I found that there many women made a living entirely from the produce of twenty- five or thirty hens in which they specialised^ some kept them for egg production d3. 52 and some for the production of the very best poultry for table purposes; they sent them to the market and got as much as 25 francs per bird in many cases. Those birds were laboriously crammed and fattened by hand. After that I went to America and studied the industry there. It was not nearly so advanced as it is at the present lime. I think you will all remember the time when there was very great interest taken in this country in intensive methods. I then did a round of nearly all the Poultry Farms in this country, where I could see poultry-keeping on a large scale. One of the most interesting houses I saw in this country was in Suffolk. There I saw 300 hens in a laying house. I was informed it was quite possible, and I think so myself, to make £300 a year from that house alone. What I want to point out is this, that at the moment the poultry industry in this country is just beginning for women. There are a very, very large number of women who have taken a great interest in agriculture and in the land during the war who would never have thought of doing so before. The great drawback to poultry-keeping in the past has been ttiat it has been taken up by a few people, who had money and brains, who made a great success. A large number of people take up poultry-keeping casually, such as the farmers ; the farmer's wife looks upon the money obtained for the produce of poultry as pin-money, but I go a step further and say it often pays more than one realises. Yet it is not done on business lines. The farmer's wife takes the money, and the farmer grumbles. He says: " My wife and daughter have all the money for the produce of the fX)ultry, and do not give me anything for the food which I supply." Now, the farmer often forgets the farmer's wife does her share, inasmuch as she pays for the education of the children and her clothes. There are three classes of poultry-farming. The intensive or the back-door system opens up a very great field for people in industrial districts to keep six or twelve pullets. Someone says you can make as much profit from six or twelve hens as from one cow. Certainly you can make a good profit from six or twelve hens kept on intensive methods, if properly kept and managed. Then we come to the smallholder. One smallholder told me that in pre-war days he could make £1 a head profit from the birds he kept. Next are people with gardens and allotments. During the war a great number of allotments have been started. In my own county in tiie North of England, Durham, I think we have something like 25,000 allotments. That opens a very large field for all these people, because they can half-feed their birds from the produce of the allotment, and the birds will return valuable manure. I think there is a great opportunity for farmers to pay attention to the breeding of utility stock. That is what I should like to see, our farmers and farmers' wives educated to take up poultry-keeping as a business. There are many lanes open to the farmer, not only to provide eggs for breeding purposes, but also pullets. To my mind, a great deal more instruction is needed in this country. To begin with, you want a National Poultry Institute, I am afraid I cannot agree with the speaker who advised people to go entirely to a farm run on commercial lines. I tjiink that is very useful, but a State College for instruction in agriculture would be preferable. If I want to know something myself I have to go round about until I happen to find somebody who knows it. Then we want in every county a Training Centre. I am afraid that time does not permit me to tell you what I have done myself. Putting it shortlv, we were only doing theoretical work— we were turned out of our buildings at the beginning of the War— and with £300 capital that was allowed us by the Educational Authorities last year we had a turnover of £500. During that time the students carried out every branch of poultry-keeping. The great difficulty is to do it on strictly business lines. We have shown them how to breed utility stock and taught them several other thmgs. The result has been that' we have at least 20 or 30 very good farms now running m the county of Durham ; we have started a large number of stations, and one of my best students is doing so well that she has a large farm in the county and 53 refuses to run a Board of Agriculture station any longer, as she says she can get much higher prices for her produce. I really think that if Miss MacQueen could pre- vail on the Government to give local authorities more help in connection with this work her time would not be wasted. In conclusion, I should like to thank Mr. Brown very much indeed for the interest he has taken in the matter. Miss Kinross : At the West of Scotland Agricultural College, Kilmarnock, the principal business is the training of girls to prepare them for becoming instructors, although .ve train other classes as well. It may perhaps interest you to know the training given at Kilmarnock. We provide four years' training in poultry keeping; not all at one time, because the students usually take dairy training as well. The whole course of dairying and poultry keeping extends over a period of three years. In that time we have two winter courses at a recognised college and on farms. Our training consists of four years devoted to poultry keeping, which actually is not sufficient to train the girls thoroughly as instructors. What we would like to see, in combination with this training, would be at least six months spent on a commercial farm. The difficulty is in getting poultry farmers to combine with us. There seems to be a prejudice against having these girls on the farms ; I do not know why, because I think the class of girl we have would be quite willing to engage in any class of work that might be allotted to them on the farms. That gives you a general idea of the poultry training. Something was said with regard to salary. The salary paid to these instructors works out very much on the same lines as in Ireland. The instructors begin at £70 a year, rising by annual increments of £5 or £10 until it reaches £100, and in addi- tion they are paid 25s. weekly towards their maintenance for about 44 weeks, because they are not paid for holidays. That makes £125 a year, rising to £155. This salary at the present time is inadequate, considering the cost of board and lodg- ing in the country, and for the instructors we would like to see increases in salaries paid for good work, because until that is the case we cannot expect suitable people to take it. In Scotland all the teaching is done by women, because, as doubtless some of you may know, the bulk of the poultry on the farms is looked after by women — the farmers' wives, more so than by daughters; the daughters seem to have some particu- lar prejudice against undertaking poultry work on the farm. I think they prefer to have visits from women on this account, to see what they are doing and to give them advice. Many of our farmers' wives are exceedingly good poultry-keepers, and make an excellent return from poultry. Miss Maidment said that some farmers' wives or farmers became station holders. This is the case in Scotland also, and I may say, with regard to these poultry stations in Scotland, that very few of the original poultry keepers are station holders, because they find that so soon as they become known they can make more on their own. Few of the original station holders are now in existence. Apart from that^ there are always one or two, and I should say in most counties three or four poultry stations. I cannot give you the exact figures of the number in each county. These all seem to do very well with poultry. As you know, the farmers' daughters come to us to train as instructors. That is all very good in its way, but I am always telling these girls that they would make a better salary at home than as instructors. They say, " Our parents give us no en- couragement; they will not provide us with a poultry house." I say, " You must have a little money of your own. Supposing you spend £20 on a portable house, even in a very small way; in a short time you would be able to expand, and thus you might do it on your own, quite independent of your parents." There is a great deal of prejudice in this way, particularly in Scotland, because people are so well off — ■ they make so much money by other classes of stock that they are inclined to look down on poultry on the farm, so it is left entirely to the women. I can give you one instance of a farmer's daughter who came to us in 1916 for a little training; she did not come with a view to becoming an instructress at all, but merely for training. She started in 1916 with one poultry house, which cost her about £10 at that time. She made in the first year about £22, when she increased her plant and added one or 54 two houses. I forget, for the moment, what she made in 1917, but in 1918 she sent me her balance sheet, properly drawn out, from which it was shown that she realised £150 clear profit. That was in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. She sold at Edin- burgh market prices. The way the food was paid for was : she supplied all the eggs and poultry to the house, which were valued at something like £54. That was a. farm paying pretty well for the food. She has done so well that she has actually con- vinced her father, and has succeeded in convincing neighbours, which is more important, and on the strength of her good profit she has spent £77 on a new house ready for pullets. In Scotland I certainly think we could do with one or two, or even four, training centres, auxiliary to the central farm. That at Kilmarnock is quite inadequate to deal with the complete training of all the students. Any woman starting in a small way should let her profits year by year be devoted to the extension of a poultry farm. I should say in about three years the enterprise would be paying well. Miss Xewbiggen : I do not think I have much to add to what Miss Kinross has told us. Kilmarnock is the only college where there is poultry training in Scotland. In the East we have none. As far as instructors go, I think the outlook is very poor. As Miss Kinross says, the salary is quite inadequate, and a woman is far better off to stay at home than go out as an instructor. There are not many poultry farms in Scot- land that offer facilities for training. For those who wish to start for themselves, the great difficulty is to get land, and at present, when a great many of the available small holdings are set aside for disabled sailors and soldiers, the individual who has no other recommendation except that she wants to make a living, has great difficulty in securing land. I know several farmers in the East who are doing very well with their poultry. One particular case on the borders of Scotland may be mentioned. A good many years ago I visited the farm — they then kept a few hens. The farm stood 2,000 feet above sea level, in a very cold and exposed position. I told the woman I thought she ought to give up her hens as the temperature was much too cold to rear them with success. Six years later I went back, and found she had then 7,000 to 8,000 birds. Her husband told me that he considered his poultry brought in as good a return as any of his other kind of stock; and I know many parts of Scotland where the general farmer is taking up poultry and doing very well. Miss MacOueen : One gentleman referred to the great lack of organisation in regard to poultrj keeping. Miss Maidment mentioned that we wanted more instruc- tion. I would like to ask that gentleman, if we want more organisation, whether he thinks that might be given if the local Education Authorities had more money to spend on education; and if we want more organisation, on what lines would he sug- gest it should be worked ? Mr. Street : I am thoroughly in accord with Miss MacQueen, and also with Miss Maidment, in saying that the best possible means by which we can educate people to the value of the Poultry Industry in this country, make it a success for them com- mercially, and also from the standpoint of being what it should be, one of the most important industries in the country, is to induce the Government to increase their grants to Local Authorities. We must, however, have a National Poultry Insti- tute—a training centre in the first place— and also an Institute for Research and Experimental Work. I think if we had such an institute, where the teachers could be thoroughly trained in every branch of the work, and we got the Government to give more facilities to the Education Departments of Countv Councils, and that each county should have, according to its size, one or two thoroughly competent instructors, then we should be getting to the bottom of the question. I see no reason why there should be any difficulty beyond that, if we can onlv get that instruction in each county. Lecturers should be trained and sent throughout the villages in the country to educate the people. Whether these instructors should be men or women, it is not for me to say. Mrs. Fawkes : I think the Women's Institutes would be a very valuable way of reachmg women in this country. I have been very much interested in Women's 55 Institutes in Hampshire. I am sure that great organisation lies at hand ready for the Poultry Industry, to teach the farmers' wives and daughters how to keep the birds profitably. Miss Murphy : A speaicer asked where were the farms to which these people could be sent. Personally, I know by repute most of the best farms in England. Very few of them are willing to take pupils. Perhaps this story may partly supply the reason. The other day we had a very bad storm and two gates blew open. The two gates \sere on opposite sides of a long lane. In one pen we had half-a-dozen Leghorns and in another pen half-a-dozen special White Wyandottes. A girl who had come as a pupil, in closing the gates locked a White Leghorn cockerel into the White Wyandottes' pen, and when I spoke to her she did not know she had done wrong. That is what the poultry-farmer objects to. He cannot have a careless pupil on his farm. The training of a pupil must be done at a college. When they have had a year at a college then the commercial farmer may be willing to take them because they have learnt some sense. I have had fourteen years' experience of training pupils in a school, and I need not tell you the things they do. I do not say all the pupils are careless, because they are not, but you cannot expect a young and inexperienced girl to have the same understanding as a teacher who has spent the whole of her life at the work. Of course, I know some farmers take pupils as a means of making money, but they are beginners ; the experienced people who are willing to take pupils are very few. Young girls have said to me, " Where can I go for experience? " There are few places open to them. I do not agree that the teachers should be trained other than by the State ; the cost of the damage they do should be borne by the State, and not by the individual. The first thing to do in the Poultry Industry is to train your teachers, and when you Ijave a sufficient supply then you can train the pupils. THE CONTRIBUTION OF EXHIBITIONS TO THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. By Mr. William Clarke (The Poultry Club, England). Mr. William Clarke: Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, it will be very readily granted to me that I have undertaken somewhat of a task. When I came into this room I did not know that I should have to stand on this platform. As you know, Mr. Chas. D. Cleveland has not been able to attend, which we all regret. The more I think of this Conference, and from my experience of the last two years, I am convinced that something should be said on the Exhibition side of the Poultry Industry. The President, in his opening remarks this morning, said he was anxious that something should be said' on this subject, because of cleavage between the fancy and utility. A cleavage means that there are two sides; in cleaving a piece of wood you make two of it. I maintain that the Poultry Industry in all its phases is one. Therefore the President's plea for unity is what is at the bottom of my heart. I have been attending meetings these last two years, and have not been much encouraged, even at this Conference, by what has been said about the industry. • It has certainly been all one-sided. The first meeting that I attended at a Government Office was at the invitation of Lord Crawford and Balcarres. I left laughing atthe wisdom of some of the men who spoke. I will not say they were exactly " wind- bags," but some had a very great amount of feeling of their own importance. They were scoffing at the fancy side of the industry, and when once it was mentioned one man's anger arose. Pooh ! It was to be scouted, turned out. Why I laughed was this : I thought that while that man and his neighbour were scoffing about a 2d. egg there was a man sitting in that room that morning who had sold six birds at £20 each. Is that industry? Yes, Sir; that is part of the Poultry Industry, and 56 another sida to the question. Since that first meeting I have attended other meetings, and I am reminded of the progress that has been made by a remarli by someone in this Conference to the efl'ect that the Poultry Industry was just in its infancy. I am sure the President will excuse me this personal praise, but it' has not been recorded— and I do not think it ever will be recorded — the contribution to the benefit of the industry that has been made by our President. I have known him a number of years, and he has known me by name and by sight ; we have worked together, and there have been other men who have taken up the industry who have laboured hard. The Poultry Industry is still in its infancy, and I am reminded of that when I remember the Government meetings that I have attended, and the gross ignorance that I have seen exhibited by officials, how they had to be informed on some of the simplest questions. But we are growing, we have life, the industry has life. As we are talking of chickens, we might compare ourselves to a lot of chickens running about, all making one family. All we want is banding together. Lord Crawford, in his remarks to us at that first meeting, urged that we should try to be united, and come to him as one body. Well, some of us would ardently like that. Just here I cannot say all I feel; some of us have been working hard and longing sincerely for unity of certain elements, but the matter is standing in abeyance and I am afraid it will not be brought about just yet. What we do want is to gather all the strings together, forming a strong force for teaching the Government, and to claim from the Government that assistance which the industry does require. The war has taught us something. Previously the hen and the egg were reckoned as nothing. But the war has shown that the hen and the egg are something. Now with regard to the subject that Mr. Cleveland was to speak on : what contribution has the fancy side rendered to'the industry generally ? I have already given you un indication of what it has done financially by the statement of my friend Awho sold the six birds. I have no doubt that if many others in that room had known it they would have wished that their side of the industry paid as well as his. Our foreign friends— and I am very glad to be associated in this Conference with them — may be interested to know that we do hold in this country some very large Exhibitions. Previous to the war we had our great Crystal Palace Show, and at that Show there were over 11,000 exhibits — ^poultry, pigeons, and rabbits. I think I am right in mentioning these figures. Please give me a little latitude and not criticise me too keenly, because I am speaking more by memory — in the last Crystal Palace Show there were over 4,000 exhibits of poultry from the British Isles, besides a number from abroad, which we have always made welcome, and are always glad to see, and which have been a source of great interest to those who were present at the various international exhibitions that we have held. I was judging the Leghorns one year — a breed that I am very greatly interested in. A certain exhibit of three cockerels snd three hens took my fancy and they won well. When I looked at the catalogue I found they had come from Holland; they were not English at all. Yes; they came trcm Holland, and were Cuckoo Leghorns. We call them Cuckoo Leghorns. They won, and we wish, when the International is held again, our friends from across the water will send us more exhibits, and compete with us. If it can be done once it can be done again. We have these various Shows in different parts of the country, and in London — although in London we have only back yards— yet we have about forty Societies that all hold their annual Shows, and ■wherever funds can be raised those Shows are made open to all England. By this means interest is aroused in the working man, interest is aroused in the visitor, who thinks he would like to keep some of these fowls; the hens he has purchased lay eggs, and so he takes a fancy to poultry-keeping. That is one instalment of the industry— a very little one, but of very great importance, because in this City of ours we have over 3,000 men and women who are members of recognised Poultry Societies ; all these keep poultry in their back yards and produce eggs for the family and for the neighbours; a lot have been sent to the hospitals and to the sick soldiers; 57 so that is a great contribution to the industry. These Exhibitions excite interest and induce people to become interested in the bird and in the egg. Then these small societies hold their monthly meetings for educational purposes. I think there are very few corners in London to which I have not gone and tried to do a little educational work; beyond the real pleasure I get nothing, and I do not want it. jt was always a pleasure to attend these little societies where 30, 40 or 50 men are gathered together, to educate them, as far as 1 can, with regard to back-yard poultry-keeping. The social intercourse that is engendered and the friendly rivalry ■when one begins to keep birds — one thinks his bird is better than someone else's and these are pitied together — is really beneficient. When men have started this and Have got the fever they go on, and it turns out, in many cases, a financial success to a large number. What I am grieved to find is the antipathy — I hardly know how to put it — but one side claiming to be the industry, and crushing and pushing the other out. My opinion is this, that without the fancy at first you would not have had the material to work on that you have to-day. My memory goes back to the time when I kept the Orpington. Now the Orpington has been a useful bird, and is to-day in many yards ; in some it is spoiled. I remember the Orpington when it was first produced by the late William Cook, and what funny birds we Bad — coloured feathers, yellow legs, feathered legs, various types ; but the fancy took the Orpington up and made it into the bird that it became. Then my memory goes back to the proud White Leghorn. I believe it was in 1885 — speaking from memory, I may be wrong to a year or two — that Leghorns were first produced and exhibited at the Crystal Palace Show. What were they ? They were called White Leghorns, but they were yellow; some weighed 2 lb., 2^ lb., poor little things. The fancy took the White Leghorn and made it what it is. I urge those who are going in for eggs not to kill it, for there is as much faddism in going in for eggs and eggs only as there is in breeding for fancy and fancy alone. I have seen laying competitions at some of Ihese farms. I was down at Bentley last summer, and saw some birds that were called Leghorns. I could not tell what they were. They might lay eggs, but they will run themselves out, they have not the stamina they ought to possess. A gentleman who read a paper at this Conference said to me yesterday: " Clarke, my Leghorns have got too small; tell me where I can get some good stuff to increase the size." Be careful, you faddists in egg- production, and do not go to the extremes to which others have gone. I have very little further to say; only one more reference to our Chairman. I am not aware whether Miss Murphy knows it or not, but Ireland has a lot to thank Mr. Brown for in regard to the fancy supplying the material for the good stock. More than 30 years ago Mr. Brown worked hard and begged the fanciers to send over birds to Ireland to improve their stock. The fancy side has helped the industry, and is a strong force still to-day in the industry. LAYING COMPETITIONS AS CONTRIBUTORY TO EXTENSION OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. By Mr. J. N. Leigh (Manager, Laying Competition, Dodnash Priory Farm, Bentley, Suffolk, England). Small Beginnings. — It is no exaggeration to say that the influence of egg-laying competitions has been one of the most compelling forces in the remarkable develop- ment of the poultry industry which had been in progress during a decade or more before the war, and which it is our present endeavour to revive, reconstruct, and extend. It is the widespread public interest in these tests that has so largely provided the impetus that was needed to put the hen in her proper place in the general scheme of economic food production. Yet when we look back to the time of those to whom 58 we owe the first inspiration, whose idea it was that led to the first competition, we realise that it is inconceivable that they could have imagined they were starting a movement that was destined to have such far-reaching results. It is, of course, generally known that the Utility Poultry Club (the original of the two forerunners of the existing National Utility Poultry Society) promoted the first competition held in this or any other country, and that the credit for the concep- tion of the idea is due to Mr. Holmes Tarn, one of the founders of the Club. It was but an insignificant little affair, that first egg-laying competition, which commenced in the autumn of 1897, comprising, as it did, no more than seven entries of four pullets each, and only ran for the short period of sixteen weeks. During the next few years the progress was slow, the entries increasing to twelve in 1898, to sixteen in 1899, and to twenty in the two succeeding competitions. It was not until White Wyandottes jumped to the top of the records in the 1902-3 competi- tion, and by the evidence of their egg-laying capabilities attracted considerable public attention, that the needful lasting impetus was given to the competitions. The Present Position.