Show I Annual Shows Great reat Aid to 10 Poultry FancierS Uniformity In Breeding One Result I Industry in Arn America lica Owes Much to Specialists and Ex- Ex Which Have Standardized Standardized Stand tand- Branches of Work THREE SYSTEMS US USED D I j II N J U U li I N li eX H I I I Comparison Gives Relative Standing bec Decimal Shows Value of Characteristics Explanatory of the Defects BY Y P PROP OF FREDERIC H. H STONE- STONE BURN t I y rapid of the ons poultry industry in ill illI I Ali America ca has been due to lo a number num nurn- ber er of different influences not the least of these being heing the Ilic activity ity i of or the poultry fanciers and tile tie general interest est created IY by hy bythe UfO the tIie great grent l shows show Thu have existing 1 bree breeds s of poultry an and ell created now v 4 ones t the thc he exhibitions ha have Llou brought hl these before the general public stimulating interest and anti e creating untold numbers of new In f fact the shows vs are l 10 t the le greatest culture beds bels of the lie heI I chicken fever bug wInch seems to reach its ifs greatest virulence virulence vim vim- viru- viru lence in ill such The Tile favorite market hick duck of 1 h poultry breeders is the thc Aylesbury the physical character character- j. j of of which arc 1110 clearly cally Ir- Ir f in M. M r. r Grahams Graham's s 's drawing This breed re resembles t the lie le popular in iii man many respects but is s t slightly larger and find has a a. somewhat some some- what di hod body tion Though possessing very desirable de cle- le- le I market qualities time the ha lias not s succeeded in b supplanting n tic the 1 lekin in In popular v. v lar sl i in America t r rr poultry Industry owes much to I THE t the ilie tan lers of ot America without n JO J tb of poultry pr production c would probably b beota be beon on 01 ota a 1 much loss es secure foundation In fi rt mu much h of at or orthe the progress In poul- poul tr culture along Qiong both utility and fanby tanS fan fan- S by lines ines Is the direct result of at the magnificent work of or the truo fancier Hie tho devoted breeder of ot thoroughbred to fowl t The fanciers as a class breed poultry pout poul- I tr try I with the I view vIv w of or producing producing- sped sped- rii possessing exhibition quality fit tit lo 9 inter the tho in competition for prizes i A few breed fine birds merely for tor their own pleasure but the tho e t expect to co Dave theIr flocks ks yield some sOUle revenue re from the tho r.- r. male ale aIe of or eggs gs f for r hatching baby haby chicks bree breeding Ing and exhibition stock As a ruI rule fanciers devote themselves es to tc recognized breeds of ot poultry though aCc a afew te Cc few seem to ta specialize in iii the pro production uc- uc tion of Dt some new breed or ariot variety which the they hope to make malte popular be because be- be cause of ot beauty or some ome special qualities tics ties not found in n existing e kinds To the fanciers then must be given giver credit for the perfection In which our ow various broe breeds s nn and varieties are aro no now br bred d and for tho the Introduction of new no kinds from Crom time to time Because of ot this work worl tho entire business lia- lia beon beer placed on a higher plane Ilane and system system- Today roday it is possible for tor a n. man In California to order eg eggs s sor or stock stok 1 of ot a. a certain variety arety from Crom a breeder In an any other state feeling sure ure that he ho will get birds s o of at a n. definite size Bizet conformation and feather markIng markIn mark- mark In Ing and that possesses certain fixed L characteristics such uch as as' color of ot eggs egg etc lS l'S J HE O In the tho old da days s such purchases were t In Invariably a sort ort of ot gamble each breeder bleeder having his personal Ideas re regarding re re- garding what a bird of oC ft ft certain kind should be and since there theio was wa was such a I 1 Irl n nl n Inn I Y I t In n v v. v 0 thore there was a a. great diversity among amonE fowls Cowls of ot different flocks of oC the same alleged breed bree Gradually through co cooperative co- co cooperative operative action effected b by the tho various varIous var var- ious poultry clubs more uniformity was wan secured and the whole matter was os speedily b by br the tho organization of oC a tL- wide nation e association of or poultry poul poul- tr try fanciers an and bre breeders tho the American American Ameri Amen can Poultry association The most moat Important important im tin- and helpful work of ot this great organization has been the establishment establish establish- mont ment and publication of ot breed standards standards stand stand- ar ards g or descriptions which have hae serc served 1 to place upon upon a a soll solid foundation foundation tion the business of oC soiling selling hatching ogg-j ogg and stock and made possible the great poultry exhibitions which are such a feature of ot the industry today The fanciers have hone done more marc than this Their support in the tho form torm of ot a advertising ad advertising ad- ad has m made dc the publication publication pub pub- of ot a great number of ot creditable creditable creditable credit credit- able poultry Journals which could not exist on the revenue