New Jersey Agricultural College - Four Leaf Clover Yearbook (New Brunswick, NJ)

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X Siacoxn 'I'if:lzM OF1 l.L'liRS. Top Row-pl, f.iallaglicr, l.. Schrieber, il . lrl. Maurer, l-l. Cllrystal, C. J. MacCarthy. Second Row-Mrs. G. Miller, J. D. Haddon, G. Dunn, J. H. Niebank, A. S. Wl1itney. learned regarding principles of breeding, methods of feeding, processes of incubation, and care of the birds during the molting period. And where is opportunity for accomplishing results more prevalent than in the R. C. P. A.? The members are more or less acquainted with the underlying' scientific principles and by application of same could appreciably contribute to the uplift of poultry culture in general. The results obtained could be incorporated in monthly bulletin form in connection with the Experiment Station work and distributed broadcast over the State. Valuable prestige would be gained thereby, and there is no doubt that in due time the R. C. P. A. would attain an enviable reputation and be looked upon as a determining factor in the poultry industry of this State. V Besides the educational value attached to such a project, one must not fail to consider the commercial possibilities as well. The influence wrought by the association's experimental work would undoubtedly have a beneficial effect upon the financial interests of the members, through the sale of breeding stock, day-old chicks, and hatching eggs. Such a result is only naturally to be ex- pected. A person engaged in poultry-keeping, wishing to increase his stock, or one desiring to enter the business, usually resorts to the advertising mediums of the current poultry journals and farm periodicals for desired information. Several advertisements meet his eye, among others one inserted by a member of the R. C. P. A. Not knowing the personality of any of the advertisers, the 86

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The R. C. P. A.: What lts Aim Should Be FIRST TERM Orrlclaks. Top Row, left to right-L. D. Fitzsimmons, H. Chrystal, B. Randall, P. H. Maurer, J. G. Duliy, E. Oleson. Second Row--C. J. Egerton, H. R. Vogel, I. Daley, Mrs. li. Dowd. HE Rutgers College Poultry Association was formed for the benelit of the students and alumni of the Short Course in Poultry Husbandry, and it is to be deplored that this opportunity for bettering one's condition and increasing one's knowledge of this particularly remunerative branch of agriculture is taken advantage of by so small a number. Evidently there must be some underlying reasons for this lack of interest on the part of the alumni. Perhaps the association is not fulfilling its purpose, but then it must be borne in mind that an association is composed of individuals, and if the bricks of a house do not hold together the building will crumble mul fall away. The life and future scope of usefulness of the R. C. P. A. depends entirely upon the members individuallyg they should keep in close connection with each other as well as with the Experiment Station. There is perhaps no better way of creating interest and infusing spirit into the organization than by conducting co-operative experiments in conjunction with the experiment staff. The members of the stall would be delighted to outline experiments which may be conducted by a single member, or, perhaps, for more authentic results, by several. Scientific poultry culture is as yet in its infancy, and a vast field for investi- gational and research work is offered to those interested. Much has yet to be 85

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prospective buyer would invariably be infiuenced by one's connection with the association, due to the reputation it had gained by its progressive strides in scientific poultry culture. May not this hnancial possibility alone be of suffi- cient value to stimulate the members to activity in the future? There is yet another line of endeavor which would bring immeasurable honor to the association and its constituents, namely, the confirmation and suc- cessful demonstration in commercial poultry keeping of the results obtained by the Experiment Station. XVe all realize that the average person engaged in agriculture entertains an unholy contempt for experiment stations and looks upon scientific principles as nothing more than book talk, theory, or the work- ings ot' a deluded brain. If, through their activities, the members of the R. C. F. A. can be instrumental in relieving this cloud of skepticism, they shall have aided in overcoming one of the most serious setbacks to progessive agriculture. The members should also strive to organize co-operative poultry associa- tions in their respective communities, thus making possible an increased rev- enue for their products, as well as a reduction in the cost of feeds, fertilizers and supplies. Such a movement is admirably exemplified by the Vineland Poultry Association of South Jersey, which, because of its facilities to ship in large quantities, is able to secure a premium on eggs of from three to tive cents a dozen throughout the year. Another possibility for the members lies in the interchange of high pro- ducingbreeding stock of known prepotency, purchased through the funds of the organization. This will ensure to all a basis upon which to develop a highly profitable laying strain. Nor should the members neglect to con- sider the social side of the matter and the h 'im ' recreation and incentive for better re- I sults inspired by co-operative experiments. I These experiments will, without doubt, X have a tremendous bearing on the future prosperity of the individual members. , These things taken into consideration, R ' namely, the educational, commercial and al X social possibilities, it is vitally important a that the organization be developed to its If utmost, and it is to be hoped that the fore- Q ,gl ilk V going remarks will serve as an appeal for a stronger and more efficient Rutgers Col- A, RICUPUAH MEMBER lege Poultry Association. J. G. D. JUDGWG POULTRY 87