THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1539, 7 September 1912, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

.'. ■■ ■ ■»— * ' (By Chantecler.) w- *. ——- ■

A Word on Progress. ..■_ Every patriot likes to see his country progress in the development of itsandustries In New Zealand we hiive wide scope for tho building up of agricultural pursuits,' and each year sees a growing tendency towards extra value. .\\nen one considers the limited amount of assistance- given the poultry industry it is remarkable that-the industry has grown ■as rapidly as its returns disclose. Even our daily papers will employ the services of an expert or a practical writer for its agricultural columns, and might do more, one would think, for poultry. ■ I noticed one journal advising poultrymen to cover' up their cabbages to protect them from the snow, and in the district where the paper was published snow has never been > known to fall. More a,musing still was ' the advice in the same journal, directing poultrymen to lock the doors of their fowl-, houses "to keep the foxes out"! Such odvice rather indicates that the industry is considered a very secondary "eort of thing indeed. ■ ( Cause of Hindrance. In bygone years the Government, which, professing interest in the industry, treated the business to anything but business methods. The bee industry—about one- ■ tenth the value of the.poultry industryhas five or six experts constantly employed by the Government, while, for poultry, there is only one instructor. The bees are idle four months, in the year, but still the expert attention is ' steadily and continuously given. Why this partiality? Tho fruit instructors 1 and inspectors can be counted by • the dozen, and yet it is questionable it' that industry is as large as the poultry industry. . It is time that poultrymen woke up. If they do their industry will grow in epite of all the handicaps. It is evidence of its solidarity that, it does progress even with all the lack of push, but What would it be if, it were rightly directed, and the assistance given that its importance eeems to detnan'd? Unprogrcssive Farmers. It is remarkable that so few farmers are alive to the possibilities of poultrykeeping. For the table good chickens are realising Bs. a pair in open auction market. Eggs are" always at good average prices,* and poultry-keeping on tho farm would supplement the farmer's income substantially were lie to give the poultry some attention. Farmers sh6uld think of what Denmark, is doing. Though it is less than half the Bize of New Zealand, the farmers there clip .£2,000,000 annually in eggs from the English market, in addition to other sup-

plies furnished to Germany. Wo' talk of our butter, but tho Denmark fanner makes as much out of his eggs alone as New Zealand farmers do from that commodity. Education on these matters is sadly Jacking, and the tinio has arrived when the Government should endeavour to rectify things. Indifference a Drag to Success.. Tho lamentable indifference of poultrymen to.their own interests and their want of organisation is a barrier to success. So long as producers can manage to market their supplies for tho present, they pay no heed to the -future. Eggs are now down to 10d. a dozen wholesale, and, in many places, Bd., when, by careful grading, stamping, and co-operative marketing they could get Is., and the public at the same time receivo better value. The egg circle movement . has done a. great deal towards improving the quality of tho eggs in' the market, but, being only a partial co-operation, they cannot effect the reforms that are desired. Instead of-marketing' through one agent, they have three or four, and multiply the avenues, instead of restricting the sources whence eggs can be obtained. The present low prices will surely bring poultry producers to see their need for better organisation. Full and Plenty Feeding. Now that the season of heavy e|e production is .at hand, producers will be wise to adopt the system of feeding. Those foods that contain the necessary elements for ege production should be provided in abundance. The layer will not grow fat. It is only the "waster" in the flock that does this. Hens cannot keep laying unless they have the material for egg-production. Keep ample green food supplied, and also pure, fresh water in clean receptacles. Gather the eggs daily, and market ■in clean order. Do not use stimulant*—use foods. Proper care and attention will show the egg-producing powers of a good laying strain. ■ ■ -, ■

LAYING COMPETITIONS.

• N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB. [Returns for 21st week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's eighth laying competition for fowls.l Total Total for to week., date. Wffl. Scull, Christchurch, \ Black Wyandottes 28 395 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, W. • Leghorns No. 1 36 659