received from subscribers alone Thc These e publications are arc most active agents in the extension extension exten exten- sion of the tho Josp gospel l of at better poultry and their columns are arc filled with hn SUl JUl r. r lilt work of oC poultry keeping easier cAsler and pleasanter and the results surer In passing It mr might ht be bo stated that no other single branch brunch of ot animal husban husbandry hus bus ban bandry n. n has han devoted to it It so man many excellent excellent ex ex- periodicals IIA ifA HAVE g I AfI AIDED D I INDUSTRY I The fanciers too toot have steadfastly stood for Cor or the betterment of at the tho industry industry indus indus- tr try b by supporting all such uch orthy worthy canons cansIs as the establishment an arid and extension extension extension ex ex- ex- ex tension of ot poultry departments at tho various state agricultural ag colleges nn and experiment stations and anti the enactment of ot beneficial la laws ws bearing upon the tho industry this vital Interest and concerted action on the part of oC these able ahll breeders tho tIm American hen would still stihi be at tho tall of ot the procession procession procession sion instead of at occupying tho the proud place immediately behind tho band as asat asat asat at pre present ent Tho The poultry show Is Is' Is tho the climax ellma- of ot the fanciers fancier's year ear After Arter months of ot planning and careful work beginning with tho the selection and mating matinS of ot the breeding stock Mock and continued throughout through through- out the hatching growing Io selection grooming and training of or his best specimens specimens ape ape- ho lie finally sees his hla pets In open competition with the tho bost best other othol breeders breed breed- em ers can produce The relative merits of ot each o exhibit are passed upon by unbiased Unbiased un un- biased expert Judges and the brooder thus learns whether ho is entitled 1 to tho the crown of ot success or must return to his homo borne with no and the determination to overcome the the- faults in his birds another season eaBon Thus ThuR the big show provides at once an on education and an inspiration for tor the the fancier Cancler who could not otherwise learn the exact degree of ot perfection to which his stock has been developed MEANING U OF AWARDS To the commercial fancier whoso business it ft is Js to sell eggs and stock the placing of the thc awards means much usually demand tho best j I Ic C J th t 4 1 r I 4 I p h J- J j.- j. h L i x i 1 I iw I I mY I AYLESBURY DUCKS This is s the favorite market duck alIck of oC England where it has held first place for a century at all least It originated in Ill the lie ale vale of Aylesbury in hamshire and ana from this section gets its name narno It is a large duck weighing eight aud and nine lime pounds for duck and drake respectively cly is white in iii plumage with ith white hill bill skin fat and flesh The Tho legs leg an and feet ar are arc palo pale yellow It lays a a. large white shelled translucent egg averaging a about to a a. duck The rhe ducklings are arc hardy rapid growers and are arc easy to mature and fatten reaching marketable size from nine to eleven v weeks ecks and their Judgment is largely Influenced in influenced In- In influenced by br the tho show record of ot the tho ad- ad ad ad- at a big exhibition exhibition tion then bring plenty of business another season As a result tho the competition competitions Is s er very keen leen and every exhibitor looks after alter each de detail tan no matter mattor how slight ht In his effort to win the coveted ribbons ribbons ribbons rib rib- bons which indicate superiority ami and bring the tho cash silver silvor cups and other prizes which are welt well worth striving for Because of ot this rivalry tho the poultry shows create creato a largo large amount of ot business bustness business busi bust ness In birds of exhibition quality Astonishing As As- prices aro are frequently paid for tor show sho- specimens of oC the moro more popular popular popular lar breeds 1 From 25 2 j to GO each for tor females and from 75 to for tor males malesIs Is la commonly secured and much munch higher prices are aro often obtained for Cor exceptional exceptional Individuals Exhibition pens consisting of oC four females and a male mal 1 have sold for Cor and one string of nineteen birds brought brough t the tho tidy sum suni of oC 2200 It Is a well known fact act that leading breeders frequently refuse higher prices than those rather than weaken their flock b by selling their best specimens The Tho e season n be begins In tho the fall tan atthe at tho the various arlous fairs fair and reaches its Ita culmination culmination culmination cul cul- cul- cul at time tho big big- winter exhibitions at nt Philadelphia Now New York Boston Chicago Chicago Chicago Chi Chi- cago and other similar national ex e Here aro are congregated thousands thousands thou thou- sands of tho tiia best birds of ot tho year the tho competition Is la keenest and the prizes most eagerly sought BEWILDERING G SIGU SIGHT When hon the uninitiated visitor enters the showroom with it Its Ita thousands of oC specimens caged alike aUko and arranged in classes each bird an apparent counterpart counterpart counter counter- part of its