— Passing from those early days to the present time, the altered status of laying competitions may be indicated briefly by the statement that, as regards this coiintry alone, there are at the present time very nearly 3,000 birds undergoing egg-laying tests, as compared with the little less than thirty birds in the first competition promoted in 1897. The progress has been gradual, but it has been sure, and the method of making these systematic tests of laying capabilities (and observations on the many extremely valuable and interesting side issues that are involved) has become firmly established not only in England, but in Ireland, in the British Dominions, and in the United States of America. So far as we in England are concerned, our progress has been, until recently, wholly unaided by State support, and that which has been accorded latterly has been very inadequate in relation to the requirements and the extremely important economic bearing o* the tests. Elsewhere State recognition and support has been given with greater promptitude and a liberality more commensurate with the aims. Nevertheless we are not without hope that the industry will receive greater Government consideration in the future, and that in the schemes of reconstruction and development provision will be made for a more practical encouragement of tests that are calculated to confer considerable benefits upon those who are to be settled on the land, as well as all others who look to poultry to contribute generously and economically to the food supply of the nation. The Two-Fold Benefit. — In estimating the value of the benefits conferred by laying competitions, we find that they fall naturally and obviously into two cate- gories — viz., (1) The benefit to the owner of the competing pens of birds; and (2) the benefit to the Poultry Industry as a whole. Of these, the first was evidently the original, as it has largely continued to be, the impelling force that has sustained and increased the entries; the recognition of the more general benefit having been an inevitable consequence, the full value of which was not, however, so evident earlier in the history of the competitions as it has been latterly. So far as the competitor or owner of the competing birds is concerned, the competition pen stands to him in the same relation that the show pen does to the breeder of exhibition strains. Without some method of public and authoritative com- parison both would be thrown back upon their own unsupported statements regarding the excellence of their strains. But with the records and awards, made m public tests under duly recognised and authorised rules and regulations, the breeder of a strain of egg-laying fowls secures that authentication of his claims that sets the seal to his success as a breeder, and is as essential from a business point of view as is the winning of a cup at the Dairy Show or Crystal Palace to the man whose aim it is to breed and sell fowls bred to fancy types. .After all, however, regarding the matter from a broader point of view, the spirit of emulation which induces breeders to enter their birds in these tests, is in effect a means to an end — and a more important aim than the more or less direct commercial success of any given individual. 59 The main benefit is tiiat which laying competitions confer upon the Poultry Industry and the bigger public as a whole. In this respect it may be observed that the effect is no more limited to the Poultry Industry, as such, than it is to the indi- vidual competitors; it is far more widespread, inasmuch as it affects the great bulk of consumers who benefit to the extent of the increase in the output, and the levelfing up of quality as well as quantity, so that as a matter of fact the whole nation par- ticipates in the benefits. However, to return to the industry (having recognised the fact that the benefits are not bounded by its confines), laying competitions lead the way in progress for all poultry-keepers, big and small, not only as regards the actual material results achieved with given strains and birds, but as an educational force which has already revolutionised poultry-keeping and placed it on a sound remunerative basis. Laying competitions serve to set a standard and to provide an incentive and stimulus, and although no one would claim that they have themselves yet reached a standard of perfection, we must admit that it is mainly due to their influence that utility stock has been so generally improved throughout the country, and that better methods of feeding, housing, and general management are so much more general as compared with the pre-competition period. The spirit of emulation that has been thus diffused has caused thousands of poultry-keepers throughout the length and breadth of the land (men and women who have never themselves entered birds in a test) to study methods and endeavour to produce fowls of high fecundity. The cumulative effect of so much concentration can only be guessed at ; it cannot be estimated with any approach to exactitude, but we see in every direction the evidence of the influence of the testing pen. That there have been many mistakes and failures is inevitable, but that there has been a general progressive average levelling up cannot be gainsaid. The Benefit of Demonstration. — In connection with the educational aspect of any practical subject there is nothing like demonstration, and it is possible in the conduct of a laying competition to point out clearly, as well as to prove with some approximation to certainty, what can be done. An opportunity is afforded for the demonstration of up-to-date methods in every department of management. Houses of different types are tested, and their ad- vantages and disadvantages clearly shown. Systems of feeding are tried and the results made generally available. The value of the various feeding stuffs, and their influence upon egg production, becomes common knowledge, and so on and so forth. In all such connections laying competitions provide the opportunities that are required to make all kinds of investigations relative to the factors that affect pro- lificacy, to demonstrate and press home the lessons that result so that they will be understood by the ordinary average poultry-keeper. It must not be forgotten that laying competitions provide a most valuable object lesson in type, in which respect it is again, to some extent, comparable to the fancier's exhibition. Within the limits of a present-day test are gathered together the pick of the best laying strains in the country, thus affording a unique opportunity for those who wish to learn such lessons as are possible by the comparison of types. Here I may mention, perhaps, a direction in which the general utility of the trials may be extended — viz., by the testing, on the part of the management, of, for example, such a system of selection as the Hogan — which is now attracting a con- siderable amount of attention. Is this system reliable, or is it not ? The answer to this and similar questions may be given by tests and observations made in connection with laying competitions. But so many similar possibilities arise from the opportunities that they readily present themselves to the mind of any investigator, and need no further present elaboration. Dangers and Abuses. — Having briefly indicated some of the benefits, it is neces- sary to make reference to the dangers and abuses involved, to which we must not allow our complacence to blind us. If the benefits are to be of any permanent value, 60 and the demonstration of methods is to set the best possible standard for the edification and emulation of poultry-keepers generally, it is of primary and vital importance seriously to consider other factors additional to that of the mere number of eggs produced. We must remember that whilst high fecundity is necessarily a chief aim, it is dependent for its lasting value upon the maintenance of vigour, stamina, and all that goes to make constitutional fitness generally. Without constitutional fitness the progress of a strain, and the value of its egg-producing qualities, will be uncertain — tending to degeneracy — and the labour of the breeder, as well as of those who control the competitions, will be in vain. Perhaps the most serious danger on this side of the question is the undoubted tendency to sacrifice the size of the egg for its multiplication. Every endeavour should be made to counteract and discourage this craze for mere numbers at the expense of size, and it is essential so to frame (and, when necessary, to tighten up) rules for its avoidance. This is a very serious aspect of the subject, and one that I feel very strongly the need of emphasising very frankly and fully, in view of the teaching of the records and as the result of long practical experience and close and careful observation. We have to keep before us all the time the fact that one of the aims of laying competition schemes has been to level up the average size of eggs, as well as the average prolificacy of stock. When we find that our efforts in the latter direction are producing the desired results as regards increased number with a corresponding loss in respect of size, it is time to call a halt and to correct and modify our methods accordingly. The birds that produce undersized eggs are a constant drain on the poultry- keeper, and their elimination must be undertaken firmly and without hesitation, in the general interest of the industry as a whole — as well as of the consumer. This is a matter which very materially affects the producers' success in the market. The object of the laying competitions is not to fill up records regardless of commercial requirements and the educational side of the work. A further point to which I would direct particular attention is the condition of the birds at the end of the test, because although this is part of the general considera- tion of constitutional fitness, it concerns also, and especially, the methods of manage- ment during the course of the test. We must ask ourselves whether the birds are sound and healthy at the end of their year's trial. If they are not, and the cause is traceable to the methods of management, then harm has resulted, rather than good. To decide this question it is, in my opinion, desirable to devise some system under which the condition of the competing birds may be judged at the conclusion of a test. Good Average Conditions. — This brings me to the point where I would empha- size the extreme importance of making the conditions under which the birds are tested as representative as possible of the good average conditions that obtain on any well-conducted farm. There is, among some sections of the public, considerable misconception on this point. The comment is apt to be made that the results published have been obtained by the exercise of artificial means. This has to be refuted, and our methods must be strictly examined and, where necessary, modified, so that no ground for such misunderstanding may remain. This is, of course, essential also to the practical utility of our teaching. We must combat any tendency to make the conditions, whether of housing, feed- ing, or what not, too favourable. We must set ourselves to show what is possible under good average commercial conditions. There must be nothing abnormal in our methods. We must, above all, limit our range of feeding stuffs to those generally obtainable by the ordinary poultry-keeper, and, in this connection, I propose the further step of setting up in advance of a test the list of foods to be employed and the manner of preparing and feeding them. This will give the competing owners the opportunity of adjusting their rearing methods with a view to continuity in the system of feeding. In these and all other 61 conditions we must frame our methods with a view to the benefit of the industry, and not merely for the gain of the competitors. Competiticms, Tests, or Trials'? — Although during the course of my remarks I have freely used the word which has become so commonly bound up with the history of the subject, I would suggest, in conclusion, that the time has come for the final elimination of " competition " from our vocabulary in this connection. Whilst we should seek to maintain a healthy spirit of emulation, or friendly rivalry, we have to bear in mind the fact that our object is to make trials and tests, to discover and demonstrate how the maximum number of marketable eggs may be produced. We have to counteract the suggestion that we seek to encourage the production of mere numbers by competitive means. A little reflection is sufficient to a realisation of the difference in the ideas that underlie the terms " Competition" and "Test," or " Trial." There is the further, and final, suggestion that we should be careful to avoid, in appearance and in fact, any suspicion of competition between tests made under different controls. It is as undesirable as it is unnecessary for those of us who have to do with the management side of tests to enter into competition among ourselves. The interests of the industry are all in the other direction, and I do very earnestly suggest that the competitive idea as commonly understood (from whatever point of view) be eliminated, and that we concentrate our energies, on the holding of practical tests for the common good. Mr. Van Gink: Could we have any support from the British and Irish breeders; if we had a laying competition in Holland, would they send birds over there? Mr. Leigh : Yes. Mr. Tom Barron : I should be pleased, as far as I am concerned, to send a pen of birds anywhere. The spirit in which I took up sending birds away for competitions has been explained by Mr. Leigh. I did it in a competitive spirit ; I wanted to do it ; I wanted to beat somebody else, exactly the same as the exhibitors do at the shows'. I think it is quite time the country took up this kind of thing at Government Experi- mental Stations. The Government ought to set up proper experimental stations and test different ways and means whereby we can gain certain knowledge, because in poultry breeding a tremendous amount of things crop up, and it is absolutely impossible for the private individual to do anything, it is too expensive; you wouW never expect a private individual to go and experiment and spend a lot of money where the Government ought to do it. I think the Board of Agriculture ought to press more and more for Government Experimental Stations in various parts of the country. As far as I am concerned, I like these stations; I think they ought to be North, South, East, and West; they ought not to set them up in the centre of England only. A vast amount of good work could be done at these stations. I quite agree with Mr. Leigh ; I am a competitor, and there are some things I think we are carrying to excess, as well as are others. I am going to speak out. We do say things against each other sometimes in heat, but surely the utility man and the exhibition man can agree. You will never combine the two things together. You must have both sides. If you breed a bird for unproductivity, a bird for feather, a bird for beauty to look at, and breed another bird for work, for egg production, you cannot combine the two things, otherwise' you will get nowhere. Plenty of people differ from me in this respect. I believe a well-bred utility bird is as beautiful as any exhi- bition bird. What we ought to do, I think, is to come together and see if we cannot arrange something whereby the exhibitor can fetch down his £10 Leghorn and the utility man his specimens. Let the utility man grow a bigger bird ; we can quite agree with that, although we will never have a bird laying eggs weighing 81b. or 101b. the 120, like the Leghorn at the last Crystal Palace Show. With regard to the size of the egg, I agree that if you can get a hen to lay 2oz. eggs from the first day she lays, until she has laid 200, she has done her duty, but I think it is expecting too much from the hen. You may get it, but I think it will be at the expense of the hen. Take a pullet ; you expect pullets to go into these laying competitions and knock them up. We are breeding for eggs from productive stock. 62 These productive layers always have a way of coining on to lay too soon. You cannot keep them back. Then there is the question of moulting ; how in the world are you to keep the bird and prevent it from moulting and have it lay a 2oz. egg in a short time ? That is the point we have to overcome. I am not against size of eggs. Wc ought to keep up the size of eggs ; it is entirely for Mr. Leigh and others to watch that point. I have heard so much about this question of the size of eggs that I determined to find out whether my birds were laying bigger eggs than were laid twenty years ago. How do you think I did it ? Twenty years ago I was breeding cross-breds, so it was not really fair to compare pure-breds with them, because at that time you know our poultry v^as not laying the same amount of eggs as to-day. I went ten years back, when I was breeding pure-bred Wyandottes and Leghorns. I took the Railway Com- pany's figures, and compared the weight of 360 eggs sent ten years ago with 360 eggs sent to-day. It showed that my eggs to-day were as heavy as they were ten years ago, so I do not think we have depreciated very much in that respect ; not so far as some people think. Another point : There is so little difference that if you had a 2oz. egg in one egg-cup and you had an egg a shade under 2ozs. in another egg-cup, you could not tell at all. Perhaps Mr. Leigh will explain, but I think there is very little difference between those hens that lay first and second grade eggs; there may be exceptions, but generally there is very little difference in the weight of the eggs. The President: I take it Mr. Barron's point is, are the second grade eggs much smaller than the first grade eggs ? Mr. Leigh : Of course, it is a very difficult question. You must draw a line some- where; that is the difficulty. If you drew the standard a trifle under 2ozs., the people who are just a little below that point would also grumble. Vou must draw a hard and fast line somewhere, and it appears to me that 2ozs. being the standard weight of an egg is the natural line to draw. Personally, I never expect a pullet to start with the 2oz. egg. As a rule, if she does, she is a very poor layer. I do not wish to refer to any particular set of rules, but in our test which we are conducting this year we have tried to lay down some rule which will be really effective. We allow second grade eggs to score as first grade up to a limited number. Taking the average production of these prolific layers at 200 eggs per year, we allow that bird to produce 10 per cent, of second grade eggs ; if she lays any number over and above that 10 per cent, they are not counted at all. So we really in that way discourage the production of small eggs. The old method of discounting the small egg appeared to me to be ineffective, because we found that even with the discount it varied anywhere from 124 to 20 per cent., though the producers of these small eggs were to be found in the winning pen. We must not encourage the producers of small eggs ; we get a large number of those. Up at Bentley we have a box in each house where the eggs produced every day are exhibited. Frequently, when taking the visitors round and showing them the leading pen, I am met with the remark, " What small eggs." Now I think if that can be said of the winning pen in a laying test it is undesirable. You must lay down a hard and fast rule with regard to the weight of the first grade eggs, and it certainly seems proper— it is not set up by us, but by the public — that 2ozs. should be the standard weight of an egg. Miss Murphy : When we .started seven years ago our difficulty was, what is a first grade egg for a pullet? We got over the trouble in this way. We realised that a pullet naturally should not lay a 2oz. egg from the beginning; it was unfair to the owners. We worked it out in this way. We recognised an egg of loz. 15drms. as a first grade egg until December 31, that was during" the first three months of the test, and after that the 2oz. egg was the minimum for first grade. The difference between the returns for first and second grade eggs worked out at 3d. per dozen. We credit the actual return; in some they take the flat return. We find that to credit the actual money pleases our competitors better. After three or four ye^rs we found that the numbers were increasing, but the size of the egg decreased, especially 63 in Wyandottes, and to counteract that the Department inserted a rule debarring from prizes any hen that failed to average 2oz. eggs. That does not debar a hen laying a second grade egg. We do not consider that the rule is an unfair one ; the breeders have taken to it very kindly. The leading pen in the present competition is up to weight, and has produced the largest number of eggs ever laid in any pen since we began ; so we think that rule has done good. I should like to ask Mr. Leigh one question ; does he think it would be well to fix a standard minimum weight for a breed like the White Leghorn at the beginning of the test ? Mr. Leigh : Yes, certainly. We indicated in the particulars we issued last year that we desired to lay down a standard minimum weight. Miss Murphy : Would that be 3Jlbs. as in Australia ? Mr. LiciGH : I am afraid it would not be for me to fix that weight. The President : This is body weight. Mr. Leigh : There is no doubt the White Leghorn was getting too small ; in the White Wyandottes the same thing happened ; they were both getting too small. Principal Foulkes : 1 should like to make a few remarks with regard to what has been said by Mr. Barron, on this question of Grade A and Grade B, because we at the Harper Adams College have not quite seen eye to eye with the National Utility Poultry Society in the standard they propose to set up. We have all along done everything we could to encourage the 2oz. egg, and have, as you know, carried out the same system as they adopted in Ireland — that is, of giving a reduced value to the B grade egg — the egg under 2ozs. We felt that, as you must draw a hard and fast line at 2ozs., you are to hit the man who is producing the loz. ISdrms. egg very hardly if you are only to allow him to score 10 per cent., and that you are unfair if you make the owner only count 10 per cent, of his total eggs as A grade eggs when his bird has laid something like 180 eggs which are only just under the 2oz. standard. So we have kept up with the system that we started some years ago — namely, of a 15 per cent, reduction in the value of the egg below the actual 2oz. line. I am quite in agreement with Mr. Leigh on the question of eliminating the word " Competition "; we did that two years ago, calling them " Egg-Laying Tests." While we do wish to discourage that competitive system in our trials, we must realise that competition is a healthy stimulus to production. After all, there is no doubt about it that these laying trials have done an enormous amount of good in encouraging people to go in for poultry ; they have seen what can be prodirced in these laying trials, and have desired to emulate the people who have been successful in the trials. One can give examples where people who were doing very little with poultry before they were possessed by the idea of competition, having made a start, have been — perhaps as much by luck as good management — successful. It has been a great stimulus. One particular case I am thinking of is that of a man who has gone forward wonderfully since he was successful in a trial three or four years ago. With regard to the question of comparison of trials, I am afraid I do not quite agree with Mr. Leigh on that point. We have to look, I think, a good deal to these trials for results, and people are very anxious to compare trials in different parts of the country and different parts of the world. I think the comparisons of our trials in this country with the trials in America and with those in Australia have been very useful indeed ; it is useful to us to see what our breeds can do. We