POULTRY RAISING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5308, 3 August 1928, Page 3

POULTRY RAISING.

WHAREPUNGA GAME FARM.

MR. A. W. MACLARN’S ENTERPRISE

Probably very few people realise iliat some of the finest, poultry in New Zealand an! Australia .is to be.foiilid at Mr A. W. Madam's. “Wharcpunga Game Farm” , at Karangahake. Situated on, high ground near the Karangahake; Public Hall, and. ovenlooking the Ohinemuri River , the poultry farm is ideally and picplaced, being high, well Wieltered; and having good drainage. After’ devoting, close on fifty years

to the study and breeding of fowls in Australia, the Old Country, and this Mr Maclarn is now hopeful of realising his life’s ambition;, namely, to own a game farm carrying valuable, rare, and highly-bred birds. As time goes on the venture should prove: a profitable one, as for many years past; Mr, Madam’s name has been a household word amongst poul-try-breeders in Australia and New Zealand 1 . That his opinion is sought and his advice valuted is borne out by the fa.ct- that he has acted as judge on many occasions, and was also selected as an official judge at the Royal Shows in Western Australia.. Commencing at Karan-ga.hake with about half. a dozen birds’, the farm . is now camryftig over 400 specimens of different breeds of poultry of various shape's and sizes. Specialising in game fowls, Mr Maclarn brought " birds, with him from Western Aus-’ trali.a., and a.lso purchased some; of the finest strains from Dr. Ferguson, of InyercargilL At tlie present time, the breeds that 'he has in Old English game comprise Blue' Dun, Black Red, Spangles, Duckwing, and others. The Duckwing game a,re. great fighters, and the sight of the tall, stately cock birds strutting about the once a,rrests attention ajul (jails for admiration. Included in the,' breedsi of modern game are to be. seen the; Black Gamte fowl, the Pile, the Duckwing, and Black Red, of which breed one hen .won the championship at the Auckland Poultry Show. Amongst the modern and old English game f birds it would be a difficult matter for a layman to decide which bird, he fancied most. Each bird 'is true to type to a, degree, and highly .brad. Among, the many seen bn this farm was a quaint but stately-looking youngster which belongs to, the Indian .game class; —a good table bird but a poor layer. In a, specially constructed enclosure .are to bet seen the' interesting Black Red modern game bantams. The cock bird 1 , which measures 18 inches high when standing erect, was. purchased in England at a cost of £2O. He is a perfect specimen, and beautifully marked, while the hens, although of a more sombre colour, are true to type and little beauties. These give plenty of scope and variety to the intelligent breeder and hobbyist. Poultry-breeding is naturally ah expensive business, especially when carried 'out on the sound and practical lines as are, followed at the “Wharepunga Farm,” but Mr Ma,c- , is also developing, the commercial side of the industry by breeding for sale. With the best strains that' money can buy it is small wonder that ■orders for bird's are being received frtom all over the Dominion, and Karangahake is destined to become fa mb us once .again, not oil. account of another gold, find, but through the name and quality of the poultry from “Wharepunga. Game Farm.” Asked his opinion as to what was the best utility fowl, Mr Maclarn said that after careful observations he had come to the conclusion that the Black Orpington was hard to beat. Such h'e-ns laid large and usually brown eggs, and laid prolifically. A visit was pa,id to the pen,s sef aside for. the Orpingtons, where 25 eggs were gathered' from the 27 hens, which are sisters to the fowls owned by Mr J C. Dunstan, whose birds won the egg.-laying competition at Auckland last year. With four incubators (hard at work, Black Orpington chicks will he available to purchasers early n,ext month ; but where birds from such a wondeijful strain of this famous breed can be purchased, buyers are advised to book orders at once and avoid disappointment. White Leghorn chicks, from tested layers of eggs, will also be available within the next few weeks. It is a favourable time now to purchase sittings of eggs, ’ and the farm can supply theni on application. Orders received for fresh eggs for 'table u'fe and for dissed poultry will receive prompt attention-and be delivered anywhere in Paeroa. A cordial invitation is extended to fanciers and others interested to visit “Wharepunga Game Farm” and see for themselves the unique collection .of highly-bred birds.