POULTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 155, 12 July 1901, Page 3

POULTRY.

(By “ Feathery Legs.”)

I notice in some of the shops about town, the schedule of the Gisborne Poultry Association, and it put me in mind of a promise to write a few pars, about the feathery ones. It is the intention, if sufficient interest warrants it, to have a weekly column devoted to the poultry fanciers.

This district for many reasons should be able to produce birds, and eggs, equal to any part of New Zealand. There is a big opening for export made with South Africa, and the present Government are doing all they can to foster this branch of industry.

It would take volumes to go into the different- departments of the subject. We will take only what may be considered most interesting to readers. Poultry-farming is considered by many who may not have gone thoroughly into the subject as a very profitable business. But as the Scotchman says, “ I have urn doots aboot it." Although I know some people making a living out of the business. the majority who have gone into it solely have failed to make it pay, unless in conjunction with some other line of business.

Farmers or dairymen, where there is plenty of milk, grain, and free range, could very well go in for it and make a handsome profit, but even then it requires judgment in table birds, 1 am not writing just now about show birds, but those most suitable for the required purposes. 1 have been asked by some people what breed is best for laying. I might say they are all best, according to the idea of the different fanciers. For this reason, even in the best known laying classes, there are good, bad and indifferent strains of layers. Next week I will enumerate most of the leading strains, and if any of my readers have any questions, I will do my best to give them satisfactory answers. „