have not many men who are as enterprising as Mr. Barron, who enters his birds in other countries as well as at home. I think it would be very helpful if we could stick to the standard of a number of birds in a trial. We have kept to six because a number of others have done so ; Irishmen keep to six and the Americans also, and I am sorry that the National Utility Poultry Society decided to have five. People are not always capable of making mental calculations as to the comparison between what six and five birds are capable of produ ;ing. (Adjourned until 2.30 p.m.) 64 FOURTH SESSION. On resuming at 2.30 p.m., SEX-LINKED INHERITANCE AND ITS PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE BREEDING OF POULTRY. By Professor R. C. Punnett, M.A. (Professor of Genetics, the University, Cambridge, England). (By request of Professor Punnett his paper is not published. The subject is, how- ever, dealt with by him in the Journal of the Board of Agriculture (England and Wales), February, 1919, of which the following summary, with quotations, is given.) Those who rear large numbers of pulkts for egg-production are faced with the problem of the disposal of their cockerels to the best advantage, for, with many of the best egg-laying breeds, it is not possible to distinguish the sexes with certainty until the birds are several weeks old ; and in some breeds, such as Wyandottes and Rhode Island Reds, the period is even longer than in the Mediterranean races. It does not appear to be generally known that, in some breeds, provided that suitable niatings are made, the sexes of the chicks can be readily distinguished on hatching. This depends upon the fact that certain colours and patterns which are already betokened in the down are transmitted by the hen to her male offspring only. As an example may be taken the case of the Barred Plymouth Rock. Barred plumage is dominant to self-black; barred birds can throw blacks,, but blacks bred together cannot give barred offspring. Now it is a peculiarity of the barred hen, no matter how bred or to what strain she belongs, to transmit the barred character to her male offspring only. This can be readily observed by mating her with a self-black cock. In such a case all her sons are barred, but all her daughters are black. Chicks which will develop into barred birds can be distinguished in the down from those which become black. The latter have the down of a typical black breed, i.e., they are full black except on the ventral surface, where they show a varying amount of white marking. The down colour of barred birds is, however, rather less intense as regards the black, while at the same time it shows a light patch at the back of the head, and frequently a lighter patch on either side of the rump. The head patch is a certain guide which may be relied upon to distinguish, at hatching, such birds as will become barred from those that will develop into self-blacks. If, therefore, barred Plymouth Rock hens are run with black cocks the male offspring, which will all be barred, and will show the head spot in the down, can be separated from the females, which are all black at hatching. By killing off the barred chicks the breeder need rear nothing but pullets, and so avoid the expense of raising a number of surplus cockerels. The saving effected by taking advantage of the sex difference in down colour, where the dominant barred hen is matched with the self-black cock, may be illus- trated by a numerical example. Let us suppose that the egg-producer aims at rearing 1,000 laying pullets annually. In the ordinary way this means that 2,000 birds must be reared, since the sexes are produced in approximately equal numbers. On the method suggested above, these 2,000 birds will be produced from 50 barred hens run with a few black cockerels. The 1,000 male chicks, betrayed by their down colour, would be killed at hatching, and only the 1,000 black pullets reared for egg-laying. This entails the production of 50 barred hens annually for breedmg. These should easily be reared from a single pen of pure barred birds, a cockerel and, say, four hens. The rearing of these 50 pullets would entail the rearmg of a corresponding 50 cockerels. The net result, however, would be the production of 1,050 pullets and 50 cockerels in place of 2,000 birds (1,000 of each sex) by the method at present in vogue. The breeding of the few black cockerels 65 required for mating hardly enters into the question, since a single pair of blacks would give all that were wanted. Professor Punnett indicated that the same type of inheritance is also exhibited in the characters of silver ground-colour as opposed to gold, as in Silver and Gold- pencilled Hamburghs, Silver and Gold-laced Wyandottes, which could be bred with similar distinctive markings in the down feathers on hatching. Further, that Light Dorkings behave towards Brown-reds, such as Brown Leghorns, in the same manner. He recommends a cross between Silver-grey hens and a Rhode Island Re-ou find 25 per cent, recessive, they are the bad layers, but the other 75 per cent, are good layers. I would like Professor Punnett to suggest a way to get hold of the poor layers, and to be able to pick out 75 per cent, of good-laying hens. If he will give me that information I will take it over to Holland. Professor Punnett : I think the way that Dr. Pearl set about it was to use a set of birds such as the Cornish Game. I do not think one would recommend the use of birds that could not lay at all, but you could use a poor-laying strain and examine all the chickens and their laying properties. Have you done that? Mr. Van Gink : No, we do not think it advisable. Professor Punnett • I think it is the only way to do it Hve,;'^ on wr-." '■ '^^'■/^'^^ '^''^^"■'y that we have found is that from our good i/d ha^ch?n« ,-f w ^%f° "°' f\^ ^^''^ "°''- "^^^ ='-^^^="g *at shows the%ex ana ftatching is not well enough known. 67 Professor Punnett : The matter would have to be worked out on a small experimental scale for each particular cross, using different strains to begin with, to find out which strains gave really good-laying first-class cocks and hens. By crossing the Plymouth Rock with the Leghorn you get excellent birds. Mr. Van Gink : We thought at one time we would go into the matter of crossing light with heavy breed%, Crosses from laying breeds have the egg-laying power from both sides, but they do not seem to be able to make good use of it ; they have different shapes in the cross. We did not like to cross the different breeds of birds, light and heavy bodied, because the cross-bred birds did not seem to make good use of the egg-laying qualities of their parents. We found that in practice. Professor Punnett : Which were the breeds you crossed? Mr. Van Gink : The heavy Orpington and the light Leghorn. It did not seem that the birds were able to attain tBe full capacity. The only way we could account for it was that they did not seem able, in their cross-bred forms, to make good use of their egg-laying powers. Professor Punnett : That .particular cross might not be a good one, but the cross with other heavy breeds might. I have tried the cross of Plymouth Rock and Leghorn, and the result is very favourable. Mr. Van Gink : Do you think it is a mistake to cross the light with the heavy breeds ? Professor Punnett : Not necessarily. Mr. Albert Brain : Does the male produce the two different kinds of sperm, or the female? Mr. Smart in his book states it is the female which carries two different kinds of sperm, and an American scientist says it is the male. Professor Punnett : All the experimental work that has been done up to the present is entirely in favour of regarding the female as laying the two different kinds of eggs, while the sperm is always of the same nature. Of course, in a way, it can only be settled by the microscopical examination of these little things. At present the domestic fowl is an exceedingly difficult question ; some people have said they have found indications of the two different kinds of sperm, and other people say not. As far as we know, the evidence is all in favour of a female laying two kinds of eggs and a male producing only one kind of sperm. Mr. Robinson : Is there any reason to think that the Rhode Island Red sex- inheritance agrees with the Wyandotte's ? Professor Punnett : The results which Dr. Goodall has been getting in America would suggest that the sex-linked fecundity factor of the Plymouth Rock is not to be found in the Rhode Island Red. There is just a possibility that the Rhode Island Red may be different in these sex factors. I have had some evidence given me in connection with the 'shank inhibitor of the Rhode Island Red and the Plymouth Rock. The Plymouth Rock contains the shank inhibitor. The evidence that was supplied me by a breeder last year was to the effect that the Rhode Island Red hen transmitted this inhibitor to all her offspring. In the ordinary way the hen ought to have been dark shanked. I am making that experiment this year ; the season has been very late and the chickens have not appeared, but I hope to be able to tell any- body who is interested whether that is the case or not in a few months' time. The President : One thing I might be permitted to suggest : I hope that, in some of the fvirther experiments that are made in this direction, the Professor or others will be able to arrange with a practical poult'ryman, who is breeding a large number of birds, to carry out some of the work, so that you will have record of the greater numbers. In my own limited sphere of experimental work, I have some- times found the difficulty of having too few instead of larger numbers. That is merely a suggestion on my part. We are looking forward to a great extension of studv on the part of scientists in these various directions. e2 63 BREEDING AND SELECTION OF HENS FOR LAYING. By Mr. Tom Barron (Catforth, Preston, England). It is a great pleasure for me to be here amongst such an influential flock of poultry experts. I feel somewhat out of place, especially if you expect me to say anything new. You know the old saying about carrying coalsf to Newcastle. That is the case with me, but I will do the best possible. My subject is the breeding and selection of laying-hens. That is a most interesting and important subject, if only it were possible for me to put into words what I think and know. The breeds in which I specialise are White Wyandottes and White Leghorns. No other breeds are kept on my farm. Many mistakes are made by attempting to keep too many breeds, as nothing is made of an)' of them. In my opinion it is far the best to keep to a few breeds. Yoii will understand, therefore, that my paper refers to the two breeds mentioned. The first and most important point in breeding laying-hens is health. If you have not healthy and hardy foundation stock, then all your trouble and labour will be in vain. Anything that is conducive to good health and hardiness in breeding laying stock must not be overlooked. Good housing, management, feeding, cleanli- ness are most essential if success has to be attained. This paper, I ought to point out, is really intended for the specialist breeder. A farmer who is going in for eggs on a commercial basis cannot carry out a lot of trap-nesting. It pays him better to buy his cockerels for mating with his stock each year. Specialist breeding and commercial egg-farming are, in my opinion, two distinct branches. I breed from different families of fowls on m.y farm, and have quite a number of these families. It is surprising how long one can go on, especially on a large farm, without seriously inbreeding. I do not believe in inbreeding laying-hens more than is absolutely essential. Sometimes I go out for a change of blood, and the way that suits me best is to buy good hatching eggs, rearing the chickens, and putting them when reared on the trap-nest, always testing them myself. If I only obtain a few good ones, this serves my purpose. I can breed a good cockerel, and that is all required for my purpose. In this way I can continue for quite a long time. After the question of health, as mentioned before, the stock intended to be bred from must not be forced in any way, but kept as naturally as possible in good- laying condition, and, above all, must not be too fat. All pullets intended for breeders on my farm are trap-nested the first year. Those that lay 180 to 230 eggs in a year are selectetl for stock used in the second season's breeding — that is, as hens. Those over 250, provided they lay good-sized eggs, are the ones my cockerels are breerative sale through the organisation of egg circles, nor to the measures which were adopted to educate both the producer and consumer as to the meaning and value of quality, nor to the movement to promote a substantial improvement in all eggs marketed through the adoption of the principle by the trade of payment according to grade. It will be sufficient to say that as a result of the work which has been carried on through progressive stages, there has been developed both a domestic and com- mercial understanding and appreciation of the value of quality. Transactions in connection with the purchase and sale of carload lots are now dependably carried on, particularly as between Eastern and Western Canada, on the basis of a classification supervised under Government inspection. In a word, the product has been stndardised under commercially accepted grades, and its quality has been materially and satisfactorily improved. 74 In the undertaking of these measures we have steadily kept before us the objec- tive of developing a substantial and comprehensive export business. From the beginning, however, we have been convinced that such a trade could not be carried on, continuously or profitably, in competition with other countries, perhaps more favourably situated than ourselves, unless a reputation for high, uniform quality could be secured and consistently maintained. Further, it has been our conclusion that such was possible only by subjecting the whole export trade to Government inspection under legal authority. It was felt that to depend for our success upon the varying knowledge, ability, enterprise or even integrity of private firms was to leave the door open to all the evils of shifting^ standards, varying grades .and experimental business relationships. The product is such a perishable commodity that a national reputation was alone possible through the adoption of measures to secure and maintain uniform quality, and it was felt that Canada could not afford to leave our reputation and our future success to the tender mercies of the careless, ignorant or unscrupulous trader, however in the minority he might be. Conse- quently our Minister asked the assent of Parliament to an Act which, amongst other things, would give him the necessarv legal authority to bring our export egg and poultrj' trade under Government inspection and supervision. The Act was passed in September, 1917. The following quotation will indicate the powers which have been taken in this particular regard : " The Governor-in-Council may make regulations prescribing . . . the manner in which live stock, meat, poultry, eggs, and wool shall be graded and branded or marked, and what shall be the size of packages containing meat, eggs, and poultry, the kind of package that may be used, and how such packages shall be branded, marked, or labelled." As will be noted, the Act becomes operative through the passing of regulations by Order-in-Council as pertaining to the various activities necessary to be under- taken by the Department. It may be explained that prior to the passing of the Act, we kept the trade fully acquainted with our movements, and were able to so justify our proposals in their eyes that we had their cordial support in the passage of the Act. Consequf nth , in the preparation of the regulations, which necessarily must be both workable and practical if they are to foster rather than hinder the development of the industry, we had the benefit of the counsel and co-operation of the trade, in addition to the experience the Department had itself gained as a result of the pre- ceding live years' work. When the tentative draft had been prepared, it was sub- mitted for consideration to the members of the produce trade, to officers of the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, and to representatives of organised bodies of producers. In their final form, therefore, the regulations represent the combined wisdom and experience of the most important bodies in the country interested in the development of the industry. Possibly I cannot do better in an endeavour to indicate the scope, intention and nature of the control which has been taken by the Govern- ment than to quote from the regulations themselves : Eggs are graded into three Classes : (1) Fresh Eggs, (2) Storage Eggs, and (3) Cracked and Dirty. These are again divided as under : (1) Fresh Eggs: Grade u, Specials; &, Extras (sub-grade Pullet Extras); f , No. 1, or Firsts ; d, No. 2, or Seconds. ^2) Storage or Preserved Eggs : Grade a, Extras ; h, Extra Firsts ; c, No. 1, or Firsts ; d, No. 2, or Seconds. (3) Cracked and Dirty, but fit for food. It is provided that eggs shall be packed in standard 360 cases; that eggs before shipment shall be examined by an Inspector appointed by the Govern- ment ; that the packing rooms shall be in a sanitary condition ; and marks on cases shall only be applied after such inspection and be branded in accordance with the regulations issued. These legulations are now in force, and apply to all interprovincial movement, as well as ^'., our export business. Competent inspectors have been secured through a special technical examination held under the direction of the Civil Service Commis- 75 sion. By means of this examination the Department was fortunate in obtaining the sei vices of some of the best qualified and most highly-trained men in the country. These, together with a few of our own experienced officers, now constitute a staff, the ability ynd impartial painstaking service of which is, we believe, fully recognised bj the trade. Consequently the Department has been able to uphold its position steadily an.i confidently in all controversies which have arisen and to carry through it.* work promptly arid without friction. Many features of considerable importance have been revealed as a result of the institution of this system. Varying interpretations of quality and grade have been brought to light, and the imperative need for a responsible supervision of cold storage has been made clearly apparent. -The necessity also for a consistent improvement in internal marketing facilities and for greater promptness in delivery has been prac- tically confirmed. In short, the undertaking of this work will,' with the co-of>era- tion of the trade, enable the country to secure an improvement in all its marketing methods such as cannot but result in large and permanent advantage to the poultry trade. Further, we hope, through this supervision of our export business, to place a prcauct upon the market of such uniform quality and excellence as may command a deservedly high reputation and prove a substantial credit to Canadian industry. THE BASIC CONSIDERATIONS UNDERLYING THE POLICY OF GREATER NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CANADIAN EGG AND POULTRY INDUSTRY. [A Standardised Product Inspected and Guaranteed.] By Mr. W. A. Brown fChief Poultry Division, Canadian Department of Agriculture). The egg regulations under the " Live Stock and Live Stock Products Act " are the outcome of several years' work and investigation and represent in a tangible way what is in mind in the way of Government regulation having to do with the improvement and unifying of quality. The idea underlying these regulations has been to safeguard both buyer and seller ; to give the buyer a guarantee of quality through the medium of th* inspector's certificate as issued and the markings placed on the case, and, further, to protect the seller in that the whole work of inspection is done at the point of shipment. In contrast to the United States Departmental activities having to do almost entirely with the elimination of bad eggs, the Canadian Department of Agriculture has devoted its attention to the standardisation of good eggs. The most tangible expression of the results of this work is evidenced in the Western movement of eggs during 1918. Heretofore, Eastern buyers bought eggs in Chicago in preference to Western Canadian points. This year, however, the fact that even seconds could not be shipped which contained more than 2 per cent. of cracked, bad and dirty eggs, gave Eastern buyers an assurance of quality which they were not able to obtain on even the largest United States markets. No better proof of the effect on the export movement can be advanced than the number of shipments which have been turned down. It may be interesting to note that whereas the first cars of Western eggs came East only as late as 1915, this year (1918) a total of one hundred and thirty-two cars were shipped East from Western points between June 1 and December 31. Markets Intelligence Giving an Assurance of Price. During 1918 more eggs have been sold throughout the Dominion than ever before. The custom in the past has been for producers, country shippers and others to take whatever price was offered, but now with definite, tangible information in their hands of what the prevailing prices are on all principal markets, of what 76 the trend of trade is, these people have been able to make up their minds as to the prioe their product should bring, and instead of accepting what was offered, have sold their eggs for what they thought they should get. Naturally, such a condition has had a distinct reflection in the attitude of producers and original shippers towards the poultry business and has emphasised its comparative profitableness to them as a part of their activities. The situation with respect to the poultry business throughout the country never was more favourable. Prices are very favourable, and there is the satisfaction in feeling that with the assistance being given, the producer is obtaining more and more his just proportion of the ultimate selling price. Co°operation Giving Despatch in Collection and Marketing. (a) From holding the reputation of a few years ago of offering for sale possibly the poorest eggs, the province of Prince Edward Island has attained the place where it is recognised as offering to-day the best eggs obtainable in car lots in the Dominion. This condition has been brought about primarily by a system of co- operative collection and marketing, the foundation of which was laid by the live stock branch, in conjunction with the provincial department, some six years ago. Further, the inspectors' report on the eggs for export put up by the Dundas Co- operative Association in Ontario is to the effect that there are not grades high enough in the present standards prescribed by the regulations to accommodate the quality offered. No means has yet been devised equal to co-operative movement to stimulate prompt delivery, frequent marketing, and despatch in moving the eggs from the point of lay to point of storage or consumption, and having in mind the important place which such activities must have in raising the quality of the product through- out the Dominion it is clear that all legitimate assistance possible should be extended to the organisation of co-operative egg and poultry shipping organisations. (b) Service in transportation. (c) Perfection in storage. Economic Production Through Stock Improvement. (High-class utility stock is the basis of all national improvement. While it is true from the standpoint of quality that eggs as laid are one of the most uniform products in nature, increased volume is largely a matter of breeding and selection. There was a time when trap-nesting was about the only means available to indicate the productiveness of individual birds. In the last few years, however, both experiment stations and individuals have demonstrated that high producers can be separated from the non-producers by the application of comparatively simple and authenticated tests. In other words, in the culling demonstrations that have been given on some hundreds of farms this year it has been clearly proven that it is possible to take out from 40 to 60 per cent, of the stock in the average farm flock and still leave the farmer with as many eggs per day as he was getting before. Possibly no line of work undertaken previously has done more to impress upon the individual producer the economics of good stock and rigid selection. Poultry breed quickly and are a class of live stock the entire complexion of which can be changed nationally in a comparatively few years. Extensive investiga- tion has shown that High productiveness is largely a sex limited characteristic. The male constitutes more than SO per cent, of the flock. Any effort therefore directed along these lines should have to do primarily with the selection and approval of the male birds. A scheme of national registration is contemplated, and in this connection it is proposed to inaugurate a system of flock inspection and approval. Advertising and Salesmanship in the Disposal of the Product Both at Home and Abroad. Just as the Government of Great Britain is taking an active part in the re- construction of industry in its country, so it is felt that our own Canadian Government, by taking the