POULTRY AND EGGS FOR EXPORT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XX, Issue 1034, 18 May 1894, Page 3

POULTRY AND EGGS FOR EXPORT.

♦ . Poultry keepers and all interested in rural pursuits will ha pleased to hear that the trial shipments of eggs and poultry sent from Australia to the English market have arrived in good condition, and realised payable prices. The success of the rentiire will no doubt mean the establishing of an export trade in poultry and eggs between the sister colony and the London market, and the rising up of an industry which will add to the prosperity of the colony. As the prosperity of the sister colony influences to some extent that of our own land, that is one reason why we will be pleased at the success of the venture. But there is another reason, and a more selfish one. and it is this, the fact of Australia being able to compete in the London market with such countries as France, where they understand the poultry business thoroughly, shows us in New Zealand that we can do likewise. Our conditions are as favourable if not more so than those of the people on the other side. Our climate is highly adapted for successful poultry farming, no matter whether for egg* or table fowls. We have every facility for sending both eggs anc 1 birds home, while our seasons place us in the posistion of landing both in England when the demand is brisk and the prices high. Eggs are plentiful here in summer. The reverse is the case down under, for our summer is England's winter. Again our breeding season starts here in time for us to be able to land young chickens in the London market at Christmas and during the early months of the year when prices for eggs and poultry are extraordinarily high. Apropos of the prices obtained for first-class table fowls during the time indicated above the Stockkepper supplies the following valuable information on the subject: — 'We have had communication this week with Mr Cobb, who h managing the Manor Poultry Farm at Highgate, and from him we learn some interesting facts — facts, moreover, which must ba gratifying to those who try to add to their incomes by rearing a few yearly ' asparagus ' chickens. We ever haveconsistently urged in these columns that poultry yard profits, to any considerable extent, can only be obtained by winter eggs and early spring chickens. Ev«ry year we grow more assured of thip. Certain households will have eggs, fresh from the nest, in winter, whatever they have to pay for them, and certain dinner tables have to be provided with fine chickens in February and March. We have, over and over again, said that those who can provide these articles at the season quoted do well — remarkably well. Mr Cobb gives Ud this week some startling information upon the prices of fine early fowls. For instance, we loam that this gentlsman has made as much as 12s each in the early months of the year for a well-fattened fowl, and obtained in the London market as much as 25s a brace for ducklings. We confess that we are absolutely amazed ! Our informant, however, goes on to say that these prices have been realised ' not privately ,' but in the ' open market.' We readily grant that before now we have read of such sales with reverential surprise, but hare, we fear, doubted the veracity of the statement. The manager, however, of Manor Poultry Farm at Highgate actually gives us his name as a rendor, and will, if required, furnish any other and further particulars. We call it most glorious news. Surely, our small farmers and confreres in the fancy will now set to work and hatch early and fatten well. Only the other day we were in Essex, where the owner of a pedigree-bred Jersey calf could not find a customer at 10s for his animal a fortnight old ; and yet Mr Cobb has got 10s for a fowl and 12s 6d for a duckling. Good intelligence inindeed we may call this to spread abroad, and certainly we hope that many of our readers may arrange their hatchings next year so as to obtain sixty pounds a hundred for their well-fattened March poultry, the price quoted by Mr Cobb. On further inquiry of Mr Cobb, we find that he is of opinion that, although ' poultry farming is a delusion, poultry will pay a most handsome return on the outlay to any farmer who will go to work in a systematic way.' Here we cordially agree with our friend, who, moreover, goes on to remark that ' the great drawback in dealing with farmers is that they have so many petty squabbles amongst themselves, and will not co-operate together.' We must regretfully acknowledge that we believe this verdict to be a correct one. We sincerely hope, however, that after the • delicious ' encouragement in the way of prices for good early chickens which Mr Cobb so pleasingly holds out, that we may find a goodly number of early birds reared in future, where hitherto the winter chickens have been considered too troublesome to be taken in hand. We are always delighted to be the bearers of good tidings, and we have to thank Mr" Cobb for his information, which, coming from a practical man, we look upon it as not being only interesting but valuable.' The prices quoted by Mr Cobb are of course exceptionally high, but, as our contemporary says, certain people will have eggs, and poultry, at certain seasons of the year, no matter what the price be. Even if the prices above were obtained for geese

and turkeys, let alone chickens and ducks, there would be more money made in poultry than in grain, wool cr mutton.