THE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1901, Page 3

THE FARM.

,I'^X EXPORT TRADE IN FROZEN

POULTRY

; U: AX AUCKLAND PACKING DEPOT

OI'EXKD.

Mr D. i>. Hyde, the Government poultry expert, i«> to be coiumeuded for the persistent energy lie has .shown in starting an export trade in frozen poultry from this eol,y. D Depots for the killing, dressing, grading, and packing of poultry have now been established by the Agricultural Department at Auckland, Wellington, Christehurcli. and Dunudiu, and iir each centre a competent poulterer and grader has been appoiiued, tlit1 one for Auckland having recently smved here from Melbourne. Mr Hyik is himself in town at present making all arrangements tor the starting of operations ft t the local depot, which has just been erected near the railway station. Judging from a visit paid tn-dfi.v to the depot with "*jjr Hyde, the building and arrau^i-nieiiii* a ro all that is reijmreO for dealing witlf a large unrober of bird^. if those should come forward fl'O.i Ideal breeders. There is room for six plueiiers to woil; at ;i tiuu 1, and Within HU enclosed yard proper pens are constructed U) hold and iVed the birds until their turn comes to Ijc killed and dressed for freezing. The crates in which the fowls are packed are like dressed fruit-cases, ami the birds, w In.-v dressed arc packed in them from the broad side, in two layers, tiuti then sent to the freezing works. Inside tlie cases are lined with buttor cloth, and at the ends are openings to admit the air, aiid battens are nailed across the outside go as to allow the cold air uf tin: frccziug eliaiuber to circulate freely between tUe packed crates. The method of killing i.s that followed in America, an incision being made into the brain from the inside of tne mouth, which obviates ail uiisightliness In the appearance of.the dead bird, as the heads must be left un the fowls, along with the feathers of the upper part of the neck. After having been washed and a plug of waddiiuj inserted into the month, the head of the bird is wrapped In parchment paper and the wings and legs are properly tlxed into place. Between each layer of fowls in each crate blotting papfr is laid, which absorbs any exudation or condensation of moisture there may be on rue frozen carcases. The wltoie system of packing is carefully attended to. being that followed in similar establishments in America and Australia. .'Any of the four experts in charge of the York at each depot can kill, pluck, dress, grade, and pack "100 birds a day, and the peu« will accommodate about 000 fowls at a time. The crate.'; of packed and frozen poultry are each branded In large letters, "New Zealand Produce," with the initials of the owner, the net weight of the case, and the stamp of the Department stating that the contents have been graded by an vfflcial grader of the Department, the number of the case being stencilled on the front side. Mr Hyde believes In the DorkingIndian Game cross to produce the best table fowls for the London market, and the l'ekin-Aylesbury cross in ducks, so long, as in oboth cases the birds have white skins and legs—an important point with London poulterers. The I'ekm cross in ducks Mr ilyde advocates for the extra hardiness obtained as compared with the pure AylesImry, but in the Auckland district the latter are perfectly hardy. He is a great admirer of the iinff Orpington for table purposes, and it i.s without doubt a valuable breed for the purpose, with its quick maturity, good size,white flesh, and light le:.-.-,. it is to be hoped that local breeders will avail themselves of the assistance thus offered by the Agricultural Department to those desiring to make a living from the raising and fattening of poultry—an industry which, given a good market such as that of London, is especially favoured by our climatic conditions and the cheapness *f good grain food.