necessary safeguards with respect to quality as has and 77 is being done with eggs, can go still further and supplement the initiative of individual firms by undertaking a definite campaign to bring abotit the increased consumption of Canadian egg and poultry products both at home and abroad. At home it is felt that the individual consumer, given an assurance of quality or of specific grades, will at one and the same time become a greater consumer of eggs. An egg a day would mean an increase over and above present consumption of in the neighbourhood of seventy-five or eighty million dozen per annum. Even at the present time, that is, during the past year, consumption has increased faster than production. Much can be done, therefore, to promote the consumption of eggs and poultry at home. Everything is being done that is possible to make the poultry industry so profitable to the producer that he will not only keep more and better poultry, but at the same time the Department, is taking such steps as will provide for the marketing abroad of any available surplus that may occur. Incidentally, considering the tremendous potential productiveness of Canada, it would seem that if reasonable expected increase in production takes place so must just such a campaign be instituted abroad in such a manner that not only will Canadian eggs be at the top of the market but in such demand as will keep our markets constantly clear of any surplus that may occur. Adjourned until March 13, 1919, at 10.30 a.m. DINNER BY THE NATIONAL UTILITY POULTRY SOCIETY. On the evening of Wednesday, March 12, the delegates to the International Poultry Conference were entertained to dinner at the Connaught Rooms, London, at which fifty ladies and gentlemen were present. The chairman was Mr. Marcus W. Slade (vice-chairman of the Council of N.U.P.S.), and the speakers included Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S., Mr. A. H. Brain, Principal P. H. Foulkes, Mr. Kidner {Poultry World), Mr. J. N. Leigh, Miss Murphy, Mr. T. R. Robinson, F.S.I., Mr. Stanley Street, and Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink. The dinner was excellently arranged by Mr. E. P. Hughes and Mr. T. R. Robinson, secretaries of the N.U.P.S. 78 Third Day (Fifth Session). Thursday, 13th March, 1919, at 10.30 a.m., at 16, Bedford Square, London, W.C.I, MR. EDWARD BROWN, F.L.S. (President of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators), in the Chair. The President : I am going this morning very briefly to give the result of observations made during my visits to America as to culling by pigmentation and the use of light in laying houses. . . I do not believe in a Chairman speaking from his own position at such times, and I therefore ask Monsieur Delacour to take the Presidential Chair, whilst I step down for the time being into the other position. M. Jean Delacour (Vice-President) then took the chair. CULLING BY PIGMENTATION AND USE OF LIGHT IN HOUSES FOR LAYING HENS. By ;\Ir. Edward Brown, F.L.S. Mr. Edw.ird I>rown : Mr. Vice-President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I ventured to say in Ihe opening address, to quote the words of a scientific gentleman, that draught determined The combustion of the fuel, and to indicate the belief that we should have Governmental, or State, or local authority help in the work that we are attempting to do. One of the most important things that I have come across in connection with work of this kind was the action of the Federal, as well as the State Governments in the United States of America. In Canada, I may say, they have done a great deal in the same direction ; I am instancing the United States mainly because I had more opportunity of seeing the work in the States. Immediately after America entered into the war. Congress voted a sum for the year of £30,000 — not dollars — for the carrying out of a great poultry propaganda with the object of increasing and maintaining poultry and egg production. That has been increased during the year 1918-19 to the sum of £40,000, and it has enabled the Bureau of Animal Industry at Washington to carry out a great campaign over the whole of the country. There was already in existence, both in Canada and the United States, the basis for work of this kind, in the direction of what is known as the Extension Service. We have similar work on this side in our County Councils, though to a more modest degree, in our lecturers who go out. The Extension Service that I came across over there was certainly very much broader and very much better carried out. In the State of Utah, which I visited.' last May, they had 140 Extension workers in the various departments, all sent out from the college at Logan to work in the various branches ; that included all branches, including poultry. (Mr. Edward Brown's further observations are omitted, as the information is given in the paper by Mr. Harry M. Lamon, printed below.) With commercial poultry-keeping there must be increased production, if we .are to make it pay. The cost is greater, and wastage must be avoided. One of my friends said to me he could not understand why British people always seem to belittle themselves. If our virtues do not speak for us, our voice will never tell of these. The point I want to bring home is that the Anglo-Saxon temperament is a wasteful temperament. Years ago I said that French and Belgian people — and that includes otners on the Continent — could live upon what English people waste. 79 I am equally confident that English people could live on what Americans waste ; therefore, one of the first steps in this great propaganda was to avoid waste, to eliminate the bad hens. One of the systems that has been described by Dr. Kent, of Cornell University, was to find out when a hen became unprofitable, and this was done by observing the colour of the shank, beak, and skin. It only applies at present to the yellow flesh races. What they have found, as already mentioned by Mr. Tom Barron, is this, that as a hen continues laying she draws upon the fat, which is yellow, lying under the skin, for the forrhation of the yolk, and gradually, as she increases her period of laying, the pigment becomes lighter until it becomes almost white ; that applies to the beak, to the ear-lobe, and to the shanks. A great campaign was carried out, after inquiry — and we want to inquire. They drew up a set of questions, which were distributed to farmers in certain areas. Then they began to consider, shall we do more? As long as you only think about it, you do not get very far. Then they sent out Extension workers, who made calls upon farmers, actually selecting the birds that had finished their time of laying and should be got rid of. This was not done in winter, but in the summer and autumn. In the State of Missouri during the course of a week large numbers were selected as having come to the end of their laying. If, on examining a bird, they found round the vent that the colour was deep, they knew she had finished laying. If she was pale, she was still continuing to lay. Therefore, when the colour returns on the shanks and round the vent, then her period of production has come to an end. That system has been carried out enormously. This is one of the ideas which demands investiga- tion in all countries, with a view to teaching the people how to get rid of birds when they are no longer profitable. I commend it for your consideration ; you will be able to obtain information in other directions, and I think it is certainly an important subject. Then another point which troubles us here, just as much as everyone else, is that hens, in spite of all we do, taking them in the main, will lay more eggs in the spring than in the winter. If hens would only lay when eggs were dearest everyone would make moi-e money. Some ten years ago, Mr. Shoup, whom I met in the State of Washington, discovered that when poultry-houses were lighted morning and evening he got many more eggs. From that there has developed a system which has had the most marvellous results. I cannot go into the detail, but found East and West — more in the West than in the East, but it is increasing there — that the com- mercial poultry-farmers in their large houses ai'e lighting them either by electric light, acetylene gas, or ordinary lamps, and the results are remarkable. One man, who has carried this out at Aurora in the State of New York for four years, told me that when he first thought of testing it he had something like 2,100 pullets, and he did not want to risk his best birds, so he selected the inferior specimens. At the time — the test commenced on December 2 — ^these were laying about 20 per cent., that is, he was getting 20 eggs per day per 100 hens. They were subjected to the electric light. I may say that 1,600 hens, the best hens at the time of the be- ginning of the test,- were laying 35 to 40 eggs per day per 100 hens. There came a sudden spell of winter weather — and you do get winter weather there ; I experienced 20 degrees below zero last February — and they had a severe spell. In spite of that the egg production of these 500 hens that had light rose in three weeks from 20 per cent, to 65 per cent., that is to say, he was getting 65 eggs for every 100 birds. On the other hand, the egg production of the 1,600 hens which had not the light, fell to 20 per cent.j more than half. So convinced was he by the fact that he applied the system of lighting all round. Another man told me at Alfred, in New York State, that he was getting from 200 hens early in December only 16 eggs per day. After ten days' light the number had risen to 33, and after twenty-three days to 166 eggs per day, as the result of an application of light. I could give you a large number of examples of that kind. In the State of Washington it is stated that there is not a farm that has more than 100 hens that does' not apply light in the winter. It is a transference of production from the spring to the winter. This system, so far as is known, should not be used for 80 birds that are intended for breeding. As one man said, " It linocks moulting into a coclied hat." It is purely artificial, and I should not advise anyone, frohi the observa- tions made, to select any of those birds for breeding ; treat them as layers, and when they have completed their tale of eggs they have done their work. The system adopted is this. Where electric light can be used, they fix a switchboard^ on which there are Pve alarm clocks. This is set during the day, and as soon as it becomes dusk the light comes into action, and immediately the whole shed is illuminated; it remains illaminated until eight o'clock, when another clock acts. Ten minutes after another clock reduces the light, when there is just enough light to show the birds where the roosts are, and ten minutes later another clock operates and puts out the light, which is turned on automatically next morning at 5.30. Thus the period of work during the winter is extended to sometliing like sixteen hours a day, and the result is, as stated, that there is an enormously increased production of eggs in winter. I hope that some of our colleges or other leading places in this country will give that system a test, because if we could transfer some hundreds of millions of our eggs from the spring to the winter it would be better for the industry all round. It is not a question of increased numbers, but of transference and equalisation of production. I thank you for this opportunity of taking a place which should have been occupied by others, and I need hardly say if any of you want any further information, any knowledge that I have on the matter is absolutely at your disposal. Mons. Delacour : I think we ought to thank Mr. Brown for his interesting paper. Mr. Robinson : I should like to ask Mr. Brown if he could give us a little more information on pigmentation. Did I understand him to say that the pigment returns after the bird has finished laying ; that is to say, after the first year, before she comes on the second laying there is an increase of pigmentation? Mr. Brown : Yes. The observations which were made were to the effect that, during the period of laying, the pigmentation of the shank and skin and so on became much paler, and immediately the bird ceased laying, or lays to a much less extent, the colour began to return, and by the time she had ceased laying you had it bright again. Of course, there are other factors. If you are breeding birds on light soil, there is always a tendency to light colour. In answer to Mr. Robinson, certainly the colour returns as soon as the bird has ceased laying. Mr. Prain : I would like to ask Mr. Brown whether he has had any experience of how pigmentation is controlled, whether by blood or ovaries ? Mr. Brown : I really do not know. There is a great deal of investigation required in that direction. The theory which Dr. Kent has is that the colour is included in the fat which, in yellow-fleshed birds, lies immediately under the skin. Whether it is right or not, I do not propose to discuss. He says, as you increase the pumber of eggs produced, so the colour of the egg of the fat is drawn from all parts of the body, to help in the formation of the yolk. I am putting it in his words. An HoM. Member : I should like to ask, with regard to these experiments in artificial lighting, whether it has been proved in the States that by inducing these birds to lay in the winter to a greater extent, it does increase the annual production of the fowl? Mr. Brown : So far as observations go, it does not increase the annual produc- tion. There does not seem to be any evidence whatever in that direction; it is purely a question of transference from the winter season to another. Mrs. Fawkes : Perhaps Mr. Brown would tell us whether in America they apply the light to houses without glass in the front. When I built a house for 140 birds I was able to put on electric-light, but owing to the war we could not get it, so I fitted the front of the house with glass, and the result has been that our best hens 81 have laid 26 eggs per month during November, December and January, and we find the glass has had the same effect practically as the electric light. Probably in America the houses are without glass. Mr. Brown : In America they do not use much glass in the houses ; most of them are open-fronted houses, and they use curtains; they do not use glass. I was only on one or two places where they had glass, and it was not for that purpose. A Delegate : I take it really the reason this artificial light is applied, and the reason they secure a greater output of eggs, is that the fowls have longer hours and consume more food — that in the short winter days the fowls do not have so - much time. Mr. BiiOWN : Some observations made at Cornell were to the effect that in the winter months, when the birds went to roost at 4.30, in those birds, no matter how you fed them, their crops were empty at "midnight. They had to go for seven or eight hours before further food could be obtained, and by continuing the hours of working to 8 o'clock p.m., and putting light on at 5.30 a.m., they obtained sufficient food. Mr. Robinson : I should like to know whether Mr. Brown has had any experience in America of the use of coloured glass or coloured light ? Mr. Brown : No. Miss Murphy : We were so impressed by the loss of colour in heavy layers that we thought fit to mention it in our last Report in order to draw the attention of farmers to this, because the loss of pigmentation is most remarkable. When a hen ceases laying, the colour recovers, but not fully. It returns gradually. Captain Clarke : We have had a few experiments at the Central Experimental Station at Ottawa in connection with lighting. The houses were curtained and had glass. I have the figures in front of me. A pen of 20 White Leghorns, with light, starting with 71 eggs in November, in December gave 311 ; whereas a pen of 20 Leghorns, without light, gave 15 in November and 123 in December. In this particular experiment there was a total of over 200 eggs in the two pens in favour of the light. Mr. RofiiNSON : How did it work out economically ? Captain Clarke : The eggs were laid at a tipie when the price was high. With light the balance was 1.41 in November and 12.89 in December. Without light it was 3.85 in November and 2.52 in December. I have a complete set of figures here, if any person is interested. Mr. Brown : In that respect, one practical farmer in North-West New York State told me: " I have been a poultry-keeper for fifteen years and had never been able to show a balance of profit over my food costs in the months of November, December and January." That is, by his ordinary work. " But," he said, " these last three \cars in which I have used this system everyone of those three months has shown a handsome profit over the food cost. There is no month in the year now that I cannot show a profit over the expenditure for food." Professor Punnett : Some years ago a lady who kept a poultry-farm told me she found that the differences in feeding had a good deal to do with the amount of pigmentation, and I thought it just possible that in America, where they have a larger stock of maize, the pigmentation might return mere rapidly than in this country. Do they use maize? Mr. Brown : Almost entirely. Professor Punnett : Then it is quite possible that the pigmentation might return much more rapidly in the case of American nirds led on maize. Mr. Bkown : What Professor Punnett says is perfectly right ; in America they use corn to a much greater extent, but during last winter they had a similar difficulty to what we had, and, except upon the farms where the corn was grown, F 82 it was very difficult to get. The observations that I made did not make com- parisons between the one and the other. We simply accepted the birds as they were brought from the farm, regardless of their food. I think that is a very valuable point to kefp in view; at the same time there were places where I was that were feeding no Indian corn, and yet they said pigmentation returned fairly rapidly as the birds ceased laying. Mr. Prain : With regard to the question of electricity, we carried out experi- ments last year in electro-culture. We obtained a small generator, and were able to get along very well as regards light and to carry out experiments. I would like to recommend that as a cheap source of electrical supply. (Mr. Brown resumed his occupation of the Chair.) THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT'S CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE POULTRY AND EGG PRODUCTION DURING THE LATE WAR. By Mr. Harry M. Lamon (Senior Poultryman, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.). As soon as war was declared by the United States in the spring of 1917, it became apparent that the food production of this country was destined to play a most im- portant part in the winning of the war. Immediate steps were taken by all available means to stimulate food production of all kinds and money was appropriated by Congress for this purpose. Recognising the fact that poultry production offered one of the quickest means of increasing the meat food supply, a portion of this appropriation was made available for stimulating the production of poultry and eggs. In general the plan followed was to work in the closest possible co-operation with the Extension Forces of the various State Agricultural Colleges in an effort to reach the farmers and poultrymen in the various States and to interest them in the production of poultry and eggs along efficient lines as a war measure. In starting and conducting this campaign to stimulate poultry production the following facts were kept foremost in mind, and plans formulated in accordance with them : (1) That the primary purpose of the work was to secure an increased production, boih of poultry and eggs, largely for domestic consumption, to release other meats for export. (2) That this increased production was needed at the earliest pvossible time. (3) That work should be so conducted that it would be of benefit and service to the farmers and poultrymen of the various States through the State extension organisation, both during and after the war. (4) That an increase could be best expected from the farm flocks and from that section of the country where poultry-keeping is most general. In all of our States we have a force of agricultural workers, known as the State Extension Force, composed of men and women agents located in the various counties under the heads of county and home demonstration agents who are in turn under the supervision of the Director of Extension. In nearly all cases the main offices of the Extension Force are located at the State Agricultural College. With these facts in mind, the country was divided into seven districts, each dis- trict including from five to ten States, and district agents appointed by the Federal Department placed in five of these districts with offices located at Chicago^ Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Los Angeles, California; and Washington, D.C. These district agents have a general oversight of the territory immediately surrounding them, and act in the capacity of representatives of the 83 Washington office in the field. The employment of these district agents has been most helpful in the prosecution of the work, for being on the ground continually ihey have not only been able to help and direct the men in the States, but by i-eason of their close and frequent association with the Directors of Extension, they have been the means of additional help and advice to the State agricultural forces. In addition, the district agents have been able to accomplish a considerable amount of work in connection with the backyard poultry campaign in the cities where their offices are located. Having located the district agents, the next consideration was the appointment and location of State men within these districts who would direct the work in their respective States. As the result of a Civil Sei'vlce examination, practical experienced poultrymen were appointed and placed by November 1, 1918, in twenty-four out of forty^ight States. At times as money was available, and the opportunity arose, additional men have been employed in this work. For example, during the spring of 1918 there was a total of sixty-five men so employed. These men, working through the State Extension Service in each case got in touch with all possible factors that they could interest or utilise in connection with this campaign. Some of the agencies used in this way were the agricultural and poultry publications, newspapers, business men's associations, banks, State branches of the American Poultry As'Sociation, other State and local poultry associations, farmers' clubs, individual poultry breeders and similar organisations. Through the individual efforts put in the field and through these various agencies the farmers and poultrymen were appealed to do everything within their power to stimulate an increased production. As the work developed it became evident that it would be most advantageous to lay out as definite and clear-cut a programme as possible. In doing this it was kept in mind that in order to secure increased production and to best serve the interests of the farmers and poultrymen, and therefore of the nation, it was unnecessary and in fact undesirable to advocate measures or practices which were revolutionary or startling in character. The results desired could best and most efficiently be obtained" by emphasising certain fundamental or essential features of poultry-keeping which are necessary for best results, and which can "be carried out without much trouble by the great majority of poultrymen and farmers. The following programme was therefore formulated, and seasonable campaigns under the different headings have been and are being conducted to urge these simple steps and to emphasise their importance. Especial emphasis is laid on the fact that the different campaigns were started early enough so that they reached their greatest effectiveness and were not late so as to lose part of this effectiveness. The nine essential features of the programme outlined are as follows : 1. Keep better poultry. 2. Select vigorous breeders. 3. Hatch the chicks early 4: Preserve eggs for home use. 5. Produce infertile eggs. 6. Cuil the flocks. 7. Keep a backyard flocTi. 