EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 October 1913, Page 4

EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

THE MISSOURI CONTEST.

DESPATCH OF MASTERTON CONTINGENT.

Six pens of white Leghorn pullete will leave Wellington by the Taluti

to-morrow to compete in the third!

national egg-laying contest. This virtually a world's championship, the

competition being open to the world* In order to secure entries from some of the most prominent New Zealand breeders of white Leghorns, the State poultry experiment station at Mountain Grove, Missouri, commissioned Mr J. B. Merrett, editor of the N.Z. Poultry Journal, to select pens, from six of the N.Z. breeders who are known to have high-class-layers, the Missouri authorities of-

fering to defray all expenses ofthe

competitors from leaving the own* ers' yards till arriving at the competition. The six breeders representee! are Messrs J. W. Green (Christchurch), H. Leger (Levin), A.' Browne (Napier), A. G. Mumby (Wet» '.lmgtoft), JR. 0. Jari'ett (Masterton), and H. Masefield (Auckland). Each; of these pens may be relied oipon to uphold the prestige of the N.Z: whiteLeghorn; as being in the world's front rank of egg layers.

For some years past American writers have twitted the Austailian and New Zealand poultry authorities, with stretching the long bow in connection with egg-laying records. This little. band of "Alt Whites" from the land of the "All Blacks," are going to endeavour to prove themselves worthy of the home their ancestors have made. Tlio local representatives from "Willow Bank" are a likely-looking team, and unde* reasonable we are confident that they will give a good account of themselves. Mr 'Jarrott has moved away from the beaten track in regard to the usual procedure! when sending birds to competitions.: Instead of arriving just at the laying stage at the competition, he has selected eight pullets, six to compete, and two spare birds, which have a four months'.trap-nest record behind' them. We are not at liberty to state the number of eggs laid to date. Suffice to say that each pullet ia a layer worthy of "Willow Bank," with the prolific type stamped all over them.

In the words of an editorial com* ment in last month's issue of the N.Z. Poultry Journal: "No doubt wo shall be handicapped, our birds will' have passed a winter here, then another on arrival there. It is a long 'journey, and there are many risks to take. The Americans will find New Zealanders can bo sports in the true sense of the word. We don't care a fig for the dollars or the gold cups, but we do care for our reputatoin. Firty-eight birds will leave our shores to tackle the big proposition. We. may not establish 250 records or wftf the prize, but we mean to show tho stuff our birds are made of." ; ( The "Willow Bank" contingent will carry, the good wishes o} Wairarapa poujtrymen with them.