Capons, first crosses, and Geese. Experiment Station Exhibit at the Winter Show of the R. I. Poultry Association.

ter in charge, will think it best to take measures to secure more complete statistics relating to poultry than were ever before collected.

THE RHODE ISLAND POULTRY ASSOCIATION.

By permission of the Board of Managers, considerable time was spent the latter part of the year in the interest of the Rhode Island Poultry Association. Its winter shows furnish us the best opportunity for placing the results of the work of this Division before those interested in poultry matters.

Although this Society has been in the past, a union of fanciers, those who raise beautiful birds for recreation or for profit, its exhibitions have done much for the practical poultry raisers of this State. To bring their choice productions before the public and make sales or advance the cause, fanciers have spent time and money in keeping up their annual shows. By causing pure bred fowls to be very generally kept, they have spread a knowledge of the proper care of poultry and have freely scattered material for the improvement of the common stock of the country. From this material the wide awake farmer and practical raiser has selected that really practical or profitable and discarded the tender or undesirable kinds. The great benefit that the poultry industry has thus received, can hardly be over-estimated. No branch of the poultry industry is independent of the others. All are dependent on the others. Market poultry raisers are indebted to fanciers, the fancier's business indirectly depends upon the use of pure bred fowls by farmers and practical poultry men. For this reason, public spirited citizens should cordially support Fancier's shows, and Poultry Societies should receive State aid. In a number of states annual grants are given to aid in holding exhibitions of poultry. The Poultry Association of Ontario receives yearly a Legislative Grant of $900, and the Eastern Ontario Poultry and Pet Stock Association receives $400. They hold their shows in different parts of the country, not in one place, year after year.

The Connecticut State Poultry Association receives this winter