8. Grow your poultry feed. 9. Eat more poultry and eggs. In addition, wide use has been made of the slogan, " At least 100 hens on every farm and IDG eggs from every hen." The aim for flocks of this size and average production of this magnitude is in every way conservative and reasonable. Yet if it were attained throughout the entire country it is estimated that it would double the production of poultry and eggs and add to the food supply of the United States approximately 1,500,000 tons. In connection with the nine essentials outlined attention should be called to an important tact. Each of the points enumerated is applicable to poultry keeping with iust as much force in normal times as in war times, and their emphasis and ■' f2 84 observation at all times are essential to the greatest success and will result in inestimable improvement to the poultry industry. Before proceeding to a discussion of the results obtained in these various cam- paigns one feature of our method of organising for the work needs amplification, as it has a most decided bearing on the results obtained. The Federal Poultrymen were assigned to the States in most cases in the ratio of one man to a State. In their A\ork they have the co-operation of the regular extension forces of the State, the Home Demonstration agents, the County Agents, the Local Farm Bureaux, the Press, many associations of farmers and business men, and numerous other agencies. Now, all these agencies, while glad and willing to help to the extent of their time and ability, are being called upon to do many other kinds of work, and it was apparent, therefore, that the time which they could devote to the poultry cam- paign was at best very limited. One Poultryman in the State could very evidently cover relatively little of the State with any thoroughness through his own efforts. The problem was one, therefore, of augmenting the already existing co-operating agencies wich others who could and would give a part of their time to pushing the poultry campaigns thoroughly. To meet this need, our specialists, with the approval of the Directors of Extension and with the advice and help of the County Agents, proceeded t-i secure the appointment of voluntary helpers, who have in most cases been called local leaders. The aim has been to have one of these local leaders in each community, who should be the representative of the Federal Poultryman and of the County Agent, and who should see to it that publicity was given any of the seasonable poultry campaigns, and who should further serve in any way possible by giving help and advice to the poultrymen of that section. In some States where the local Farm Bureaux have been widely organised the effort has been confined to securing the appointment of a poultry representative on the local Farm Bureau Committee, who should function in the same way as the local leaders. Each week there was prepared by the men located in the central office at Washington letters of instruction and advice as well as news letters for the State and local papers on the different phases of the work that we wished to be brought out at that particular time. These instructions and letters were sent to the Dis- trict and Federal Poultrymen, State Poultrymen and Directors of Extension located at the State Agricultural Colleges and the local leaders, all of whom in their different ways brought this information before the people by getting it placed in their local papers. We also had the assistance in this work of your able and worthy President, Mr. Edward Brown, of England, who visited many of the States of our country whore he urged before his audiences the necessity for an increased poultry and egg proauction. Thus an organisation was built up, more completelv in some States than m others, which is a valuable adjunct to the regularlv constituted extension forces, and which works in perfect harmony with them, and which is valuable both to the Federal Poultryman and to the State Poultry Experiment Matton or College workers for the prompt and widespread dissemination of anv information which may need to be given to the people of the State along poultrv lines. a f . Some idea of the extent of this organisation may b^ gained when it is stated that there are at the present time over 5,000 such local leaders. This simply means that K % mn V" specialists in the States is multiplied, to some extent, at any rate, by 5,000 times. • j r As a)v example of the effectiveness of the local leader organisation, and the extent to which it can be utilised, it is interesting to note that in the State of Missouri there were more than 300 farm flocks culled in a single dav in Green County. Such a result would, of course, have been impossible without the local leader organisation, and is proof of the fact that this organisation is a live and not a dead paper organisation. The Federal Poultrymen in this case brought the local leaders together and instructed them thoroughly in cul'ling, so that 'thev in turn ivere able to go back into their communities and on this particular dav, and in fact 85 for a week which was designated for the culling campaign, carry on the work with the resillt indicated. Because of the fact that the campaign has been based on the essential funda- mentals of good poultry keeping, our Poultry Club Agents, men who are in charge of boys' and girls' poultry clubs throughout the country, of whom there are now twelve, have been able to help the work along incidental to their regular work. Exactly the same principles which are being advocated with adults as an emergency measure are advocated with the children in the club work, and many parents are reached- and their poultry work influenced through this means. In addition, the Poultry Club Agents are in a position to give wide -publicity to the various poultry campaigns as they are undertaken. It will be noted from the foregoing that in inaugurating this work the Depart- ment had in mind a nation-wide campaign. In other words, it desired to point out and emphasise certain things which had to be done to stimulate production and which would have application all over the United States. In attacking this problem the Department did not consider any particular State or locality, but considered the country as a whole. It will be likewise recalled that in planning this work the first consideratiiMi was to greatly increase the food supply as a war measure. Now, how- ever, that the war has terminated the efforts of this organisation, it is devoting its time principally to the producing of poultry and eggs along more conservative lines rather than urging continued and unlimited increased production. In carrying out the programme for poultry production an effort has been made to put on separate campaigns for the different features of the work. This has been especially trjplicable to the " Hatch Early," " Preserve Eggs," " Produce Infertile Eggs," " Cull the Flocks," and " Keep a Backyard Flock " campaigns. At the proper season the effort of the men has been concentrated on some one of these various lines, with the result that it has been possible to push them in a more effective way than would have been possible had their energies been divided among the different campaigns simultaneously. Keep Better Poultry. — This phase of the work was constantly urged by the men. While increased production was sought, whether from mongrel or standard- bred poultry, the replacement of mongrel stock with standard-bred stock is greatly desired, for the reason that such stock improves production and, quality. The reports of the men show a decided interest in improved stock, and the repwrts of breeders this fall ind'cate that they are about sold out of surplus breeding stock, as the demand has been so brisk. In this connection it is interesting to note the special work along this line which has been done in the State of Mississippi. The Federal Poultryman in his culling campaign there has worked over nine counties and has secured the culling of 1,349 flocks, from which 10,792 birds weighing 25,900 pounds have been discarded as unprofitable producers. As can be seen from the extremely small average weight of the birds culled — 2.4 pounds — the poultry stock in this section was very small, unimproved, native stock. Select Vigorous Breeders. — The campaign for the selection of vigorous breeders was one which was quite closely allied with the " Hatch Early " campaign. As the men urged early hatching they at the same time urged the selection of vigorous breeders so that the chicks would be strong and profitable producers. It is impossible to measure the results that have been obtained along this line other than to say that the men report much interest taken in this phase of the work. Hatch Early. — ^The early hatching campaign has been one of the most important in the programme. Upon early-hatched chicks depended the success of the whole poultry programme to quite a degree. It is only from early-hatched stock that well-matured, vigorous pullets can be obtained which will begin laying in the fal; and early winter, and it is only from such early-maturing stock that the best pro- duction and greatest profit can be secured. Early-hatched chicks also mean hens which become broody earlier in the following spring, and this in turn allows early hatching to be continued to a greater degree where natural methods of incubation are 86 relied on. "J he various field men reported a vigorous pushing of this campaign, and their reports also indicated that their advice was being followed quite generally and that a much greater percentage of chicTcs have been hatched early this past year than ever before. It is also reported that not nearly so many well-matured pullets were marketed last fall as has previously been the casBj which would seem to indicate that the people realise the value of their early-hatched birds to a greater degree than usual and are holding them for their own use. In fact, in many cases it has been difficult to secure good early-hatched .pullets for those who wish to engage in backyard poultry keeping. Preserving Eggs for Home Use. — ^Farmers, poultrymen, and especially the people of the towns and cities, have been urged to preserve eggs in the spring and early summer, when they are relatively cheap, for use in the fall and winter, when they are relatively scarce and are high in price. Judging from the demand which has been received for information along this line and from the reports of various druggists as to their sales of water-glass, it is evident that a much larger number of eggs have been preserved during the past spring and summer than ever before. It is probably safe to estimate that this increased preservation is well over 100 per cent. Produce Infertile Eggs. — Our infertile egg campaign is one which we have been pushing for a number of years past, and from which very considerable results had already been obtained. The production of infertile eggs during the war time, when there was a stringency in the supply of food, was very important, for it was essential that every bit of good, wholesome food produced be saved for use and not allowed to spoil. This campaign was urged during the hot months, and especially in the more southern States, Wide distribution was given to our infertile egg placard in connec- tion with this campaign. It is striking to learn how widespread information has become in those localities as to what is meant by infertile eggs, where previously the meaning of this term was not well understood. In carrying on this campaign for infertile eggs, different weeks were designated in the different States for the sale of surplus male birds. These have frequently been called " Swat the Rooster Weeks." Enormous -quantities of surplus males which were not needed and which were simply being fed needlessly were disposed of as a result of this special campaign. For example, a report from the State of Iowa indicates that from one small town a car- load composed almost entirely of roosters was shipped on June 17 last. Similar reports have been received from other localities. Cull the Flocks. — Culling the flocks of hens and eliminating the unprofitable producers has been carried on throughout the late summer and during the fall. Perhaps no one of the campaigns has appealed to the farmers and poultrymen so immediately. as this. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that after the flock is culled, especially if the hens culled out are saved for a few days, it is very apparent to the farmer that he has saved a considerable amount of money in feed and labour by culling these individuals. Some idea of the extent to which the culling work has been carried may be obtained from a report previously quoted, that 300 farm flocks were culled in a single day in the State of Missouri in one county through the local leader organisation. Another report from Missouri shows that a single local leader has been responsible foi culling over 1,200 chickens. Still another report from that State shows 7,811 chickens culled. Some of the local leaders in this instance have reached 20 or more homes in the week. ^ /vce/> a Backyard Flock. — The campaign for backyard poultry keeping has been conducted, of course, very largely in the towns and cities. While it is impossible to give many definite figures in regard to the way in which backyard poultr\' keeping has been taken up by city people, judging from reports which have come in from different sources, it is evident that there has been a very considerable increase. In the State of Massachusetts it is repC/rted that many more people in the towns and villages are keeping poultry flocks than ever before. Reports from our District Agents also indicate a greatly increased interest in backyard poultry keeping in and around the cities in which their offices are located. 87 A report from Cairo, in the State of Illinois, shows that a survey of backyard poultry flocks in that place was made, both preceding and following the campaign along these lines, with the result that an increase in backyard flocks of about 80 per cent, was shown. A very effective means of arousing interest in backyard poultry keeping which has been used by several of our field men is the display of a pen of fowls and a suitable house for them in store windows in many of the cities and villages. Grow Your Poultry Feed.— .This campaign is one which has been conducted at any opportune time throughout the year. The idea here was to encourage poultry- men to make full use of their land, and to lessen the expense of feeding their hens by producing all of the feed possible. Home production of poultry feed was also urged for the reason that in some sections it has been difficult to get feed at any price, and a hpme-grown supply insured being able to carry the fowls through the periods when it was difficult to purchase feed. In some sections, notably New England, where relatively little poultry feed has previously been grown on many farms, it is reported that there is a nmch greater number of small plots of grain than have previously been noted. Eat More Poultry and Eggs.-r-Al\ of the men urged an increased consumption of poultry and eggs, both by farmers and city people, as a substitute for other forms of meat, in order to release these for export or for the use of the soldiers. This campaign has been carried on throughout the duration of the war, but it is practi- cally impossible to make any report which would show the results obtained from it. Conclusion. — Before attempting to give any general estimate of the results in increased production obtained as the result of our poultry campaign, attention should be called to the fact that to secure such an increase presented a very difficult problem. In the first place, the poultry industry had been in a rather precarious condition for a year or a year and a half previous to last fall. This had come about as the result of the increased cost of feed, without a proportionate increase in the price of poultry products. Naturally, the result of this discrepancy had been to discourage poultry keeping, and many exclusive poultrymen had actually been forced out of the business. The scarcity, of feeds in certain sections also contributed to these conditions, and this was more marked in the East and in the extreme West than in the more central portions of the country, where poultry was kept as a side line on grain-producing farms. At the time the campaign was started, there can be no question but what there had been a reduction in the poultry stock of the country, which in certain sections was a very serious reduction. For this reason, it has been all the more difficult to secure an actual increase, but from all indications the poultry industry has at least been brought back to the state of normal production, if an actual increase has not been shown. Judging from the reports of our different agents, it would appear that there had been a considerable increase in production in that particular part of the United States where most of our Extension Poultry Husbandmen had bee" located, namely, in the grain-producing section of the Middle West. The estimate? as to the amount of this increase range all the way from normal production to an increase of ten to fifteen per cent., and in a few exceptional cases even more. It would appear, therefore, that, in spite of the decrease which has occurred in the East and in the extreme West, there has been an actual increase for the country as a whole. OPEN CONFERENCE. The President : The first resolution I am going to ask you to consider is one submitted by the Midland Federatioia of Feather and Fur Societies. Mr. A. H. Brain : The resolution I have to propose is : Government Poultry Branches. ^That this Conference of International repre- sentatives of all sections of Poultry Culture hereby respectfully asks the Go\-ern. ments of those countries where Poultry Husbandry Branches, or the like, are not 88 permanently attached to their respective Boards or Departments of Agriculture, to establish with the minimum period of delay such Branches, with Committees of practical breeders and scientific Poultry Instructors and Investigators, to develop and advance Research and Experimental work in Poultry, regarding it as essential and necessary for commercial extension and development of the Poultry Industry in all countries. Mr. Robinson : I have much pleasure in seconding that resolution. Professor Punnett : I should like to consider what attitude our own Board of Agriculture would take towards this resolution. They are already looking after the interests of poultry. I do not know whether they have any special Sub-Committee for any other class of farm stock. I am not aware of the stations of the Board of Agriculture, but perhaps tlie gentleman who proposes this resolution knows exactly the stations of the Board of Agriculture. Is he quite certain that the .Board of Agriculture would not be in a position to say, We have already something of the kind in existence? The President : One of the points that naturally suggests itself is that this Resolution seeks to secure a closing up of the ranks between those who are respon- sible officially and those who are engaged in practical operations as well as in the teaching and scientific work. Personally I have a very great belief that there is no human brain that has got the capacity for seeing all round the case. As somebody said, " You have to have a very long neck to see all round the horizon from one window " ; and that would apply in a case of this kind. In a great many instances people do things, and then wish that they had had more knowledge before they did them ; and perhaps that maj' — I say it with all humility — apply occasionally to officials in various Departments. One of the lessons I have learnt in my life is, always discount your opposition beforehand, if you possibly can ; and I think perhaps Committees of the kind indic.ited would help in that direction. What we intend is that these resolutions shall be considered by the International Association to-morrow, and we will codify them and take the necessary steps to bring them forward to the proper quarter. On a show of hands. The President : The Resolution is carried unanimously. The second resolution is one that deals in a somewhat comprehensive way with questions of teaching and research, and this again would only apply to some countries, not to all : Poultry Instruction and Research. — That this International Poultry Confer- ence respectfully urges upon the Governments in various countries the essential importance of establishing as speedily as possible, where not already in exist- ence, Central Poultry Institutes for advanced teaching in Poultry Husbandry, and for the conduct of Experimental and Research work in this subject, so as to provide properly qualified instructors and operators ; that instruction in Poultry- keeping should be an integral part of the courses at Agricultural Cofleges ; and that systematic class teaching shall be given in the rural districts to those engaged in farming and country pursuits. And, further. That the salaries paid to and opportunities offered for advancement shall be the same as for other branches of agricultural teaching. Principal Foulkes : I have great pleasure in proposing that resolution. The Committee yesterday drafted a rather immature form of resolution, and the President had it in his hands and re^lrafted it. I think it is a resolution that commends itself. We have all expressed our opinions during the Conference on. this subject ; therefore, without any more words, I propose that resolution. Mr. Stanley Street (the Agricultural Wholesale Society, Ltd.) : I second the resolution. Mr. Robinson : It seems to me well worthy of support ; it is what we want badly enough in this country, and I suppose in other countries as well. The first resolution. 89 of course, covers the ground to some extent, lut this, I take it, goes a step further, and deals more especially with the rural districts. I have much pleasure in support- ing the resolution. The President : One point in it which is deserving of mention at this stage, is that our own Eriglish Board of Agriculture has recently issued to the County Coun- cils a letter asking them to draft schemes for agricultural education wholly, and amongst other requirements that are set forth i"; that there shall be a whole-time poultry instructor in each county, or group of counties, where they are small. To that extent the Board of Agriculture has already taken steps in this direction, which will set an example that may be valuable to other countries where they have not done anything. Miss H. MiERZEjEWSKA (of Poland) : Is there already a certain system applied to this kind of instruction? I am speaking in behalf of Poland, where we went it very badly, and it is one of the first things we are to start. Is there some organi- sation in that way, by which they could get instruction later on theoretically? The President : I think we could help you in that direction. Of course, our organisation is not as complete as one would wish ; so far as the United Kingdom is concerned, from the elementary point of view, Ireland sets, I think, the most perfect example. Is there any county in Ireland without instructors. Miss Murphy? Miss Murphy : There are six vacancies at present. Miss Mierzejewska : Miss Murphy has been good enough to give me some papers. I will look through them. I wanted seme information as to how to start with this instruction. Miss Kinross : In most Scottish counties there are instructors at the present time. Where counties are small they are grouped together, but on the whole we have one in each count)-. The work is done mostly in visiting the farmer and cottager and poultry-keeper, in the town and the village, \vho keeps poultry. Classes are formed in suitable centres, or lectu/es given in suitable districts, but not until a certain amount of visiting has been done. I will now put the resolution. On a show of hands : — The Pkfsident : That is carried unanimously. We have here two resolutions which are practically the same. One was sent in first by Captain Peirson-Webber : — " That this Conference recommends that no Agricultural Show throughout "the world shall hold an Exhibition of poultry without providing at least one " utility class." The other one is : — " That in the opinion of this Conference, Agricultural Societies in all " countries should establish in the Poultry Section of their Shows one or more " classes for utility poultry in conjunction with the classes now held for " Fancy stock." These twc resolutions are before you, and I think they cover the same ground. Captain-JEiRSON-WEBBER : I beg to propose the resolutions. Principal Foulkes : I have pleasure in seconding that. After considerable discussion the Presidnt said : Would this form of resolution be acceptable to Captain Webber? " Poultry Classes at Agricultural Shows.— Th&t this International Poultry " Conference is of opinion that at air Agricultural Shows where poultry are " included, classes for utility poultry shall be provided." I should like, before we go on, to invite either Mr. Van Gink or Mr. Beaufort to tell us something about utility classes in Holland. 