The Egg Market.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2150, 16 May 1914, Page 15

The Egg Market.

(By Chantecler.)

Winter egg prices are now. being enjoyod by producers. Tlio Canterbury market is good, eggs being 2s. 3d. a dozen. The sudden riso in tlio market is injurious to the industry, as it put 3 the public oif consumption. The result is that eggs accumulate and prices fall rapidily. Wore the consumption kopt up .1 higher average price would be obtained. The Canterbury Jigg Circle purposes next year fixing a maximum price of 25., and a minimum of Iβ. a dozen. It is expected that this mothod will improve the average price. A Determined Hen. The Christchurch "Press" has the following:— A peculiar feature about oneof tlio hens sent from New Zealand to compote in tho Missouri • Egg-Laying Competition is the losing of sight of both eyes. A report received by Mr. J. B. Morrett from tho director of tho college states: "One lion from Now Zealand went totally blind in a few weeke after she arrived here. I do not mean that sho lost lier eyes by disease, hut shi> simply lost her «ight. Wo discovered that her eyesight was gone. It seemed she would almost starve before' we could teach her to eat and drink of her own accord. Wβ fed,and watered her for a time. . But to-day eho is laying, and is in perfect health, and has now learned tho way about her pen so that sho gets along about as well as a normal hen. She never goes on the roost, but sho knows where to find her neat, feed, and water. ■ She is kept in a pen by herself. Iα moving about she always ■ turns to the right.. She is in apparently good health, and we believo that sho will continue to lay. As sho ie now acquainted with her pen we believe .that wo can keep, her with, as little trouble as any other hen. Mr. Merrett states that the hen is one of a team that is second on tho list of a 100 pens in tho test, and the care and attention with which tho Americans havo given that hen among 1000 is indication of their appreciation of the hen, and the second largest industry in America. Ho attributes the losing of sight to chaff in the eyes 'during the rough trip to San Francisco. He states also that giving the hen the name of one of America's most successful poultry women is a pleasing thought. Ho has sent for a photograph of the bird, and, on arrival, it will be published in tho "Press."

- Poultry as a School Subject. Tlio writer of poultry notes in the "Otago Witness" says: "In view of my article a few weeks back relative to poultry culture as a school subject, a Dunedin school teacher has proniised to give me particulars respecting an experiment conducted by him thrco or four years ago at one of. tho local schools. It will not detract from the interest of the forthcoming information if I remark that the experiment referred to proved an admirable means of teaching tho many valuable truths and lessons I claimed for it. The following, from tho 'Successful Poultry Journal,' shows what is being done in America in this respect: , —'More than a year ago the U.S.A. Department of Agriculture started a number of boys' and girls' poultry clubs in three counties of Virginia. Eleven clubs, consisting of about 300.'members, were formed, and tho success.,of. tho.work has, been most en-,, couraging'. The cou'rsp of study consisted of reaching the departmeut'sjhHlr letins, writing a composition on poultry management', and later securing a sitting of stardard-brcfl eggs and raising tho Diiring'tho'■ winter frequent 'meetings of tho clubs were' held,- and among other things tho children were taught tho value of producing the infertile egg and'how to grado and pack eggs properly for market. In several instances the instructor in charge of tho work assembled the children of a neighbourhood on a Saturday on one of' tho farms, and gave a practical demonstration on'how to set a hen, feed tho chicks, and care of the poultry houses. At the State fair held in Richmond,.Virginia, tho number of birds on exhibition by members of the boys' and ; girls' clubs was 150. It was a prominent feature of tho show. This work in Virginia has given interest in poultry an impetus which cannot fail to bo for good." Preparing Birds for Show.

If tho birds have been, properly, cared for from the first, the final preparations will be simple enough. It is essential to wash.white fowls before showing them. No matter how clean thoy may look before they will stand but a small chance of winning unless they be properly tubbed before sending to the show. Alany people wash them several times before exhibiting them; but as one washing is very much like tho others, wo will only give our own method for tho final cleaning. The wash not only cleanses tho feathers, but it softens them and improves their quality. If tho bird has been fed on canary seed for a month previous, it brings out a fiiio gloss, and if the birds belong to the soft-feathered varieties, it causes tho feathers to web and have a "fluffy" appearance, which ie essential.

The washing water should be prepared as follows:—

First water boiled with plenty of Lux in it, and brought down to 100 degrees with cold water; second water quite clean, except for a little borax, temperature 99 degrees; last water . slightly blued, temperature not more than 80 degrees. Soak the bird well in tho first water, keeping its head well up, and work the Lux down to the root of the feathers; spread out the wing and scrub the flights with a nail brush; wash well Until thoroughly clean, then work as much soap out as possible with jour hands. Put tho bird into tho second water and well rinse, using the epongo freely and getting out every panicle of soap. This is really one of the most important featuros of tho whole undertaking, and on it greatly depends how the bird will look when dry. Hero is a tip for knowing when nil tho soap is out: Put your .tongue on tho feathers and taste. You must keep on rinsing until you camiot taste the soap. This is a safe guide. Lastly, put the bird into the blue water, which must not be too blue or it will colour the bird, and allow it to soak well for a few minutes, parting tho feathers with your fingers so that the blue gets well in. Now take tho bird out and get.as much water out of the feathers as you can; then uso ono towel until it is wet, and finish the drying as far as you can with the other. Take some truble to get under tho wings, m this part is protected from tho fire. Tho bird must finish drying before a bright fire, and hero let mo give you another tip: Don't put it in a box' or hamper, as these throw tho steam back on tlio birds, which takes the freshness from tho feathers when they, are dry .It will do much better if miconfiiied, and if the room is made a little dark tho bird will hot wander away. Some people spray the bird with a solution of warm water, rose water, and glycorino while it is drying, but I do not consider this necessary if it has had enough canary seed to givo a natural lustre to the feathers. Wipe tho bird down with a warm silk handkerchief heforo putting it in the hamper to send away, and lightly rub tho comb; lobes, wattles, legs, and feet with vinegar. Give a feed of sound wheat, not of soft food, before sending it by rail. THE ECCSTANDARD. Sir,—The size of eggs is a rather ticklish subject. But 1 am inclined to agree- with "Cbaiitecler" that 240z. to

the dozen is a bit fow for firstclass quality eggs, espveially for cg>'s tor export. But jumping from 24qx. to is a ratlier biy jump. This, at present, would exclude most eggs from dm average first-year pullet of the av-oi-ago breeder, and even tlioso of older mrds from the too close liutybrccdcr, the too early breeder, and. to a slighter extent, the dry-mash feeder. It would also exclude eggs from the btilk of the Asiatic breeds up to a very ripe age, whose eggs are generally smaller than the. Mediterraneans. Of course, bybreeding only from special liens ' and special males, the sizo can be increased all round, provided the stimulus of a proportionately higher prico is there. A minimum weight, for first-ola-ss eggs for export, of 260z. to the dozen siiouM meet the situation.—l am, et«\, ■ E. LBGEB.