114 OUR ISLAND STORY

Prince Edward Island is famed for its sheep, swine and poul- try, no less than for its horses and cattle. The first importations of sheep were chiefly those of the Leicester and South Down breeds. , In later years Lincolns, Cotswolds, C heviots, OXford, Hampshire and Shropshire Downs have been imported, bred and diStributed. throughout the Province; and the Island’s exports of lambs and wool are a source of wealth. Swine of the Yorkshire and Berk- shire, Tamworth and White Chester and other breeds are also

produced in perfection. Of poultry the classes are numerous and excellent. As a

result of an investigation made by Mr. W. A. Brown, Chief of the Poultry Division of the Live Stock Branch of the Department of Agriculture at Ottawa concerning the poultry conditions of Prince Edward Island, the Department, with the concurrence of the Provincial Department, appointed a resident, representative to give expert advice regarding the production and marketing of eggs and poultry. Mr. T. A. Benson, the representative appointed, after devoting some time to further investigation and the delivery of addresses in various parts of the Province, began to organize “Egg Circles.” The first of these was established at Brooklyn, Lot 61, on March 18th, 1915. But the first Egg Circle "to export eggs in co-operation was that of New London North, which made the'first shipment on May 10th, 1915. It soon became evident that the rapidly extending business of the, Egg Circles had to be centralized. In March, 1914, a Central Association was organized and incorporated by the Provincial Legislature. To this Central _ Association all the egg circles in the Island were afliliated. It is known as “The Prince Edward Island Co—operative Egg and Poultry Association.” Under the superintendence of Mr. George ' Leightizer and others, the business of the Egg Circles has been greatly enlarged, with additional profit to the farmers interested.

Co-operation on the part of the farmers of the Island has, in- deed, resulted in a marked improvement in agricultural produce of every kind,—-—and in the marketing thereof. The Experimental Farm Station and the demonstration areas are “eye openers” for farmers and incentives to improved husbandry. But the annual provincial exhibitions and county exhibitions, together with the