THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1770, 7 June 1913, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

« (By Chantecler.)

Answers to Correspondents. Hutt, asks for the ingredients used in tho Douglas mixture. The following is the recipe;— Douglas mixture is an old successful remedy for occasional uso when tho birds appear a little out of Borts, and valuable aid to an effective moult. It is easily prepared, and Is inexpensive, 'l'ako a quarter-pound of sulphate of iron crystals and a half ounco of sulphuric acid. Place them : in a largo glazed earthenware, vessel or jar, and 'pour over the contents ono • gallon of water. Stir up the contonta with a stick several times during the day till all is dissolved. Skim' off and bottle tho contents and keep well ■ corked. A small tablespoonful of this to each quart of drinking water or two ounces to each gallon can when watering a flock is about the correct ■ dosa. It acts as a general tonic. "F.F.," Ohariu, states that 100 pullets which had begun to lav have suddenly ceased. In his feeding he makes no provision for animal food. The season ia a trying one, and poultrymen should use meat meal. Tho layers , need concentrated foods to assist them, and nothing is bo helpful as meat meal. Mr. Nixon Entertains. On Tuesday evening last Mr. W. A. Nixon, winner of the world's record test, entertained about thirty members of tho N.Z.U.P. Club. He received many congratulations, and a very pleasant evening was spent. | According to Mr. Green, who won second . prizo last year, there is a great deal of luck about winning a test. -Birds are subject to many changes, andi Mr. Green says that those that esoapo these stand the best chance in the test. Recent Legislation. A great deal of information is being asked for in the Pur© Foods and Drugs Act that was passed last session. In an interview by\a Christchurch paper, Mr, Merrett touched on several points of interest to poultrymen. Tho gist of the articles is as followst— ' , Mr. Merrett said: "While I do not believe the importation of foreign dessicated eggs to Ire an extensive business, there is ■no doubt it will greatly augment the use of New. Zealand eggs. Section 30 of the Act is somewhat difficult to understand", as it would be impossible to obtain sufficient fresh eggs in winter to satisfy the trado requirements. If the term 'fresh eggs' ombodies preserved eggs, and probably it does, the provision will cause no trouble, but.if it is meant to'refer to 'new-laid' eggs, then the confectionery and -pastrycook business will bo paralysed. Reasons for High Prices. Speaking of the explanation of the high prices charged for eggs this winter. Mr. Merrett said that the country had experienced a cold snap early in the autumn, just as tho birds were on the moult and thousands of hens had stopped laying. Thel pullets, too,'were slower in coming to maturity. Last season it had been just tho reverse. Farmers, too, had b*n tempted to go in for lighter breeds which did not lay so well on the farms as tho heavier breeds. "Tho demand ia also greater this year," he continued, "and with a smaller supply the price is higher and more continuous than we have had it for years. Our city by-laws havo prohibited hundreds of workers from keeping a few poultry, and the production is smaller while the demand, lias increased. Pastrycooks and Confectioners. "Do you think pastrycooks and confectioners will agitate against the regulations?" Mr. Merrett was asked. "Not when they aro assured they can obtain a plentiful supply of good eggs for preserving or cold storage," Jio "said; "I find that they prefer eggs in shell to imported powders. Only those who aro .unable to provide the capital for preserving eggs resort to the substitute, or when preserved eggs run out and fresh eggs are above ono shilling and threepence a dozen. Egg ■ custards and baking powders are said to contain no cng products, therefore they aro to be labelled according to tho Act in bold letters. This powder is artificially coloured to Tesemblo eggs, but does not possess their nutritivo properties. We dislike the Argentine meat being sold as New Zealand, and poultrymen cannot be blamed for protesting against their eggs being sold in competition with powders. The laws in other countries are xmore strineent than they are here. In Australia they have prohibited the use of imported eggs, and in America it is a criminal offence to market rotten eggs. Offenders are imprisoned" on the second offence for ono month. There would be a general exodus of farmers to Lyttelton next summer if that Act were enforced here. But it will come. The public must be protected, and it is a disgrace that any man should send bad eggs to market."