REVIEW.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1055, 21 January 1884, Page 2

REVIEW.

“ Our Domestic Birds.” There is probably no man in the colony who possesses more complete knowledge of poultry than does Mr Alfred Saunders. Throughout this island he has for many years taken a prominent part in judging the exhibits in the various Poultry Societies’ shows, and his verdicts have always been accepted w.th that approval which betokens confidence in the judge’s acquaintance with the question he is called on to decide. For this reason the appearance of the book under notice* has been anxiously looked forward to, and we venture to say that whoever purchases it will not bo disappointed. ■ The volume is indeed a complete vade rnecum for not only the poultry fancier, but for every housewife who keeps fowls, etc , for the purpose of food or profit. The author may fa<rly lay claim to having supplied a decidedly felt want, for though many excellent works on the same subject have Domestic Birds, a practical poultr y booh for England arid Ifew Zealand, by AliFßsd Saunders. London, J. 883.

been published, we have never seen one of so thoroughly practical a character as this, where every information that can possibly be required is comprised in a small space. No one is readier to own his indebtedness to standard authorities than Mr Saunders, but though he pays tribute to the excellent work done in the same fi Id by such writers as Tegatmeior and Wright, he is not ready to take for gospel anything they may say, but is careful to verify their dictums by personal experiment. Those who know Mr Saunders either publicly or privately are aware, that whatever ho takes in hand h.- enters into with a will, and this characteristic is strikingly apparent in “ Our Domestic Birds,” Then again, he not onlv possesses intimate knowledge of his subject, but has also the much rarer ability which enables him to impart this knowledge to others. The language in this volume is terse and clear, and there is none of that inflated verbiage which is too often used by men when they are mounted upon their particular hobbies. To speak of the book in detail, the author commences by giving instructions concerning the proper housing of poultry, and kis remarks under this head are thoroughly practical, and •> of careful consideration. Mr Saunders is in favor of fowls being allowed as much space as possible, and his suggestion that the grass growing portion of the yard should be separated into two divisions, which may bo used alternately, is certainly an excelle t one. Full information, too, is given concerning the best kind of hen-coops to use, a diagram materially assisting the reader in arriving at an understanding of the subject. On the important question of food, the author has naturally a good deal to say, and he deals with the matter from a common sense point of view. One thing the reader may be sure of, and that is that every suggestion is the outcome of a large experience. Mr Saunders is a firm believer in the doctrine that ibe food provided bj nature is the best for all creatures, and he argues that if we want to augment the fecundity of hens we should take care that their “food, though more regular and abundant, should be always of a character adapted to the digestive' organs upon which we wish to put a great additional strain.” This is undoubtedly a sound principle, and our author follows it up by giving very full details as to the kind of food to be given to fowls at different stages of their existence. The opinions of Mr Saunders on the temperance question are well-known, and he is a strong opponent of the doctrine that domestic birds should be nourished with alcohol. He would carry the principles of total abstinence down to the lower animals, for, as he remarks, “ many persons will continue to take intoxicating drinks because they like them, but they need no longer be under any mistake as to their real effect, nor suppose for a moment that they gain either health or strength by their use. And,” ho adds, “ with that knowledge they can have little temptation to enforce any such bad habits on their poultry” When the matter is put in this light, we feel sure that those who keep fowls will shrink with honor from the recomraen lition of Mr Wright, that the birds should be fed with “ egg and brandy through a delicate glass tube," a suggestion which, it is needless to say, Mr Saund-trs emphatically condemns, both upon moral and utilitarian grounds. Space is wanting for ns to enter into the other divisions of this useful book, and it must suffice to say that the author on all questions connected with the keeping of fowls speaks as one having authority.. Perhaps the most interesting chapters of the volume are those dealing with the choice and management of breeding stock, Mr Saunders’ long colonial exp rience making his remarks especially irustwor thy. Many examples arc given showing the effect of crossing the various breed* of i fowls and the instructions here set down are clearly enunciated. It may be re- ’ marked that the author of this volume is a strong opponent of the French system of artificial feeding. The barbarous prao- , tice of cramming he utterly condemns, and in this he is supported by all the principal English authorities. Mr Saunders also raises his voice against oaponiaing fowls, which he regards as gross cruelty to the birds, without any commensurate advantage being gained. The dates given in this work are applicable to New Zealand, but the author, to render his book useful to Home breeders, has in every case printed the antipodean month, so that the instructions as to the management of poultry will be found suited both to the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Mention should be made of an interesting chapter on pheasants, partridges and Californian quail, which is contributed by Mr A. M. Johnson, who is so well known in connection with acclimatisation in Canterbury. The price of Mr Saunders’s volume is so moderate and the advantages to be derived from a study of it so manifest, that we expect it will meet with a large sale both at Home and in the colonies. The local agent for the publication is Mr T. F. Farley, of East street, and he has already received numerous orders for the book.