90 Mr. Van Gink : We had trouble in separating the ideas of fancy and utility poultry, but we managed it. In studying what other countries had done, we drew up a standard of perfection. The standard for utility birds in some ways does not differ much from the fancy standard. These have up to now suited the judges all right. We certainly judge the birds for their plumage, but for the main part we judge them on their suitability for the purpose for which they are bred. There is another standard of perfection for utility classes in Holland which will be ready in about one and a-half years from now ; that standard will be an improvement on the first, which standard was not at all perfect. Mr. Brain : May I suggest to the Conference on this Resolution that it should be termed " utility classes for standard bred stock? " We must breed to a standard, and I think the clause should be altered in that way. Professor Punnett : Might I ask if this cuts out all cross-breds ? The President : That would be the tendency. Professor Punnett : Sometimes wc may find that cross-bred fowls are the best utility birds, and I would not like such birds to be excluded by the terms of this Resolution. Mr. Robinson : You could always have cross-bred classes. Professor Punnett: But would this Resolution include cross-bred classes; could they be worked in under this Resolution ? Mr. RoiiixsoN : I think so^ The President ; The question is, Is it wise for us to make any difference in that way ? All the regulations in the world would not do any good unless the judge was capable of seeing whether the bird was such a bird as you describe. It is really upon him to decide a matter of that kind. If Mr. Brain proposes an amendment, I will put it to the Conferenc-. Mr, Brain : I proposed my amendment from the point of view of strengthening the Resolution. I take it that a Conference of this kind is out to construct on th? best lines, and I think that by an amendment of this kind we should be not only encouragini^ the utility man but he would have something to build on. Mr. Allman (Western Australia) : In Australia, without exception, at every agricultural show they have classes for utility poultry. The White Leghorn in Australia must comply with a standard. In Victoria they have the Black Orping- ton. Most of you have seen photos of the Black Orpington that broke records. I know the show breeders or the exhibition breeders regard those fowls as black fowls, not Black Orpingtons, but Victoria has made a standard that those birds have to comply with at the utility classes. Every bird must comply with certain weights in the hen and cocks, both in White Leghorns and Orpingtons. We have not come ir the White Wyandottes, as vou have in England. I have pleasure in seconding Mr. Brain's amendment. The President: I will now put Mr. Brain's amendment, which has been seconded by Mr. Allman. Those who are in favour of the addition of the words " for standard bred poultry " kindly signify in the usual way. On a show of hands, there voted : For the amendment, 5 ; a larger number being held up against. The President : The " Noes " have it. I will put the resolution as it stands : " That this Conference is of opinion that, at all agricultural shows where poultry is exhibited, utility classes should be provided." On a show of hands the resolution was carried. The President : May I say here that one of the subjects for consideration in connection with the World's Poultry Congress, which we hope to hold in two years' time, is international standards? That is one of the questions that will have to come up. 91 The next resolution is : Combinations of Poultry-Keepers. — That in the opinion of this Conference poultry-keepers representing every section of the industry in each of the respec- tive countries should make some effort to combine, in order that all matters which affect the welfare of the industry as a whole may have the undivided support of all interested in the subject, and thus be able to bring pressure upon the Governments concerned to afford ex'ery possible support to this branch of food production. Mr. Robinson : I have Very much pleasure in proposing that ; I think it will have a far-reaching effect in all countries for the benefit pf the poultry industry. Mr. Stanley Street : I second that. I do feel very strongly on this point, that every section of poultry-keepers in this country and other countries should make one united effort and join together. We do not expect other people to look at it as we do, but we do want the support of the exhibition breeders and other classes in. the industry combined in order to see that the poultry irdustry gets that recognition which it must have from the Government if it is to make it of general interest. Miss Edw.ards : I have very much pleasure in supporting it. I feel it is abso- lutely necessary for the success of the industry that every poultry-keeper should be registered. There are three things — registration, organisation, and utilisation. If we can get every poultry-keeper as far as possible to register with some club, that should be affiliated to a central society, and, on the principle of the League of Nations, there should be a League of Poultry-Keepers who should be represented in some form, through the societies, on the parent societies. (The President then put the resolution to the Conference and, on a show of hands, declared it carried.) The President : The next resolution is this : Relief of Allies. — That in the opinion of this International Poultry Confer- ence the Committees formed in the different countries dealing with the poultry stock or funds collected for the devastated countries of Europe should get into touch with each other with a view to-securing an equable and practical distribu- tion. Mr. Van Gink : It was not exactly my resolution, but I asked that it should go from this body. If it can be done I will propose it. Mons. Delacour : I second it with pleasure. The President : This is a resolution that would not apply to the Governments ; it would have to go to the various funds that have been gathered together for distri- bution. So far as France is concerned — I am now speaking as one of the Executive of the Agricultural Relief of Allies Committee— the plan that was adopted there has been worked entirely through the French Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry has delegated one of its representative.s in each of the Departments, and the stock is sent and placed in the hands of those representatives, together with, of course, repre- sentatives of our Committee, and they have the responsibility. I suggest for your consideration in this matter that it would be impossible for an outsider to select the right people to receive any donation. That is absolutely impossible ; all that we can do, as indicated here, is that we should ask for an equitable distribution. In Belgium a rather different plan has been adopted. Belgium, of course, has not been devastated to the same extent as North-Eastern France ; the Armistice came so quickly, and Belgium was saved from what might have been a terrible state of affairs. There the Ministry of Agriculture is taking charge of the work; it is not settled in all its details, but that is done. In Serbia the work has been done entirely by the Ministry of Agriculture in association vvith the Agricultural Co-operative Societies, which have been pretty strong. However, I do not think it is at that end that we have diflfioulty. It is rather at the other end. If our American friends had been here I might have said they have been very keen to come over to Europe to look at things themselves, and 92- some of them took the opportunity of being sent by their Associations to help in the worlv of distribution. I do not blame them at all. It is desirable that there should be co-ordination. The plan adopted at the end of the Franco-Prussian War is one that might be copied with advantage; zones were left for each country, no two countries worked in the same zone. On a show of hands, the resolution was carried. The Conference adjourned at 12.30 p.m. LUNCHEON TO DELEGATES. During the interval Colonel Sir Robert Williams, Bart., M.P., entertained the delegates to luncheon in the Harcourt Room, House of Commons, Westminster. London, to meet whom were the Right Hon. Sir Arthur Griffitli-Boscaw^en, M.P. (Parliamentarv Secretary to the Board of .Agriculture and Fisheries), Sir A. D. Hall, F.R.S. '(Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries), Dr. Keeble. O.B.E. (Food Production Department). Sir Robert Williams, Bart., M.P., welcomed the guests in a cordial speech, and addresses were given bv Sir Arthur Griffith- Boscawen, M.P., Sir A. D. Hall, Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S. (President), Dr. Chen (China), Dr. Uriburu (Argentine Republic), and Dr. Keeble. The guests had an opportunity of visiting the Terrace of the House of Commons. On resuming at 3 p.m., The Preside.vt : The next resolution will be submitted bv Dr. ^'an Rvn, of Holland. Control and Standardization of Eggs. — This International Poultry Confer- ence, recognising the necessity for organising poultry-keepers for the purpose of guaranteeing the quality and origin of eggs, in order to safeguard the interests of producers as well as of consumers, expresses a wish that steps shall be taken to obtain official national and international recognition of such guarantee. This Conference requests the Council of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators to bring this resolution to the notice of the Governments associated with the Conference, and to formulate definite proposals for consideration at the First World's Poultry Congress. Dr. \'ax Ryn : You will remember from the observations we had on the first dai of this Conference that some question was raised with regard to the quality of eggs and it was the outcome of that discussion that, at the request of the Chairman, 1 drafted this resolution, and have now much pleasure in proposing it. You will all agree that one of the principal difficulties for the poultry-keepers is to realise the exact value of their produce, so that it is not, in some way or other, in unfair competition with those people who may, for some reason or other, have been keeping it back and trying to bring into the market, as new-laids, eggs which have been kept for some time, thereby making it more difficult for those who really bring their produce within reach of the consumers at the earliest possible moment. At the present time we know there are no regulations whatever, but law-suits have taken place in this country and in other countries from which it is apparent that diffi- culties exist. The principal difficulty was that it was not so easy to prove that an egg was really not new laid. There were other articles in which we have had similar differences. I may, for instance, mention butter and also cheese. I may tell those who are not conversant with the dairy industry that the purity of butter is considered by the analysts on the basis of certain chemical qualities, but the analyst sometimes finds difficulty, and it is, on the basis of some figures, absolutely impossible - to say that a certain article is pure. An enormous number of difficulties' have arisen, national and international. Holland is not first, because analysts in this country make more trouble about it, and they also had serious trouble in France at that time, 93 nd it did not appear possible to lay down an exact standard for what really should )e pure butter. The producers in Holland combined, they co-operated and said : " Look here ; we are first of all producers ; we are honest producers, and want to bring the article into the market as a pure article. We are to guarantee the purity of that butter, not because an analyst says it is pure butter, but because we can prove that this butter came into our hands exactly the same as it came from the cow." That was done by way of establishing a certain mark of guarantee, which was super- vised by the Government. At that time, about fifteen years ago, there were serious difficulties in importing butter into this country from Holland. The British Govern- ment sent officials to Holland to see what that guarantee really meant. They sought the co-operation of farmers and came to the conclusion that this label which was put on the butter was an absolute guarantee, whatever the composition was, that it was absolutely pure butter. An international arrangement was made, which is still in existence, so that the British Authorities and the British analysts, when getting butter from Holland, although the chemical composition does not in any way affect the quality, know that this butter is absolutely pure. There is an international arrangement when you secure a guarantee from tne producer. A similar thing happened with regard to America. The .Vmerican Government did not admit cheese as full cream unless it contained 50 per cent, of fat. Cheese here and in other countries does not always contain 50 per cent. ; it contains at least 45, but sometimes between 45 and 50 per cent. The American Government would not admit that cheese as full cream. That was detrimental to the Dutch. You can understand from a commercial point of view what that meant to the producers. The producers started an organisation by which they could guarantee the genuineness and the purity of the article. The Government said, " We will super- vise that ; you stick to these rules and then we will put a stamp on the article, which will be recognised internationally." I am of opinion that a similar sort of thing can be done by poullry keepers. We are producers of an article with regard to which it is very difficult at times to accept the exact value as regards freshness and origin. When a similar sort of guarantee is organised you will find they will be able to come on the market and say, '" Here are eggs; they are guaranteed by this combination of producers, which is recognised officially." The produce of those men will be recognised in the national, as well as in the international market, as a real fresh article, and an organisation like this will help very materially in obtaining the best value for }"our article on the market. I do not wish- at present to discuss in what way this can be done; all these things depend on conditions in the country itself ; it may be different for England, Ireland, and Holland. We have no knowledge how it should be done for each individual country, but it will always be possible for Governments to recognise that that arrange- ment in that particular country is suitable for the country, and give the guarantee which is required. It is for that reason that I submit this resolution. It is a very difficult question to settle, and I propose that the Council of the International Association, who proinoted this Conference, should begin to collect records of the different systems that exist in different countries, ask the representatives of these different countries to prepare very accurate reports and papers for the next Conference, and formulate resolutions for discussion. In that way we can see what results can be obtained, and what can be done for the poultry industry in order to secure the best value for its products. Mr. Beaufort : I have pleasure in seconding the resolution. The President : Mr. Beaufort, you remember telling me about the control you were trying to establish in Holland ; was anything done on those lines? Mr. Beaufort : We stopped it through the war. The President : The reason for my asking this was that, when I was in Holland, just before the war, Mr. Beaufort told me that something was being proposed with regard to it. You had one or two Conferences then. With regard to control in its application to Dutch produce, we have representatives of the trade here, and I think 94 it would be well if some one connected with the egg trade would say something on this point. There is another resolution which Mr. Bennett Opie is to propose. I am not sure that the two do not run together, ^^'ould you propose that resolution now, Mr. Bennett Opie? Mr. B'iNNETT Opie : Mine is a very short resolution, but it depends very much on what Dr. Van Ryn has been saying. As I told you early in the week I can only speak from the English point of view. Those of us who are in the trade are aware of the difficuly and the waste through lack of organisation or control, and I am very anxious that something should go forth from this Conference which will help the authorities to see the importance of control, of some sort of State control, in the way of packing dairy produce, eggs in particular, before they are sent to the market. I am quite sure in that way not only will poultry keepers, but the whole country benefit, and food will be saved. My proposition was something like this : Marketing of Eggs. — That this International Poultry Conference recom- mends some steps should be taken by the respective State Departments to enforce a better system in the grading and packing of eggs. Mr. Brown has informed us more than once this morning that these resolutions must have an international bearing. We quite understand that. This has been carried out in some countries ; it has been carried out in Denmark, I think, from what I have heard, in Holland and in other countries. Dr. Van Ryn : In Ireland? Mr. Bennett Opie : In Ireland to some extent ; but there is much to be done there. I am thinking of Ireland all the time, and am hoping that something of this sort will be done in that country. You know in connection with the fruit trade, especially in Canada and California, where the apples come from, there is an inspec- tion of the barrels. An inspector goes round before the barrels are coopered up and examines the packing, consequently when they arrive here all the apples are alike in the barrel, all the same size, and the man knows what he is selling. Soinething of that kind can be done in connection with eggs, but there must be some form of State aid, that is State aid b}- way of intelligence. I am not suggesting State aid by way of money ; I have been teacliing this for twenty-five years, there must be State aid by way of intelligence. I think it well to tell this story again, as it applies to Cornwall and other counties in England. A farmer whom I knew used to carry his eggs to the market in two baskets hung across his shoulders, one basket balancing the other. One day he had only enough eggs to fill one basket, so he filled the other basket with stones to balance it. Somebody said, " Why not divide the eggs, put part in one basket and part in the other? " He said, " My father carried them like this, and I carry them also, you mind your own business." It is an exaggerated story, but applies very much to the methods we have in dealing with our produce in some parts of the country. I am therefore very anxious to support Dr. Van Ryn's resolution, and if these two could be merged into one, to make an international scheme, I should be glad to support it. I propose that some sort of State control should apply to the packing of goods for the market, and if the packer did not do his duty the inspector should tell him. Mr. Thos. Martin (London Egg Market) : I second it. Dr. \'an Ryn : I would like to support the resolution. I do not think they would go together ; the one is the question of guarantees of puritv and freshness, and the other is a question of packing ; but I support Mr. Bennett Opie in his resolution. I think it is important that something should be done in that line, but do not think they should be merged together. The President • There is no reason for it. The two can be discussed together, because they are connected with marketing. We have representatives from Ireland as well as other countries, if they would like an opportunity of speaking on this question. 95 Mr. '1 . S. Porter [Irish Department of Agriculture) : I approve of Dr. Van Ryn's resolution. It is very desirable that some such arrangement as he suggests should be made. It seems to me, however, that what we require are conditions as to the marketing of eggs somewhat similar to those which the gentlemen represent- ing Canada referred to yesterday. I have not a copy of those, and they are very elaborate, but something like them would meet the case very well. We have been attempting to do something of this kind in Ireland, but we have not any compulsory powers, and therefore have failed. We find that, especially since the war, the English buyer is only too ready to buy any sort of egg. I do not rnean the two gentlemen who are here, but other English buyers. When we approach the ordinary producers in Ireland and ask them to grade and to test, they say they would not be paid for the extra work. I am bound to say I think that is the case since control came in ; it has been entirely advantageous to the dishonest tradesman and the dishonest merchant ; they have snapped their fingers at it, and it has heavily handi- capped the producer and the merchant who have acted honourably. It has done a great deal of harm, and has put back the hands of the clock very seriously, undoing in a few months the work that we have been carrying on for a very long time. It will take some little time to pull it back again. I am glad to say that I think the control is gradually disappearing. • If the proposal of Dr. Van Ryn is passed, and something of the kind is to be discussed next year, I hope the question as to what constitutes a new-laid egg, a fresh egg, and a stale egg, will receive very serious consideration. The Department to which I belong think that we do know, and we have reasonable suggestions to make. I find, on looking over the Canadian conditions, they correspond very much to the conclusions that we have come to. We believe that people who are fairly expert can test pretty well whether an egg, I do not say is new-laid or fresh, but what its condition is. To my mind it does not matter in the least what age an egg is ; it matters what the condition is ; vou might have a bad egg unfit for human consumption only three days old, and another that was quite eatable after three weeks. I do not mean a preserved egg. I myself have eaten with great pleasure eggs that were pi-oduced on my own Tarm that I knew were thirty-five days old. I am quite sure if they had been given me at a hospital I should have accepted them as perfectly fresh eggs. Some little time ago a proposition was made in this country which we in Ireland felt would have been disastrous to us, and I think it would have been disastrous to Continental countries. It came up in a trial which many of you ma}' know, in which Lipton's were interested in Glasgow. The proposition was actually made and submitted to the Department to which I belong that it should be laid down that an egg could not be described by the trade — that is, either the wholesale or retail trade — as a new-laid egg if its age exceeded seven days, and that it could not be described as a fresh egg if its age exceeded twenty days. Now that means that, under existing conditions of carriage, no Irish egg could be sold in this country as new-laid ; it would be absolutely impossible under the existing conditions of carriage, and not many could be sold as fresh eggs, because it is a common thing for eggs to take ten days now to come from an Irish packer's depot to the English importer. I myself sent some the other day from where I live in the North of Ireland. The package was sent by me on Monday by passenger train, and it was delivered on Friday evening at Denmark Hill. Of course, you may answer, " war conditions." The proposition that I have just referred to requires careful consideration. The sugges- fion that an egg is to be regarded as new-laid if it does not exceed seven days in age, and as fresh if it does not exceed twenty days, is to my mind absolute nonsense and very unfair to the consumer, and also to the foreign competitor who desires to send to this market. As the representative of Ireland, I do not ask any favour at all. I think we should stand on our own the same as Holland, Denmark, and anybody else, and they should have every advantage that we have in coming here. But I do say that this proposition with regard to eggs is an absurdity ; I defy anybody to tell me that an egg is seven days old and is not thirty, or vice-versa. I am quite ready to put eggs 96 before anybody who undertakes to do that, and test them. I have heard many people say it, and have never seen anybody come out of the test. We had an address the other day by Captain Peirson-Webber. I never listened to a speech about poultry with greater pleasure than I did to that of Captain Peirson-Webber, but if he will allow me to do so, I suggest, with great diffidence, that he is wrong in one point. I feel perfectly certain he is wrong, and a great many other people are wrong on the very same point. They think, and a great number of fancy breeders think, that you can tell the age of an egg by the width of the air space in it. That is wrong ; I am perfectly certain you cannot. It is somewhat of a guide, but by no means accurate. I have had eggs two days old with an air space the size of a halfpenny. The guide is— as the Canadians have found out — the depth of the air space, and I think that under the Canadian conditions they go on that ; but the idea that width, diameter, or size of air space is a guide is wrong. I was astounded to hear Captain Peirson-Webber say that he could tell by feel the depth of the air space. I am heartily in support of the resolution and I know that my department would be onh- too happv to submit proposals for consideration. \\"e ' have proposals of this kind now, and what we are aiming at is classifying the exporters accord- ing to certain conditions. That is to say, if we know that a certain exporter of eggs tests them, he rejects what wc call the stale egg, that he packs his new-laid eggs separately, that he separates cracked and broken eggs^ we put him in a class — (a), (b), (c), (d), and (x). Class (a) nobody has got into ; class (b) we have a moderate number in ; class (c) a few more, and class (x) is the great bulk. I am sorry to say that, but it is so. A great move is being made and is being forced on rapidly by the action of the carrying companies lately in insisting on a type of box conforming to certain conditions being used solely for the conveyance of eggs at the companies" risk. What effect that is to have on the companies' traffic I do not know. Mr. Bennett Opie : I must really take exception to Mr. Porter's view as to a fresh egg and so on, as he has been describing. I do not say for a moment that an egg three weeks old may not be as good to eat as an egg three days old if it has been properly kept, but, having had 38 years' experience in dealing with new-laid eggs, with the tuition I have received from dairymen in London, I am quite sure that if my tuition is right he must be wrong. The only criterion is the size of the vacuum in an egg ; that is, up to a certain point ; when an egg has been laid three weeks that is another matter, but you can tell an egg that has been laid a week or so by the size of the air space, and that air space increases in size for every day that the egg has been laid. Now I can tell Mr. Porter something else. He would have great difficulty to sell me an Irish egg as an English egg, both eggs being the same age and laid by the same class of hen. That is to say, I could tell an egg that has been carried by water, even though the sea were as smooth as a millpond. If anyone wants to learn something about eggs, I venture to say that no one could deceive me in that ; I could tell an egg that was carried by water, even if it were carried in a man's pocket. So you must not expect to get absolutely new-laid eggs from Ireland, but we do supply new-laid eggs to our shopkeepers from English counties. Mr. Porter : What is a new-laid egg? Mr. Bennett Opie : An egg is very susceptible to all influences, but if it is kept ii a proper package it is quite all right in three weeks' time or a month's time. In the summer time, of course, an egg is not new-laid after three weeks. The President : You will see what a multitude of important points are involved in the two resolutions before us. I have no doubt whatever that the Internat'onal Association will take up this matter as recommended, if you carry these resolutions, and I think one of the first things we shall try to do in any committee we form will be to get the evidence on all sides. 