EGG-LAYING CONTESTS.

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1924, Page 7

EGG-LAYING CONTESTS.

AMERICAN ORIGIN.

Britain has played a very important part in the history of laying contests, although America can claim the honour of arranging the first test in this direction. The first egg-lay-ing contest was conducted in Anieri«v.i and was known as "The National Stockman and Farmer Contest," which was held in 1889-90 and repeated on a much larger scale in 1894-95. It whs conducted on totally different lines as to how these tests are run now. Tho contesting hens did not leave their homes, and were attended to by their respective owners under fairly close supervision by the manager of the contest.

There was no trap-nesting in vogue and only the pen totals were recorded. These final records were confirmed by affidavits. England can claim the honour of running the first contest in which small pens of seleete:! birds were brought together at a common venue and attended to by independent officials. This contest was held at the Harper Adams College in 1897. The period of the test was sixteen weeks, and continued so up to 1007, when hte contest became one for twelve months. The Australians wore the first to run a 12 months' contest, which was held in New South Wales in 1902. This contest was subsidised by a local daily paper, and since thei many other similar contests have been established both in Australia and New Zealand. The great Kansas contest was started in 1904, which held sway in the States until 1911, when three others were set agoing, these being the International at Storrs, promoted by the Philadelj phia North American; the National it Mountain Grove, Missouri; and the International, British Columbia. In the Mother country the contest at. the Harper Adams College still holds the lead, although, there are now quite a number of tests held all over England.