POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10715, 19 October 1912, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES.

(By "Utilitarian.")

It is not often wo see such gooU quality stocK as there is at Air I'. Vese's poultry plant in Carterton. There are seventy five head of Wliite Leghorns and a few ducks, Though lie claims to bo only a beginner ho has done a splendid trade this season in day-old chicks and settings. He .has been well coached in poultry culture by Mr Mumby of Silverstream and the pupil is worthy of his master. Business takes him away a greater part of the day and a lot of the work falls on his wife who takes an exceptionally keen interest in the farm. The Indian ftunner ducks are full sistors to iMr Mumby's winning pen at the last laying competition and have done full justice to their select breeding. The drake, purchased from Mr A. ft. Browne, of Napier, is a typical specimen and though, perhaps, might "be a shade finer in the nock, would take a lot of beating. Ho is a strong advocate, for egg circles and is particularly keen on tl)e value of exporting our eggs. Wo confidently predict him as one of the Dominion's leading poultrymen, in the near future. A well worn tail, that is, one with the ends of the feathers having the appearance of being rasped back is a sure sign, of a consistent layer and the earlier tlie worn tail is in evidence the better the bird. We have noted, lately, the tails of a few here and there beginning to show those desirable points, though, of course, it is more in the autumn they are conspicuous. It< has always been the writer's endeavour to infuse more interest 1 amongst ponltrymen in the Egg Cir- J pie movement and we canno-t help thinking that .where branches of Circles exist, in different localities, in- j stoacl <?F one* Circle in each town, | it is not in the best interests of the j | movement. It is unreasonable to ex- j | pact many to attend a meeting j twenty miles away, in fact, very 1 few do, and we consider that Circles | should be moro localised. This would bring more producers into, so;ia! touch, and would also .be.an incentive to more business between 'members: The important- object of; centralising the sale of the eggs through one ..agency would go on as before, pther important matters, such as exporting of eggs, or discussions 011 various matters which require legislation, could if circle;, 1 were localised, be 'taken up with more enthusiasm. There is at least one Circle, having several branches, extending over a large area, but in talks with some members, we find many of them absolutely ignorant ofmany points, solely through their utter inability to attend meetings at head quarters. In advocating the ahovo wo confidently assert we are but echoing the wish of maiiy Circle members. The Utility Egg Circle has beet, further strengthened, of late, by an additional member. S»me duck breeders advocate tlic spraying of duck eggs when set in an incubator, from the third day right up to the time of pipping, and keepng all ventilators wide open, throughout the entire period of hatching. There have been successful results by this method, though •whether it is tlie best method still remains open. Railway matters still require much renovation to ensure satisfaction amongst poultry farmers and others. Delay in transmitting goods and returning empty egg crates is getting beyond calm acquiescence. public action is imperative and urgent. State monopoly is not always a blessing.