97 . ¥''• K.1TSON : I was to make a suggestion. I realise this is a very big subject. - '* '^ P'^stponed, as I understand, for consideration until the next annual meeting ^■J ( ■'^^°'^'3''°"— I rather feel it would not be got through now— would it be pos- sible for this Association to appoint a committee or sub-committee representative of the different interests? I was to suggest to-morrow at our Association meeting we should appoint a committee. Dr. Van Ryn : I understand that the question how that is to be done will come up to-morrow. The President : Yes. This Conference is a temporary one ; to-morrow's meet- ing is the permanent Society that would naturally take it up. I will put these two resolutions. First, the one proposed by Dr. Van Ryn and seconded by Mr. Beaufort. On a show of hands that was carried. The second, proposed by Mr. Bennett Opie, seconded by Mr. T. Martin, was also carried. The President : The next resolution we have here is a very important one, which Mrs. Fawkes is to propose : — Women's Institutes. — That this International Poultry Conference suggests to Agricultural Departments in the various countries assisting the Poultry Industry by encouraging the organisation of Women's Institutes and employing experts to lecture and conduct demonstrations in Poultry-keeping to village women, and as far as possible encourage co-operative Poultr\-keeping on up-to- date lines by their members. Mrs. Fawkes : I believe the Women's Institute is an organisation that goes throughout the world — certainly throughout Canada, America, and Great Britain — • I do not know about the Continent ; other people can tell jou about that. It came home to me that that was an organisation at our hands which might be used to teach village women of those countries, and I shall be glad to know if Miss MacQueen agrees with me on the question. Miss Edwards seconded. Miss MacQueen : I would like to ask Mrs. Fawkes how far she wishes the encouragement to extend. Do you mean that the Food Production Department should help them with regard to education? Mrs. Fawkes : I think that would be a matter for each Department in every country to decide for itself. If the money could be provided by the Food Production Department, by the Government, well and good ; if not, perhaps each Institute could be self-supporting in the matter. Miss MacQueen : The position as regards education here is that the local education authorities are responsible for providing education and for advising on agricultural subjects. They receive a proportion of what they spend from the Board of Agriculture, as apart from the Food Production Department. I should like to say a few words about these institutes. The Women's Insti- tutes were originally started or encouraged by the British Food Production Depart- ment in order to increase the supplv of food during the war, but that is not their sole aim and object. These institutes are bodies of women who are banded together for mutual improvement and help. They may take up any subject they like ; they may co-operate for food production or for instruction in domestic management, care of children, matters of hygiene ; in fact, I do not think there is any one subject in which these Women's Institutes are not interested. Up to the present in this country we only have 916, but our idea is that every village in England and Wales shall have its Women's Institute. These institutes are entirely self-supporting; the members usually pay a fee of about 2s. per annum. In some cases they have a building, where they have been able to secure it; in other cases they borrow a room in which to hold their meetings. They are not always Women's Institutes, although they are called such. In Wales especially we have a joint institute— namely, the Village Institute — and it 98 i^ quite possible we may gradually develop until all our institutes in this country are joint. This is a personal opinion. I have been watching them, and find that, as they develop, men are very anxious to come in on certain subjects. Now it seems to me that poultry-keeping is one of the things on which they would like to work with the women. If these institutes form Co-operative Societies, that is a case where the men of the village would be equally anxious to come in, and, of course, above all, we should need education for development on its fullest lines. The dififtculty I foresee about the education is this. These institutes are develop- ing very rapidly. Up to the present few have touched poultry-keeping, although they have dealt with a great many other subjects. The reason they have not taken up poultry-keeping has been largely due to want of feed. Now that food is becoming more plentiful, no doubt a great many of them will turn their minds very seriously to the poultry industry, with the result that we may have hundreds of these institutes wanting help and advice in organisation, and expert help in every part of the poultry industry. The difficulty is, where are we to get those experts in sufficient numbers to enable those institutes to develop? I was very glad to be asked to attend this Conference, because I wish to learn how we should deal with this problem. We simply help the institutes to start, but do not help them to run. Each institute should be entirely democratic, run itself, support its own industry. If we could formulate a scheme that would assist them to organise and develop, I think it would be an excellent thing. I would like somebody else to make further suggestions with regard to this. The President : What about the County Instructors ? I suppose you think there would not be enough of them to give the help. Miss MacQueen : Well, practically the County Instructors ought to do the work, but supposing we get a county with a very large number of institutes and no instruc- torSj where are we? If they only had one instructor in each county I am afraid that very little progress could be made. I take it the farmers should be asked to help, and everybody else, in developing this industry. Principal Foulkes : I feel very strongly that it would be a distinct advantage for the industry in the country districts to have the support of the Women's Institutes. With regard to education, there is a great risk that, if the Women's Institutes were delegated to carry it out, there would be a certain amount of overlapping. As you suggested just now, the County Instructors should have that particularly in their hands, but there again the difficulty arises that one Instructor in a county cannot carry it out sufficiently. A preliminary start could be made by support in organising the lectures arranged in the county, the County Instructors helping in every way they can, and, of course, watching and furthering the work arising from such meetings. But for the present we can hardly see the way clear to find the number o* experts that would be required for the Institutes throughout the country. Captain Clarke : I might say that I have had an opportunity of meeting two of the leaders in connection with Men's Institutes in Great Britain ; I have also met the lady who has charge of the Women's Institutes in Great Britain. They came to me together to discuss what might be done. In Canada we have had Farmers' Institutes for many years, and the Women's Institute was a growth from that. First of all they were started laregly to improve communal conditions ; there was a grant made by each Provincial Department of Agriculture towards it, and one of the stipulations was that the women should meet in the school in their district. These ladies met there once, and when they had a look at the school they decided they did not want to come there. But I might say the conditions in those schools improved very remarkably within a short time after the women went in and had a look. They have taken up very many lines of com- munal improvement ; there is hardly anything they have not touched, and during the war they have been of the greatest assistance in connection with Red Cross work. The Women's Institute have raised almost more money than anybody else in Canada. 99 In connection with instruction, we have Provincial Departments of Agriculture and the Dominion Department. The Provincial Department of Agriculture has oversight with the Department of Education and Instruction. Besides that, we have in every Province many men representing the Dominion Department. I repre- sented the Dominion Department in Prince Edward Island as head of the Experi- mental Station, Mr. Curie represented the Poultry Department, and Mr. Major represented the Dairying. These were all Dominion officials in that particular Pro- vince, doing work on educational lines rather connected with the Women's Institutes. An Annual Conference is held of all Women's Institutes, and at that Conference papers are read ; an exj^ert on poultry would be there and give an address. These representatives of the Women's Institutes take back the information to their own institutes. Besides that, from the autumn until towards spring, short courses held at different centres under the direction of the Department of Agriculture for the Pro- vince. A lady superintendent is placed in charge, and the course may last two or three weeks. The Women's Institutes select the girls who are to take the course, In everyone of those courses a series of lectures is given on poultry. The students take a great deal of information back to the Women's Institutes, and they talk it over. I have quite frequently gone out and given addresses to these Women's Instftutes throughout the province, and they are the most appreciative audiences you can find. Quite frequently they have a " spread," and at such a time as that the Men's Institutes are invited. I have often gone to a large building where the Women's Institute held a meeting and the men held at the same time a Farmer's Institute. Then they all came together and had a " social evening," with amuse- rhents of various kinds, until it was time to quit. Then I have been out in thd country where they had no such facilities, and, joining together, had an evening once a month. The Women's Institutes have perhaps done more to make rural life — what shall I say? — happy, because there has been a tendency for our young people to leave the rural areas and go where they can get amusement, where they can meet together as they are now doing under the Women's Institutes. Although they have that name. Women's Institutes, they are made up largely of girls ; the majority that I have visited have been composed of girls under twenty. The Hon. Florence Amherst : In Norfolk a little while back they asked me if I could find lecturers for the Women's Institute upon poultry. These were rather difficult to find at once. I thought of different people, such as farmers' wives and school teachers, and asked them if they would be willing to lecture if called upon ; and they have done so ; several lectures have been given with great success. I thought that would save travelling expenses, and interest everybody. One man who teaches in a school has taken up poultry as a hobby, and has been very glad to give lectures. Miss Maidment : I should like to say what has been done in the county of Durham in connection with Women's Institutes. The first of our institutes was started by a Canadian lady. I think now we have seventeen formed. When they were started they immediately applied to the local Education Authority to help them by providing instruction in different subjects. The first thing we did was to give instruction in poultry-keeping. In many cases we took round models to show them how to make small houses, and after that we arranged exhibitions of houses that had been made out of boxes. Then they had at several institutes exhibitions orga- nised by themselves ; people became very keen, they had exhibitions of eggs, and it led to a great interest being taken by women in poultry. Then we had in different centres a cheese-making school, in which we gave instruction. That resulted in very good exhibitions being given. A large number of women keep goats. In addition, they had lectures bv gardeners on gardening, and demonstrations of food produc- tion. All were followed with great interest, and the Agricultural Education Com- mittee were prepared to give grants for instruction in basket-making and provide instructors at other centres and in other subjects ; but the instructors could not be g2 100 found. That is the difficulty. As long as these institutes remain about the same number as they are at present, I think that the Local Education Authorities could provide the instruction. Of course, if they increased tremendously, either we should have to get more help to cater for these Institutes, or the Institutes would have to be provided with instructors to go round. I think the Institutes will do a great deal of good in other cases. We- have nearly all married women. The girls during the War have all been doing other work, but the married women have found it of great advantage to come to these Institutes to exchange recipes and to converse on household matters. There is great attention paid to pig-keeping as well. The President: Really what comes into one's mind as the result of this discussion is that we want an enormous strengthening of the Extension workers right throughout the country who are taking up branches such as these. That is really what it would mean — is not that sOj Miss MacOueen? If we adopt the system of Extension workers taking up certain branches, Counties would have Extension workers, whose business was to go round to promote the Institutes, and then help them ? Miss MacOuken : That is what is needed. I should say we have only 916 Institutes now, and they are not to have much influence on the country unless we have at least ten times as many. The growth will be certainly very rapid, and I can foresee an enormous demand for instruction, not only in poultry, but in other branches. On a show of hands the resolution was carried. Mrs. Fawkes : I now propose resolution : Extension of the Poultry Industry. — That in the opinion of this Inter- national Poultry Conference the importance of the Poultry Industry in those countries where it has not been developed on modern lines should be recog- nised, in view of the world's shortage of food, and the Conference urges the respective Governments to encourage and develop the Industry. I have rather taken the line that we should not look at it from any individual country point of view, but from the point of view of the whole. Mr. Robinson : I will second that. It struck me that we ought to put in India because India is such a thickly populated country; you have hundreds of millions of people there. Sometimes we hear they are almost on the verge of starvation, in spite of the railway facilities ; but as we know that poultry is one of the classes of animals that reproduces itself most rapidly, I think it is important that we should pass a resolution of this kind. The PrI'Sident: Would it be acceptable if we make it apply to all countries without naming any one ? Mrs. FaWkes : Yes, certainly. Will it be forwarded to the Governments concerned ? The President : Yes. to every Government. The resolution as amended was, on a show of handSj carried. Mr. T. R. Robinson : I beg to move the following resolution : — International Production and Trade. — -That the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators be requested to consider whether a representative Committee should not be formed, with delegates from various countries, for the purpose of considering questions relative to the Poultry Industry as to the productive and commercial sides, and for the bringing before the Governments concerned the taking of action to meet special con- ditions as these arise, such Committee to be formed of delegates appointed by the. respective Departments of Agriculture, Poultry Societies, &c., in those countries. 101 I take it this resolution is to endeavour to pool some of the suggestions; also to endeavour to prevent overlapping in some cases, and to try and substantiate some correlation as to the scientific procedure at various Institutes. It is so very necessary for our Investigators to know what others are doing, and also to try and corroborate the results. If a Committee could be formed, commercial, scientific and productive, to get out a scheme in which many could joinj the evidence and the results arising from those investigations would be of very much more importance to the Industry than if that were done by, say, one country alone under special conditions. That is the reason of trying to form Committees to work these conditions out. Mr. Alimann (Western Australia) : I have pleasure in seconding that; it is a matter of great importance for the whole of the Industry throughout the world. I feel sure Australia would join very heartily in that work. After a pause The President : If there is no discussion upon it, I will put the resolution. Of course, I quite understand in matters of this kind you have not faced the problems, of which there are many involved. I speak perhaps a little feelingly, but in this resolution there is a great conception, which, if it were taken up, might revolutionise the whole Industry and bring about that mutual understanding between the various countries which is so desirable. I frankly tell you the consti- tution of the International Association does not allow it to take up directly the productive and commercial sides. There should, however, be correlative action, and, to some extent, separate action in some way. On a show of hands the resolution was carried. The President : That brings to an end the resolutions that have been submitted for consideration. These will be taken up to-morrow by the International Association, and I want again to give a very hearty invitation to those who may be in town to attend our meetings. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The President : Before we bring our proceedings to a close Mr. Prain informs me he has something he wishes to say. Mr. Prain (Board of Agriculture for Scotland and I. A. P. 1. 1.) : I think this is a suitable opportunity for us to express our sincere indebtedness to the Royal Agricultural Society of England for their kindness in putting at the disposal of this Conference this excellent Hall. This is an historic Chamberj a Chamber in which a great deal of business of national importance has been done. For the last three days we have been engaged in business of international importance, which, I am sure, will have very far-reaching effects. We have been extremely comfort- able ; I do not think we could have got a more acceptable or more comfortable suite of rooms. We have had every attention from the attendants. We ought to take this opportunity of conveying to the Royal Agricultural Society of England our sincere thanks for placing these rooms at our disposal. I beg to move accordingly. Mr. Van Gink : I should very much like to second that motion and to add something which came to my mind on Wednesday night while I was at a dinner. We came over to this country to see what we could learn. When I arrived at Tilbury Docks, and in making our way to London, there was something which struck me very much. It seems that the British world, and more especially the British Empire, seems to have enlarged its spheres more than any other country I have seen. When some people were talking at the N.U.P.S. dinner, and running down their own country, I was thinking of that. They look upon Continental organisation work as so different. But you have to remember that yours is a 102 high-spirited nation ; it is the high spirit of the British nation that prevents you sometimes from doing systematic worlc. I am proud to have been in your country, after you have had such a hard time. The Prksident : I should like to say that the Royal Agricultural Society has always been most liberal in this way; they have placed this building at our disposal absolutely free of any charge. I have been a member of the Royal Agricultural Society for thirty-five years; therefore, as a member I have a right to come myself, but I have not a right to bring a Conference here. However, the Governing Body placed the Hall of this building at our disposal, and we shall have it to-morroiv. I shall be pleased to convey the resolution to the Royal Agricultural Society and express the indebtedness of the Conference, as well as of the Inter- national Association. I put this motion : — " That the thanks of the Conference be conveyed to the Royal Agricultural Society of England for its generous loan of the premises for our Conference." In doing so, let me tell you that in this room is done a great amount of work, not only by the Royal Agricultural Society, but, in fact, all the deliberation with regard to the Agricultural Relief of Allies has been carried out on the seats where you are sitting. This room is historic in many respects. On a show of hands the resolution was carried unanimously. The President : That, Ladies and Gentlemen, concludes our Conference, and, as I said before, I trust that we may be favoured with your presence to-morrow. I do feel myself that probably some of you who are younger in years and have been permitted to take part in this Conference at the close of the great catastrophic war that we have had on the Continent, will look back upon this as marking a new era in the development of our Industry. We have been making history in this room, history that, if we fulfil our duty to the fullest extent, will be felt in the decades, and perhaps in the centuries, to come. I thank you for your response. Mr. BiiNNETT Opie : I should like to say we are deeply grateful to Mr. Brown for the courteous way in whicTi he has conducted this Conference, and for his leniency in our Debates. He has been very kind to us, and he has ruled the Conference in a statesmanlike manner. Our thanks are due to him for his courtesy, and I propose these be accorded. Mr. William Clarke : I have very great pleasure in seconding the resolution. 1 was wondering if this was the last opportunity we should have, and I should have been sorry for us to have closed if I lost the opportunity of thanking Mr. Brown for bis unfailing courtesy and for all that he has done in connection with this Conference. Captain Clarke : You have heard this motion. Those in favour will show evidence by standing and giving a hearty hand-clap. The motion was carried with acclamation. The Pkesident : I thank you all. It has been a great joy to me to see you here, and I hope we may meet again and be able then to realise that our gathering together has been fruitful of results. Thank you very much. The Conference then terminated. 103 International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators. Meeting of Members held at 16. Bedford Square, London, W.C. 1, England (by kind permission of the Royal Agricultural Society of England) Friday March 14th, 1919. The meeting was called to order by the President at 10 a.m. Present: Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S. (London), President; Mr. H. 