neighbor he wonders how howIt It Is possible for Cor tho the to choose between thorn them and hang the ribbons on the tho right light coop Upon investigation ho he learns that this has been mado made pos- pos b by the general distribution of ot the breed standards formulated b by th this the American Poultry association and published published pub pub- in ono one volume tho the American Standard of ot Perfection This Tub book contains a detailed description de description do- do of oC tho the male and of or eVer every recognized breed and variety arIet in including In- In clu eluding ln all such points as shape shape- and weight of cJ tf cocks cockerels hens liens and pullets the the size size- and shape shapo of or comb bill head bond legs feet etc the tho color orthe of or the tho eye of ot shanks and toes of ot tho the plumage on the various parts of ot tho the bo body the tho size shapo and and color of or crests leg feathering and any an other special features characteristic of ot the time breed In short this standard Is the bUl guide e for tor tho the breeder and tho the measure b by which the time value of ot each specimen Is determined With this tills guido guide before him each breeder is enabled t to select birds for tho the show knowing that hi his competitors will use the tho same samo standard and that the judge will apply alpl It a when placing tho the awards Without some such 8 system stem the tho shows would be a a. failure and tho the trade In n eggs gs and stock would of or necessity be bo con conducted on an uncertain and unsatisfactory basis JUDGES ARE ARC J SPECIALISTS The Tho visitor will further learn that the Judges ate are specialists specialists experienced experienced men who have given much time Uma and attention to the various classes to which thc they are arc assigned Also Aso that there thero aro plenty of ot other men present who could be Invested with tho the Judicial toga toga usually a a- along long linen lInon duster and and give bhe satisfactory decisions In short tho the whole affair Is completely systematized systematized as the result of or the experience of man many years At tho the present time there thero are two systems of ot judging In vogue compari compari- comparison son and scorecard In comparison Judging tho the jUdo judge carefully compares the tho specimens entered in each class and merely announces his decision tinder Under Under Un Un- der tho the scorecard plan tho the ju judge go prepares prepares pre pro pares a a. detailed car card for each bird entering thereon under appropriate headings the tho defects and the cuts a a. schedule of ot which appears In tho the Indispensable standard These cuts are totaled up and deducted from time the perfect score score tOO points points and and tho the bird with tho the highest score wins The Tho comparison system possesses tho advantage o of oC speed permitting the jUdg Judges s to moro more quickly make known the awards which Is s appreciated alike b by exhibitors and visitors Tho value of oC the scorecard plan lies In tho the fact that the tho scores enable each exhibitor to know how closel closely his birds camo caine to winning the coveted prizes evon even though a personal visit to the tho showroom Is not nOl possible Further the tho card shows in detail tho defects noted In the va various various various va- va rious birds b by the tho experienced Judge o and so serve seT as a no guide for tor futuro future work ll G OF OJo SCORECARDS Scorecards are aro printed In three separate sep sop arate arato forms torms The standard card is theono the tha theone ono one recommended b by tho the American Poultry association and Is Js most widely widely wide wide- ly used usell On this tho various sections s sot of ot tho tue bird aro are given different t values values In different breeds according to the tho I relative Importance of oC sections in the breed for which It is used Tho The decimal scorecard divides tho the bird into ten sections and is used for tor all breeds on the ground round that a per por- feet head on a R. Leghorn Is Js worth nomore no moro more than a perfect head on a tL- P Plymouth Plymouth Plym Plym- Rock This card carll Js Is easier castor to learn and apply than tho the standard card and is quite popular It 1 Iq JE the Lenin form usually adopted by tho the classes in poultry poul poul- tr try Judging judging- at the agricultural col col- leges Tho rho third and most recent typo Is tho the explanatory card on which t the judge enters explicitly the character and Im Ira- of or each defect detect This Is a great help to the beginner as ft It t shows him exactly whore his birds tall fall to meet tho established standard Tho The relative value of ot these two s sj-s- sj sterns s 's terns In Is still sUll the cause of or considerable controversy In tho the Jar large ar o shows es especially es- es in tho the cast east the tho comparison comparisons s system stem is preferred while in tho the west scorecards are used quite lUite frequently DIVISION JN X N SHOWROOM In tho showroom the birds s are arc di divided dl- dl vided I ed into breeds varieties and classes classel Each class contains the specimens of ot like ago and sex as follows Cocks males over 1 year ear of or age cockerels males under 1 year rear of ot age ase hens fe |