GENERAL NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 34

GENERAL NOTES

The following are the results of the Taranaki Egg Laying Test to and including the 16th week: In the White Leghorn section M. Scanlon’s bird is still leading, followed by J. A. Mackay’s bird, C. W. Taplin's hen occupying third place. In the Rhode Island Red section A. J. Lacey’s No. 2 and No. 4 birds occupy the same positions as last -week. Gibbons Bros.’ birds are leading both Golden Wyandottes and White Wyandottes, also Langshans. D. M. Waddell’s Black Orpington is still going strong, having again laid seven eggs for the week. F. W. Walker’s hen is well ahead in the Brown Leghorn section. D. Riley’s duck is leading in the Fawn and White Runners. D. M. Waddell’s duck occupies first position in the White Runner section.' J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell is leading in the any other variety duck section, and also over both Runner sections. In the three-bird team test, light breeds, R. Cannon’s White Leghorns are 44 eggs ahead of their next com petitors. Gibbons Bros.’ Golden Wyandottes are also 42 ahead of the remainder in the three-bird test (heavy breeds). ,

Poultry keepers who exported eggs last season are now being paid the Government guarantee which will, I understand, represent a further twopence a dozen over export price, which brings the price paid equivalent to Is 4Jd on the local market. Those breeders who lagged behind and sold their eggs on the local markets received

only something like lid a dozen, thus showing the necesisty for export, and consequently preventing the local market from being overloaded in the flush season. Had double the number of eggs been exported from Auckland alone local producers would have received a much higher price than lid a dozen.

Auckland fanciers will congratulate Mr. B. R. Arnott on his success at the Mount Albert Laying Test, Mr. Arnott’s White Runners having won the winter test by laying 393 eggs, his nearest competitor’s birds having laid 336 eggs. Mr. Arnott’s White Leghorns are fourth in the team test, one of the birds also being fourth <n the single pen championship.

A correspondent asks if a crooked breast-bone in a White Leghorn or Minorca in the fancy classes is a disqualification in the show pen. No, the latest English standards deduct 5 points in each breed for a crooked breast-hone. I have just received from Mr. Gilbert, manager of H.M. The King’s poultry farm, Windsor, a copy of the latest standard for Leghorns and, as this will probably be of Interest to fanciers other than my correspondent, I am giving the scale of points to be deducted: —Defects In comb 10; defects in ear-lobes, folded, wrinkled or stained with red, ill fitting or too large or too small 10; defects in colour 20; defects in legs (such as in knees, flat shins, etc.) 10; defects in breast bone, other than straight 5; want of physical condition 10; defects in size (too large or too small) 15: lack of type 20; total 100. Serious defects for which a specimen should be passed:—Cock’s comb falling over, a hen’s comb erect, ear lobe red, white in face . legs any colour but yellow, wry or squirrel tall, any serious physical deformity or positive departure from what is universally regarded as correct Leghorn type.

I am informed that the first shipment of eggs for the London markets will leave Wellington on August 22 by the s.s. Mataroa. The shipment will consist of 2,000 cases from Christchurch, Dunedin and Wellington. No Auckland eggs are being shipped by the Mataroa. The executive of tlie New Zealand Utility Poultry Club has drawn up the following syllabus for its educational meetings to the end of September: — August, “Marketing and Grading,” Mr. C. C.ussen. “Duck and Chicken Rearing.” Messrs. J. W. Thompson and W. E. Green. September, “Breeding.” Dr. A. C. McKillop, or “Poultry-keeping in New South Wales,” Mr. J. E. Cooper. The executive of the A.P.K.A. in Auckland would do good work if it followed the example of the Utility Club. Surely, we have sufficient practical men in Auckland to have one educational lecture a month.

Writing in “Poultry World” on “Judges and Judging,” Mr. C. A House says:—“No judge is perfect. He receives little or no money for his efforts and sometimes he receives a cowardly and unwarranted attack for making an award. If he smiles and greets an exhibitor in a friendly manner there are those who suspect evil. No perfect bird has been produced, neither has the perfect judge. Our judges are men. They are human like the rest of us. No jndge is infallible, hence one and all are liable to make mistakes." Mr. House asks: “Who are those who do the grumbling? Usually dissatisfied exhibitors with a

warped sense of fairness who do not win all they expect, then talk about the judge’s having been influenced.” In concluding his article Mr. House says: “Abusing the judge will not alter his opinion or change the award. ‘Evil be to him who evil thinks.’ In considering the work of our poultry judges we need to be to their faults a little blind and to their merits very kind. With few—very few—exceptions, they do their best. As a body they are honest and straight.”