AROUND BUCKLAND

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 313, 25 September 1917, Page 4

AROUND BUCKLAND

By our travelling Reporter.} A journey made from Buckhind station towards Pukekohe East demonstrates that despite the scarcity of labour tho farms in this particular neighbourhood are a credit to their occupiers, (n most rases each farm has well established hedges and these give a pleasing and "at-home-ness" to the general surroundings which clear]v indicate that farming

has become nut merely .in occupation hut a pride. Except in the neighbourhood of some heavy bush, noxious weeds are well k?pt under. Advantage lias been taken of the recent line days and ploughing and discing operations have kept tho farmer bus}'. In fact the district around is a typical illustration of tho result of labour in the farming world.

Some of the most vigorous calves and young stock to be seen can bo found on the hillside overlooking Pukekohe East. Generally speaking in this particular sid,e of Buckland the cattle are crossbred, and while TlolFteius aro not prominent thero are some of that strain in their breeding. That dual purpose cow—the Shorthorn—is evidently much in favour although the littlo Jerse}*, especially in the lower district of Buckland, appears to bo tho cow to produce the highest return at the least cost. Sheep are not kept in such large numbers as on the other side of the Waikato, but some good Romney ewes with promising lambs aro noticeable.

For clean farming, neat, natty an<' well arranged paddocks, it is questionable if the district can bo equal led, much less excelled. the porr/ntY ixdi'strv

Among those who have of late years taken up poultry farming as a sideline with successful results is Mr Lewis Morgan who, in addition to working on his father's farm, has a ten acre holding with a cosy homestead on the Pukekohe East-Buck-land road. Altogether he keeps about 150 laying hens, tho groater proportion of which are the Black Orpington. One pen contains the brother and half- brother to the pen of Orpingtons which aro at present leading in the current Auckland laying competition. Much attention has been paid by Mr Morgan to housing and -judging from the healthiness of ail his stock the now house is an admirable one. The building is of thick timber, Sft long by *>ft wide, and is covered by three sheets uf corrugated iron with arched roof. To each house is a run NAftx'ift and all being built on a running skid the whole structure is easily removed. Each pen comprises eight hens and a rooster aud the chief breeds besides the Orpington aro the Silver Wyandotte and White Leghorn. In one pen of nine Orpingtons seven and eight eggs were found and these eggs are carefully culled s<> that only the best laying strains are retained. Passing into tho incubator house where there aro four incubators Mr Morgan explained that in addition to a "Hearson" make containing 120 eggs, lie has three others holding 50 eggs each. These latter are of circular shape ami composed chiefly of metal requiring littlo kerosene and having only a small I lame. Known as "the Cycle llatcher" of American design, they appear to be the embodiment of

I simplicity. Mr Morgan instauced as i one of his best results the hatching lof I :> chicks from !•'> fertile eggs and I when it is remembered that the J machine only requires thro 3 pints of ■ oil for each sitting the cost is a small j one. A love for the work and an at--1 tention to details seems to lie the reason for Mr Morgan's success as a poultry farmer. Mr A. Tozer, of Auckland, is well known as a " utility breeder " and lie is a man who linds the business a financial success. Mr Tozer runs about 'iO hens composed of Black Orpingtons,JWhite Hocks, Rh de Island Red and Blue mottled Leghorn-. He also keeps a few Indian Runner ducks. While he finds the Black Orpington a first class laying fowl lie is even more pleased with the Rhode Island Red a breed which is of a distinctly hardy variety, although not so well known as the < trpingtons and Leghorns. From'a pen of three birds an average of 17 eggs a week is taken. Like most breeders Mr Tozer believes in getting the best breed obtainable and most of his birds have been purchased from the Government Experimental Farm. With regard to feeding Sucrosine

mixed in eijual proportion with pollard, bran and sharps Mr Tczer thinks is a splendid morning food producing excellent laying results, while at midday green oats are served and about twice a week scalded oats are given, fine ducks are to be seen on Mr T( zer's farm which, he say, have been laying for eight weeks without a break. At tlie time of our representative's visit a few days ago some very promising ducklings live weeks old, were exceptionally large. Mr Tozor does not use any special poultry house but studies cleanliness in every respect ami judging Iroin the demand l"i- egg* iroin all parts ot th" Dominion lie linds his continual patient attention beats sitisfactory results. I.ike o'her poll 11 r stn&ii he u-es inculiatois and hatcie s a large numln r of ducks and chickens m t!ii - w ,iv. As to tlie w i iter's en<|uiry i! |', und incuba'or liatdatl i ]i;, ken -a i \ tiins as iitlo'i < lie repli.d lie 11.'111■ 1 tin in strong"i il pioju.rly «:tt.-i..1.-d !-