'B. Beaufort (Holland), Mr. W. A. Brown (Ottawa, Canada), Capt. J. A. Clark (Charlottetown, P.E.I. , Canada), Miss Kinross (Kilmarnock, Scotland), Miss Maidment (Sherburr, Hall, Co. Durham, England), Miss Murphy (Cork, Ireland), Miss Newbiggen (Edin- burgh, Scotland), Mr. T. S. Porter (Dublin, Ireland), Mr. F. W. Rhodes (Newport, Salop, England), Mr. T. R. Robinson (London, England), Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink (The Hague, Holland), Dr. J. J. L. Van Ryn (Netherlands Government), M. Chas. Voitellier (Paris, France), and a number of visitors. The President named Miss Murphy as Secretary of the day's meetings. Apologies for non-attendance were received from Dr. Leon J. Cole (U.S.A.) Mr. Percy A. Francis (Scotland), Mr. J. S. Gordon (Ireland), Mr. W. A. Kock (Den- mark), Professor W. A. Lippincott (U.S.A.), Mr. Thos. McGrew (U.S.A.), M. J. A. Pichot (France), Mr. A. M. Prain (Scotland), and Professor J. E. Rice (U.S.A.). REPORT OF COUNCIL The President submitted a Report adopted by the Council of the Association, November 29, 1918, as follows : Up to August, 1914, membership in the Association was steadily increasing and the Ministries of Agriculture of Queensland and South Africa also contri- buted to the funds. On the outbreak of war, and especially as the struggU intensified and the areas of conflict extended, there were no other courses open than to suspend active operations of the Association, though in many directions influence has been exerted which we anticipate will bear fruit. Since 1914 no subscriptions have been asked for or received from Members. There is, there- fore, only a moderate amount of money in reserve. Prior to August, 1914, in accordance with the resolution adopted during the Conference held July, 1912, steps were taken to arrange for the First World's Poultry Congress, which, it was believed, would have a powerful influence upon the Poultry Industry, and enable the Association to extend largely its operations. In this respect it was felt that we should endeavour to secure an invitation from one of the Governments. Negotiations were entered into with various Ministries of Agriculture. Finally, and immediately prior to the outbreak of war, the Netherlands Government, thanks largely to the efforts of Mr. H. B. Beaufort, cordi-ally undertook responsibility for the First World's Poultry Congress, fixed to be held in 1916, which invitation the President, on behalf of the Association, accepted, and in July, 1914, attended a meeting at The Hague, when a joint International Council was formed. Three weeks later war was declared, and the project was necessarily abandoned foi- the time being. Meanwhile, and in view of more speedy action, a Conference was summoned of the International Council and representatives of Ministries of Agriculture, Societies, &c., to be held the second week in March, 1919, to consider and devise 104 means for restoration of the Poultry Industry, especially on the instructional and investigational sides. In 1915 the President received a letter from the Russian representative on the Council, Baron Gontscharoff, suggesting that steps be taken to remove German members from our list. At that time the desirability of suspending the question was suggested. In 1917, however, the subject was again raised, and on receipt of strong expressions of support, the President, in conjunction with the Honorary Secretary, removed the names of Professor Beeck and Direc- tor Haas from our Council. Although conditions have prevented attainment of the plan of operations foreshadowed when the Association was instituted, much has been done in reply to inquiries and in giving information to correspondents in many parts of the world. Among these may be named communications with the Egyptian Govern- ment and the Committee for restoration of Palestine. Finding, during two recent visits to America of the President, a strong desire to help Allied countries that have suffered so terribly, he lias communicated with the Ministries of Agri- culture in Belgium, Serbia, France and Italy. The two first-named of these will gladly welcome such assistance and guidance, the opportunities of which are very great. Such is a brief summary of the work of the past five years. It was impos- sible to do more. Now we have to anticipate and make ready for developments which are imperative. Upon these it is unnecessary to enlarge. The question of Finance is one which requires special consideration. Much might be done by personal effort in various countries. The President is prepared to give time for work of this nature. The cost of travelling is the main difficulty. This was adopted on the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink. DEATHS OF MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. Announcement was made of the deaths of the following members of Council : M. d'Aubusson (France), Professor W. Hopkins-Jones (Wales), which was received with deep regret. ELECTION OF MEMBERS. On the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Miss Murphy, there were elected as members of the Association : The Hon. Florence Amherst (Norfolk Agricultural Committee), Foulden Hall, Stoke Ferry, Norfolk, .England. Capt. J. A. Clark, B.S.A., Superintendent Experiment Station, Charlotte- town, P.E.I., Canada. M. Jean Delacour, Sec. Soci^te National d'Acclimatation de France, 28, Rue de Madrid, Paris, France. Miss Edwards, Poultry Instructor, Coaley, Glos., England. Mrs. Fawkes, Hon. Sec. Indian Poultry Club, Woolley House, Braishfield, Romsey, Hants, England. Principal P. H. Foulkes, Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, Salop, England. Mr. R. HouwiNK, Hzn, Meppel, Holland. Miss Maidment, Principal, Poultry and Dairy School, Sherburn Hall, Durham, England. Mr. T. Martin, London Egg Exchange, 63, Chaldon Road, Fulham Cross, London, S.W. 6, England. Miss Miezejewska, Ladies' Land Union of Poland, 13, Sto. Krzyska, Warsaw, Poland. 105 Miss H. F. Newbiggen, Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agri- culture, 13, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland. Mr. Tom Newman, Hon. Sec. Scientific Poultry Breeders' Association, The Beeches, Rudgwick, Sussex, England. Capt. F. P. Peirson-Webber, Hon. Sec. National Service Poultry Club and Poultry Instructor, Ettington House, Stratford-on-Avon, England. Mr. T. R. Robinson, Hon. Organising Sec. National Utility Poultry Society, 3, Vincent Square, London, S.W. 1, England. Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink, Poultry Consultant, 14a, Huijgenstraat, The Hague, Holland. Dr. J. J. L. Van Ryn, Netherlands Government, 8, Hart Street, London, E.C. 3, England. M. Charles Voitellier, Maitre de Conferences k ITnstitut Agrono- mique, 16, Claude Bernard, Paris (Ve.), France RESIGNATION OF DR. RAYMOND PEARL, HON. SEC. The Council of the Association has received a communication from Dr. Raymond Pearl as follows : Until the time of the entrance of the United States in the war, I had been engaged for many years in the scientific investigation of problems of poultry husbandry. In May, 1917, I was compelled to drop this and enter upon the service of my country. This was done in the full expectation that, at the cessa- tion of hostilities, I should return to my work with poultry. In the interval which has elapsed, however, there has been a more or less fundamental change in my work, which will, in the future, make it quite impossible for me to carry on active researches with poultry. About a year ago I resigned as Biologist ot the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station to accept a post as head of the Department of Biomietry and Vital Statistics in the School of Hygiene and Public Health of Johns Hopkins University. Under these changed circumstances, and in view of the fact that in all like- lihood I shall not again hold any official post connected with poultry work, it becomes not only necessary, but also the wise course, for me to resign as Honor- ary Secretary of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investi- gators. Accordingly I beg hereby formally to tender my resi.gnation. In resigning I wish to express in the strongest terms my deep appreciation first, of the honour which you have done me in giving me the post of honorary secretary, and, second, of the manifold kindnesses which have been shown me by the Members of the Council and of the Association at large. I sever these most pleasant relations with deep regret. I need hardly say that the Interna- tional Association has my heartiest wishes for a continued success and prosperity which will assuredly be its portion. I deeply regret that I shall not be able to take a part in the important and far-reaching work it will have to do in connec tion with the problems of agricultural reconstruction in Europe. (Signed) Raymond Pearl. November 29, 1918. Resolved, on the proposal of Mr. H. B. Beaufort, seconded by Capt. J. A. Clark : That the Members of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators, in accepting the resignation of Dr. Raymond Pearl as Honorary Secretary of the Association, which position he has occupied since its foundation in 1912, place on record their appreciation of the service he has rendered in that office, and in his labours for placing it on a firm and sound basis. That is but part of the work accomplished by him. By his great scien- tific knowledge and investigations he has done much for the advancement of knowledge, more especially in the breeding of poultry, and of raismg the 106 pursuit on to a higher plane. Whilst the loss to poultry husbandry is serious in the extreme, and is regretted by all, the Members desire to congratulate Dr. Pearl on his call to wider service, and wish him every success in his new fields of inquiry and research. The action of the Council in conferring the Honorary Life Membership on Dr. Raymond Pearl was confirmed. Resolved, on the proposal of the President, seconded by Mr. H. B. Beaufort : That Dr. Raymond Pearl, of the School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., be the first Fellow of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators, and that such Fellowship be hereby conferred. MEMBERS FROM CENTRAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. The action of the President in removing the names of Professor Beeck and Director Karl Haas, from the Roll of Members was confirmed. After discussion, in which a suggestion was made that the Association should be guided in respect to candidates for membership from Central European countries by the action of the League of Nations, it was agreed, on the proposal of M. Chas. Voitellier, supported by Dr. Van Ryn, that further consideration be deferred to the next meeting of the Association. ELECTION OF OFFICIALS AND COUNCIL. The President stated that in accordance with the Constitution the President, Secretary, and ten Members of Council should have retired in 1915 ; ten other Coun- cillors in 1918 ; and the remaining ten Councillors in 1921. Owing to the suspension of the Association's operations upon the outbreak of war in 1914 no action had been taken. Resolved, on the proposal of Dr. J. J. L. Van Ryn, seconded by Miss Maidment : That the respective periods of service of Officials and Members of Council be extended in each case by a term of six years, as from 1912. As a consequence the President and Members of Council elected to 1915 will retire in 1921 ; the Members of Council elected to 1918 will retire in 1924 ; and the Members of Council elected to 1921 will retire in 1927. Upon the proposal of Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink, seconded by Mr. W. A. Brown, M. Chas. Voitellier, Maitre de Conferences k ITnstitut Agronomique de Paris, was elected Vice-President of the Association. Upon the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Miss Kinross, Professor W. A. Lippincott, Professor of Poultry Husbandry at the Kansas State College of Agriculture, Manhattan, Kan., U.S.A., was elected Honorary Secretary and Trea- surer of the Association, in which office, upon the recommendation of Dr. Raymond Pearl, supported by other American Members, Professor Lippincott had agreed to serve. Owing to the two deaths recorded above, the removal of the names of Messrs. Beeck and Haas, and the retirement of Mr. Will Brown (Scotland) and Major Norton ^South Australia), as these gentlemen are no longer eligible, six vacancies were open. For four of these the following were elected Members of Council : Mr. Percy A. Francis (Scotland), Miss Kinross (Scotland), Miss Murphy (Ireland), Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink (Holland), leaving two others for co-option by the Council as opportunity presents itself. Luncheon interval, after which the meeting was resumed at 2.30 p.m. 107 WORLD'S POULTRY CONGRESS. As reported above, in consequence of the outbreak of war in 1914, the arrange- ments made for the First World's Poultry Congress to be held at The Hague, Holland, 1916, had been necessarily suspended. A letter to the President was sub- mitted from the Netherlands Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, renewing on behalf of his Government the invitation to The Hague for the Congress. Resolved, on the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Miss Kinross : That the sincere thanks of the International Association of Poultry Instruc- tors and Investigators is hereby accorded to the Netherlands Government for their invitation to hold the First World's Poultry Congress at The Hague, which is cordially accepted by the Association, with the assurance that it will use every effort to promote the success of this Congress, which will bring together those engaged in poultry work in all parts of the world. And, That the President of the Association, Mr. H. B. Beaufort, Mr. W. A. Kock, Mr. G. S. Th. Van Gink, Mr. T. R. Robinson and M. Chas. Voi- tellier be delegated by the Association to serve with others nominated by the Netherlands Minister of Agriculture upon the Executive Committee of the First World's Poultry Congress. RESTORATION OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. In the absence of any definite information as to the manner in which poultry can be supplied for re-stocking devastated areas in Europe, owing to the fact that in those districts a commencement will have to be made in rebuilding and restoring the destroyed villages and farms, no plans could be adopted for assisting in this important work. That question, together with projects for re-establishment and development of Training Centres, of Extension of Research and of Experimental work were delegated to the officials for action as opportunity offers. NATIONAL POULTRY POLICIES. Mr. W. A. Brown called special attention to the need in all countries for adop- tion of a great campaign for (1) A greatly increased production of eggs and poultry on the most economic lines ; (2) Improvement of quality in eggs and poultry and to that end for dis- crimination in values ; (3) Improved methods of marketing and, where conditions are favourable, on co-operative lines ; (4) Dissemination of markets intelligence ; (5) Better storage and preservation conditions ; (6) Improved service in transport ; (7) Standardization of the products ; and (8) Bringing about a great increase of consumption by advertising and trade organisation. He called attention to thei fact that Dr. Galium, in his work on " The New Nutri- tion," has shown that eggs are not only one of the most valuable foods, but that these supply necessary elements in human nutrition not found in most other foods. It was stated that in Canada the average consumption is now 5 eggs and "J the United States 4 eggs per week per unit of population, which it is believed could be increased to one egg per diem per individual. After full discussion, and in view of resolutions remitted from the International Poultry Conference, it was resolved, on the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Miss Murphy, that the need for definite National Policies in respect to poultry should be brought before the attention of all the various Mmistnes of Agriculture and Poultry Societies in order to secure their adoption. 108 The following suggestions were made : 1. The distribution of propaganda literature setting forth the food and medicinal value of eggs. 2. The use of Press advertising, bulletins, posters, tube or street car and board advertising. 3. The inauguration of exhibits at Shows, Fairs, and in store or shop windows. 4. The enlistment of the aid and sympathetic support of retail merchants' associations, wholesale distributors, &c., in the use of windows and display advertisements. 5. Domestic science demonstrations and lectures at Women's Clubs, Women's Institutes, and elsewhere. 6. The adop'tion of the ideal for consuniptioi» "An Egg a Day." 7. Public addresses and lantern talks before consumers and co-operative purchasing organisations. 8. Use of moving pictures for propaganda. 9. Circulation of an International Bulletin setting forth the principles of " The New Nutrition," so far as it applies to eggs. RESOLUTIONS REMITTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL POULTRY CONFERENCE. The following resolutions adopted at the International Poultry Conference (March 11 to 13) were considered and approved : RESOLUTIONS. 1. GOVERNMENT POULTRY BRANCHES. That this Conference of International representatives of all sections of Poultry Culture hereby respectfully asks the Governments of those countries where Poultry Husbandry Branches, or the like, are not permanently attached to their respective Boards or Departments of Agriculture, to establish with the minimum period of delay such Branches, with Committees of practical breeders and scientific Poultry Instructors and Investigators, to develop and advance Researcli and Experimental work in Poultry, regarding it as essential and necessary for commercial extension and development of the Poultry Industry in all countries. 2. POULTRY INSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH. That this International Poultry Conference respectfully urges upon the Governments in various countries the essential, importance of establishing as speedily as possible, where not already in existence, Central Poultry Institutes for advanced teaching in Poultry Husbandry, and for the conduct of Experi- mental and Research work in this subject, so as to provide properly qualified instructors and operators ; that instruction in Poultry-keeping should be an integral part of the courses at Agricultural Colleges ; and that systematic class teaching shall be given in the rural districts to those engaged in farming and country pursuits. And, further. That the salaries paid to and opportunities offered for advancement shall be the same as for other branches of agricultural teaching. 3. POULTRY CLASSES AT AGRICULTURAL SHOWS. That this International Poultry Conference is of opinion that at all Agri- cultural Shows where poultry are included, classes for utility poultry shall be provided. 109 4. COMBINATION OF POULTRY-KEEPERS. That in the opinion of this Conference Poultry-keepers representing every section of the Industry in each of the respective countries should malie some effort to combine, in order that all matters which affect the welfare of the Industry as a whole may have the undivided support of all interested in the subject, and thus be able to bring pressure upon the Governments concerned to afford every possible support to this branch of food production. 5. INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION AND TRADE. That the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators be requested to consider whether a representative Committee should not be formed, with delegates from various countries, for the purpose of considering questions relative to the Poultry Industry as to the productive and commercial sides, and for the bringing before the Governments concerned the taking o* action to meet special conditions as these arise, such Committee to be formed of delegates appointed by the respective Departments of Agriculture, Poultry Societies, &c., in those countries. 6. WOMEN'S INSTITUTES. That this International Poultry Conference suggests to Agricultural Depart- ments in the various countries assisting the Poultry Industry by encouraging the organisation of Women's Institutes and employing experts to lecture and con- duct demonstrations in Poultry-keeping to village women, and as far as possible encourage co-operative Poultry-keeping on up-to-date lines by their members. 7. RELIEF OF ALLIES. That in the opinion of this International Poultry Conference the Committees formed in the different countries dealing with the Poultry stock or funds collected for the devastated countries of Europe should get into touch with each other with a view to securing an equable and practical distribution. 8. EXTENSION OF THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. That in the opinion of this International Poultry Confenence the importance of the Poultry Industry in those countries where it has not been developed on modern lines should be recognised, in view of the world's shortage of food, and the Conference urges the respective Governments to encourage and develop the Industry. 9. MARKETING OF EGGS. That this International Poultry Conference recommends some steps should be taken by the respective State Departments to enforce a better system in the grading and packing of eggs. 10. CONTROL AND STANDARDIZATION OF EGGS. This International Poultry Conference, recognising the necessity for organ- ising Poultry-keepers for the purpose of guaranteeing the quality and origin of eggs, in order to safeguard the interests of producers as well as of consumers, expresses a wish that steps shall be taken to obtain official national and inter- national recognition of such guarantee. This Conference requests the Council of the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators to bring this resolution to the notioe of the Governments associated with the Conference, and to formulate definite proposals for consideration at the First World's Poultry Congress. With reference to Nos. 9 and 10 of the above Resolutions, it was resolved, on the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown, seconded by Mr. T. S. Porter : That a Sub-Committee be formed to which the various Departments of Agriculture be invited to name delegates, in order to consider the adoption of international standards of quality for eggs, improvement in grading and packing of eggs, and methods of enforcing any regulations which may be adopted, and to report at the First World's Poultry Congress. 110 For that Sub-Committee the President was appointed to represent the Inter- national Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators, in whose hands was left the selection of one or more to act with him in that capacity. FINANCE. A statement was submitted by the President as to the Finances of the Associa- tion and the need for augmenting its funds, thus enabling it to carry on its work. Various suggestions were received in this direction, and it was resolved that an endeavour should be made to secure a Fund of £1,000, so that the Association may prosecute its operations with vigour. A resolution passed by the International Poultry Conference to the effect that a full report of its proceedings, with papers read and discussions thereon, be pub- lished, was approved, provided that the cost can be met. It was announced that the representatives from China, France and the Netherlands had each guaranteed £10 for that purpose. Instructions were given that a letter on this question should be sent to the various Departments of Agriculture inviting their co-operation. THANKS TO THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. Resolved, on the proposal of the President, seconded by Captain J. A. Clark : That the International Association of Poultry Instructors and Investigators tender their sincere and grateful thanks to the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England for placing the Council Chamber and Rooms, 16, Bedford Square, London, W.C. 1, at its disposal for the International Poultry Conference and Meetings of the Association during the entire week, and for the attention paid by the staff of that Society, such hospitality greatly assisting the Association in its work. A grant of £2 2s. was voted to Mr. R. Fuller, the Royal Society's attendant, for his uniform courtesy. On the proposal of Mr. W. A. Brown a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the President (Mr. Edward Brown, F.L.S.) for his conduct of the International Poultry Conference and Meetings of the Association. The proceedings then terminated. EXCURSION TO DODNASH PRIORY, BENTLEY, SUFFOLK. On Saturday, March 15, the delegates visited the Laying Competition con- ducted by I he Great Eastern Railway Company, in association with the National Utility Poultry Society, upon its farm at Dodnash Priory, Bentley, Suffolk. About sixty accepted the generous invitation of the Great Eastern Railway Company, enjoying its abundant hospitality not only by the special train provided, but in the luncheon and tea served en route. The party were received at Liverpool Street Station at 10 a.m. h\ Lord Claud Hamilton, chairman, and other directors of the railway company, who, together with several of the leading permanent officials, accompanied the party and throughout the day ministered to the comfort and interest of the delegates. At Bentley Station motor-cars were awaiting to convey the company's guests to the farm, v^here Mr. J. N. Leigh, Superintendent of the Laying Tests, was waiting to show visitors around the excellent series of pens, where are pullets entered by various breeders. The return was made promptly, arriving in London at 6 p.m. During the day many opportunities were taken of expressing conjointly and individually the appreciation of the guests to Lord Claud Hamilton and the Great Eastern Railway Company for so delightful and interesting a close of the week's proceedings. Fortunately, the day was beautifully fine. Later the Company presented each guest with a set of photographs taken during the day. Feinted by The Victoria House Pkinting Co., Ltd. TuDOB Street, E.G. 4.