THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12934, 14 October 1907, Page 8

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

INTERVIEW WITH JtR A. A CLARKSON.

Mr A. A. derkson, tie well-known poultry fancier, who has just returned to Christchurch ifter an extensive tour ot the States and the Old Country in oompany with Mr F. Rogen, furnistred some interesting information in regard to the poultry induatry in America and England to a representative ot "The Pre»" on Saturday afternoon. After visiting Honolulu, where the swampy ground is highly favourable to duck raising, Mr Clarkeon and Mr Rogen continued on to Petaluma, otherwise known as "The White City," ! on. account of the large number ot White Leghorne bred there. "This place," said Mr Clarkson, "consists of small farms of ten to twenty acres, on which there is nothing but White Leghorne— not the small Leghorn to he aeen in New Zealand, but the happy medium between the small and the large Leghorn. When these birds are about four months of age, the cockerels are taken away and sold for broilers. The pullets are kept up to the point of laying, and then tested with Hogan's system, and all the layers not up to the test are sent to the broilers. Each of these yards is stocked with from 5000 to 10,000 head of poultry. The eggs are put up to auction on Tuesday morning in San Francisco, and the price they command remains until the following Friday, when another sale takes place, and the value ia fixed till Tuesday. I did not havo much of an opinion of Hogan's eystom, but after testing it with trap neste, I am perfectly satisfied that it ia accurate."

Boston was found to be absolutely the home of the White Wyandotte. "Here," said Mr Oarkson, "you cannot open your mouth -under 300 dollars for three birds." The birds were far •uperior to the English varioty—snow white right down to the akin, good shape, but hardly as large as the English bird. In New York the travellers visited one of the largest poultry farms in .America, and were informed that the owner had put something like £150,000 into the and us try. Ho was oonnected with the Stock Exchange, and had any amount of money, and it waa just a hobby. The Plymouth Books found in Weltham, which are considered good layer* in America, were barred right down to tho skin, and not like the English birds, with only three or four bars. On the whole, tb« White Wyandottee and Plymouth Rocks excelled anything Keen in England.

"We went aoroee to England," continued Mr Clarkson, "and <tn inspection of • number of the yards impressed mc with the idea that they art* spoiling a largo. proportion oi tbeir birds, especially the Black Lengthen, Black Minorca, and White Leghorn These are getting so high tin the leg that they oannot stand upright in a 30 inch show pen. The White Leghorn is a very coarse bird, but if the Olaok Minorca was knocked down two <>r three inches in tile leg it would be \ superior, bird. The Wyendottes, both silver and gold,, are only in ono »r two hands, and aomo of the largest exhibitors and successful mcn j purohaet. th#ir birds *rad do not . breed themselves. We also went to ccc one of .the . most euoonssful breeders of White Wyandottes In England, but hie birds were aappy and very largemore like the Orpington type." When iskcd as to whether poultrykeeping paid, <Mr Clerkeon eaid that it must, judging by Petaluma, but, he added, "If I had money I would rather put it in the bani and lire on the interest."

Hβ was rery reticent in regard to the frozen ponltry sent Home from New ZeaHnd, »nd le<# our repreeenth Uvo to believe that it waa not as eatisfactory as it should be. ■

Mr Clarkson brought out a larg» number of turkeys for Melbourne, a trio of Golden Wjandottee, c trio or Brown Leghorne, and Old BngliMi K&rr% for Rogen and Androir*, Orntond, Victoria i four Golden Wyaadottea, three Silver Wyandottes, and three trioa of Silver Wyandottee, for Victoria; a bull-dog for Ohristchurch, end a trio of White Silvers and three Goldeni Wyandottes for Ohrisitchiirch. Two Silver* and c Whito Wyandotte cockerel for Christcburoh died on the voyage. All the rest were landed in good condition. "Wt, found," he eaid in conolueion, **that the only way to get really good birds Iβ to jo to England and brine them out yourself."