[H. Leger, Weraron, White Legborns 32 553 John Wordsworth, Geraldine, White Leghorns 30 496 James Ashton, Hanmer, Silver Wyandottes 33 413 Martin Bros., Auckland, W. \ Leghorns 2<\ 559 Vorrall Bros., ' Swannanoa, \ Brown Leghorns 33 507 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, Brown Leghorns No. 2 28 496 Heretaunga J , . Co., Silver- , . . stream. Brown Leghorns No. .1 32 566 H. t>. Woounorth, Winton, Brown Leghorns 32 459 W. A. Nixon, Bumvood, Brown Leghorns No. 3 31 563 R. Jf. .Smith, Auckland, Brown Leghorns .' 32 354 Kangiuru Egg Kanch, Otaki, Brown Leghorns .'. 33 413 E. W. Hnwke, Papamii, Brown' Leghorns 30 • 4GI K. Willis and Son, New Brighton, Brown Leghorns 31 439 A. E; Wilson, Shirley, White . Wyandottes 31 196 D. Stewart, Normanby, White Leghorns 30 445 Master G. Wilson, Shipley, White Leghorns 30 413 Komitin Hunger, Lower Hutt, White Leghorns 31 475 Mrs. B. W. Hawke, Papanui, White Leghorns 30 521 A. Stevenson, Karori," White Leghorns 25 373 H. E.. Wainman, Bunanga, White Leghorns 32 537 A. B. Browne, Petane Beach, White Leghorns 35 512 Frankish , Bros., Wangauui, White Leghorns 31 553 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, Silver Wyandottes 81 552 J. H. Shaw and B. James, Christchurch, White Leghorns 31 463 W. G. Goodwin, Thames, White Leghorns ..' 26 #1 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, Silver Wyandottes 29 548 A. E. Wilson, Shirley}-. Silver Wyandottes 31 ' 145 Misses' Bradley, Papanui, White Leghorns .:..... ..... 28 513 T. Kennedy, Kangiora, White ■ Wyandottes 32 235 C. M. Peck, Avondale, White Leghorns .29- 320 J. W. Green, St. Albans, White Leghorns ' • 32 622 N. Solomon, Westport, Black Orpingtons 82 406 'A. W. .Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns No. 1 .'. 35 559 C. M. Peck, Avondale, Black Orpingtons 32 416 G.. H. - Bradford, Cust, Silver Wyandottes 29 346 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns N0. ; 2 26 471 Heretaunga P. Co., Silver-

stream, White Leghorns ■•No. 2i .'.. S3 539' Middlepark P. Farm,' Riccarton, White Leghorns 32 498 T. Strong, Doyleston, White Leghorns , 32 410 P. Keller, Rbllest'on, White Leghorns 31 425 Percy Holt, Papakura, White Leghorns '. ..." 31 505 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, W. Leghorns ; 36 443 G. Anderson, St. Albans, Silver Wyandottes 36 467 J. W. Bradley and Son, Papanui, White Leghorns 26 . 371 Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, White Leghorns 28 465 W. 0. Sail, Oust, White Leghorns 33 416 Craw.ford and Pudsey, Lower Hutt, W. Leghorns .33 . 538 R. A. Lazarus, Lower Hutt, , ■'White Leghorns 32 553 W. O. Sail, Cust, Silver Wyandottes :...-27 395 Hisses Radford and ■ Harker, Ohau, W. Leghorns 33 398 A. W. Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes 28 487 A. E. Kent, Shirley, White Leghorns 29 565 J. Corrie, Beckenham, White Leghorns 32 450 ■E. H. Borchart, Eltham, W. \. Leghorns 32 365 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, White Leghorns, No. 4 ..'...._ 31 568 ■T:.~- K. Collins, Lower '"Huff, Black Orpingtons 22 334 Dominion Poultry PJant, C'oro-' -i mandel, W.' Leghorns 27 509 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver . ■ Wyandottes 35 476 FOR DUCKS. • . ;■' ■•' [Returns for the twenty-first week'of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's third laying competition for ducks.] '..-.■ Total Total for to Week. Date. Thos. Dowthwaite, Avondale, Indian Runners 38 662 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, I, Runners 39 397 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Buff Orpingtons 38 422 T. R. Hall, Wereroa, Indian Runners 41 663 P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners 29 530 D. M. Peck, Avondale, Indian Runners 35 409 3. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners 35 UG Heretaunga Poultry Co., Silverstream, I. Runners 20. 580 Miss A. 0. Donald, Dunsandel, Indian Runners 27 . 321 P. Keller, Eolleston, Indian Runners .'....... 41 374

A WINNER OF COMPETITIONS.

The Egg-laying competitions for 1910-11 and 1911-12 were both won by pens reared on 'A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping. Obtainable from all Storekeepers.—Aavt.