THE RURAL WORLD

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 369, 14 June 1911, Page 2

THE RURAL WORLD

TEACHING THE FARMER. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, Minister for Agriculture, in the course of his speech at the Auckland Farmers' Union conference, made the following remarks in reference to rural education and farmers' politics:—The country must secure the ablest instructors available to impart the lates scientific methods to its agriculturists if it was to hold its own. Cabinet had lately approved of giving him £BOO a year to secure the services of the best men who could be got with scientific and practical knowledge, to take entire control of the agricultural experiments and other works of the kind. Referring to the State experimental farms, he said they provided a place where young men could be tained in farming at little epxense. To those who were prepared to go upon those farms he was prepared to extend very liberal terms, demanding from them an equivalent in labour to the food they consumed. The department wanted to attract the ablest men to the farming industry. Several had referred to the evil of party politics. There was too much talk of party. The farming community needed to study the great economical questions that affected the success of the community—matters too often lost sight of. He had always interested himself in such things, rather than in political tiades against personal opinions. They had to deal with the present and the future, and to leave the past alone Every effort should be made to build up the Parliamentary body; but he reminded the farmers that the personal criticisms which were often flung about would keep many an admirable but sensitive man from the ranks of the worker* for the State, and bring into existence just such a class as they did not want.

EXPORTATION OF HORSES. Recently Mr P. B. Watt, of Wellington, acing on behalf of the Okaiawa Clydesdale breeder, Mr F. A. Bremner. shipped a number of highclass stallions and twenty eight useful farm horses to Melbourne, where they will be put up to auction. Included among the shipment are horses that have made a name for themselves as sires and show ring performers, such as "Lord Erskine," "Royal Banner," "Erskine Yet," "Royal Signal," "Goldfinder," "British Belle," a filly by Royal Banner. By the Sydney boat Mr Watt sent away thirty-two useful farm sorts on behalf of Mr W. Tubman, of Kaiapoi. The Australian market for horses of this description is reported to be slightly easier, but there should be a good demand for the high-class stud stock that is now on the water. POULTRY-KEEPING. JUDGING UTILITY STOCK. At the Hamilton Winter Show last week a number of classes were provided in the poultry section for utility birds, and these were judged by Mr F. Brown, the department's poultry instructor. On the whole some very good specimens were shown, a distinct advance on the quality of the stock exhibited last year, tt was then thought that any sort of a bird as long as it was of a laying type waß good enough to compete, and that no pre paration whatever was required for the utility show pen. This year, however.exhibitors realised their mistake, and penned in the majority of cases birds which while of a utility type yet conformed to a more or less extent with the characters distinguishing the breeds they represented. One fact to be emphasised in this connection is that any deformity, such as wry or squirrel tail, crooked breastbone, reached back or any bodily defect, spells disqualification. . Condition, as in all classes of show stock, is an advantage, and if utility breeders are to be encouraged to exhibit specials should be awarded in each class for the best-conditioned bird. Some exhibitors at Hamilton,led away by the so-called secret test, complained to the show Secretary that their birds were wider at the pelvic bones than were the winners. It is to be regretted that this fetish is still subscribed to by some utility poultrymen.

THE SIZE OF EGGS. As the breeding season is now under way a point which it will pay to re member is the size of the egg. No bird should be allowed in the breeding pen which lays an undersized egg, for not only will the progeny of such stock lay eggs which will check trade, but the'decline in size will become so marked in succeeding generations that any effort to advance the size will not be possible with the strain being used, and new blood will have to be introduced to bring the product back to an attractive weight. In breeding from record-laiyng stock the danger is ever present, for there is always a tendency for quantity to have a direct influence on quality. The man catering to the high-class trade, where the maximum profit can alone be secured, must consider the question of size of his product. Obviously the consumer will object to pay a special price for an egg that sinks to the bottom of the egg cup. He wants an egg that will stand well out of the receptacle, and by its very appearance is good value for his money. When breeding pens are mated up and it is noted that small eggs are being laid the use of a trap nest will rapidly discover the unsatisfactory birds. Large eggs will probably be noticed in the eggs collected from the main flock, and if a few trap nest are put in the house the layers of the exceptional eggs will not unlikely be hit upon the first day. They can then be used, other things being equal to replace the birds culled from the breeding pens.