POULTRY FOR EVERYBODY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10265, 17 June 1911, Page 6

POULTRY FOR EVERYBODY.

(By "Cock-o'-the-North.') - I have to acknowledge [receipt from the New Zealand Poultry Journal Institute of the 1911 illustrated catalogue, and I wish to congratulate the enterprising proprietor an its production. The stock advertised is not one whit exaggerated, and I speak from- intimate knowledge of same. Hie catalogue is free on application to Box 588, Oli/risrt-churdh.

Speaking on this subject, I was wondering whether Wairarapa poultry men in general are aware of what tthsy owe to Mr J. B. Morretit, the plucky, determined Editor of the "New Zealand Poultry Journal." I speak from personal knowledge, having been associated with him in 1907-8 as associate editor of his journal. To him is due the honor of having first given ins a live journal. Of course he expected return s, but I can assure my readers that this gentleman' lost heavily ait first. However, he stuck to Sit. He ha® brought the poultry men of New Zealand on the road to effective oombdniatioai by means of the late | conference at Wellington. He was also the first to move actively an the matter of Egg Circles, and he lias given his time and energy to the laying out of an Institute .at Ohristchurch where the uninitiated may be taught poultry culture on niodei'ai lines. His teaching is sound and sensible, and the intention is to further advance on sound lines, and I cannot, help saying that every keeper of only a dozen or s,o of good fcwls (or bad ones) would benefit greatly by investing in the New Zealand Poultry Journal. I isee that an effort is to be made in the direction of starting an Egglaying Competition for the North Island. I heartily hope it will evientuate; hut at the same time I hope tihait it will aim at teaching the public of itibiis Dominion .something more than the fact .that a well-fed hen of a good .strain will lay a large number of eggs. This is getting played out. Let them show (Ist) not what breed lays the most eggs, ibut which returns the greatest net profit over cost of food; (2nd) the cheapest; style of laying down a plant, such plant to ibe good and efficient; (3rd) the greatest number of birds which can be successfully run on a given area of land in perfect health and condition ;and last, but mot- by any means ileaist, the greatest number of bards wfhicli one man can handle with a fair day's work. If they do this, they will not only earn the gratitude of the JST.Z. poultry culturists*, but reap the benefit themselves, and anything of mine which I can place at their service is tiheirs entirely free of any charge. As to (management, there is one man wfbom I would select above all I know, though -my acquaintance' with hiim is of the slightest. This is Mr H. M. Boddington, a young man of keen business ability, and who is ihoumd sooner or later to make his mark im the poultry world. I do mot, of course, know if he is available, but if the competition eventuates my earnest advice to the promoters is to do all in their power to secure his services.

'ln. resipcrt to certain remarks which, have bee,a made re the poultry jnan up New Plymouth, way who is starting out building poultry houses on am extensive scale, it ais said that Ms ambition is to have'2o,ooo layer?, toj write a book of 600 pages on. poultry culture, and to educate the poultry public to using ibiis- somewhat problematical systems, of selection of layers. As I am the person referred ito, I ishould like to «£ate: — list. As to 20,000 layers, I hope to have very many more than this in time. 2nd. As to a 600-.pa.ge book, considering the fact' that I have already written (some years ago) a 500--page book, which the Press of the Dominion was good enough to say wa® the best of its kind ever introduoed to tiheir notice, why should my ambition soar to another 100 pages? As a matter of fact, I am now starting on one, but it will run into nearer to 1200 than 60 i pages. Finally, as to my somewhat protbelmaitdcal. system of selection of layers, my critic should be consistent. He advises that Mr' Browai, Government Poultry Instructor, should be called in to pick out the pens suitable for competition- by a ity points are mine, by copyright, and in which these points are marked: b yexoeasive- show requirements. I have before me a letter from ' a gentleman whose six birds last year laid 1521' eggs in Ohriistchuveh; -aij'd who 'was invited to compete at Palmersiton North in the utility classes under this "standard," but had to decline because he knew his birds had no chance of winning under this standard. Yet the critic recommends that a'"standard" wnich rejects birds able to lay 1521 eggs for six' birds in twelve months be used by the proposed competition to .select the pews. If this is done it will be a poor look-out for intending competitors. It k- of very little consequence to me which way my critic thinks. It is not more" tlin.ii 3£ years or so since he was very glad to .seek the writer's advice on the most trivial matters ; in cormectioin with poultry culture, and he will need a few years more before he lcnbWs the A.B.C. of the game.