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as sources of vitamin A for laying-stock and the comparative economic value for eggproduction of the reciprocal crosses between White Leghorn and Black Orpington birds. The initial steps have been taken to obtain the necessary stock needed for an economic study in table-bird production, using Light Sussex males and Rhode Island Red females for cross-breeding a suitable type of table bird. In March, 1949, a breeders' laying-trial was started at the plant and fifteen entries of 20 pullets each were received. This trial ended on 26th February, 1950. The trial proved satisfactory and was restarted on 13th March, 1950, with 23 pens or 8 pens more than in the previous year. The results for the first year show that the best pen of White Leghorns laid 3,722 eggs in forty-eight weeks or an average of 186 eggs per pullet. Mortality during the trial for all breeds was 17-3 per cent., a third of this mortality being due to leucosis, a disease which is widespread throughout New Zealand and of considerable economic importance to the poultry industry. There are indications that the establishment of this trial at Upper Hutt is appreciated by poultry-breeders and that the trial will receive increasing support in the future. Not only does it supply valuable information to the individual poultrybreeder who enters a pen of birds, but the data collected over all birds when summarized and published in report form supply material of educational value to all poultry-producers. Wool The Market for Wool.—-Although at the time of writing the 1949-50 selling season has not yet run its full course, it is quite safe to say that it has broken nearly all previous records for prices of individual types of wool, and the over-all returns from this commodity will be far and away the greatest in the history of the Dominion. A very noticeable feature has been the increase in price for crossbred lines relative to Merino ; which is of great economic importance to us with our predominantly crossbred clip, only some 3 per cent, of our wool now being Merino. It seems that pent-up buying pressure from consumers who had waited for years, through the war and after, to replenish wardrobes and furnishings created such a demand for fine wools that Merino prices were finally becoming too high. Manufacturers, fearing that their products might soon have to meet increasing sales resistance, began to substitute the cheaper crossbred types, and, as the past season has shown, increased demand for these has in turn pushed their prices up. Statistically wool is in a very strong position, as for all practical purposes the wartime accumulations have all been sold and the world is using wool faster than it is being produced. Any increase in production .will take considerable time, and in the meantime it is likely that scarcity and high prices will give constantly improving synthetic fibres the biggest boost they have ever had. Experiments and Investigations. —The work on power-spray dips has been continued. These dips are now very popular and are being installed as fast as the limited shipments from Australia become available. Properly used they are efficient, labour saving, and easy on the sheep, but they are not entirely foolproof and attempts to dip sheep carrying too much wool or to break speed records are likely to lead to disappointing results. The other main factor to be watched is that sufficient power and speed are available from the engine or motor to give adequate pressure at the pump. Sheep and Wool Instructors in their districts have made a point of checking these factors and generally assisting new owners of spray dips to get the best results from them. Further trials have been carried out at the Animal Research Station, Ruakura, on the use of different dipping materials in a spray dip, and one of the facts which has clearly emerged is that strict adherence to manufacturers' instructions in regard to frequent replenishments is essential. With spray dipping there is rapid exhaustion or " stripping " by the fleece of the active ingredients in suspension in the dip, and if

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