POINTS ABOUT POULTRY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 255, 21 July 1908, Page 3

POINTS ABOUT POULTRY.

EGGS AND TABLE QUALITIES. RESULTS OF INBREEDING. ■ The North Dakota Experiment Station has been carrying on somo instructive tests of poultry for eggs and.laying qualities, In regard .to; sitting; hens, it was found that; inside or outside!-ground nests were equally good, tho results, of two trials beiug Y that tho inside nests hatched 50 per cent. :and the outsido nests 49 "per cent, of the. eggs set. - ' ■; • ' AVarm and cold houses were compared, and the results ; wero in favour of the . cold housos. In a largo warmly-built house, the average; monthly egg production for three months was 6.5 eggs.;, but in a single-board wall colony houso tho averago was 7.6. A second test under the same .conditions -gavo tho results as' 6.4 and 10.5 eggs respectively. It was found that "the general health of the fowls'in the cold pon was noticeably hotter than that of tho fowls in the warmer Tests on inbreeding wore carried out, with the following results: — . Three'inbred grade pullets: 26 eggs set, 13 hatched. (3 deformed chicks). Four inbred Barred Plymouth Rocks:. 24' eggs set, 10, hatched, , (3 deformed chicks). , . . ; ' Hens and pullets (not inbrod): 26 eggs .* seti - 21 hatched (nono deformed). 27 eggs, set';" 22 hatched- (nolle deformed). - ; The laying abilities of inbred fowls, wore also tested, for' four months: — ■ Four iiibred yearling hons laid.an aver- , 1 a"e of . 42.5 eggs each, 'l'hreo hens 2 and 3.years old (not iiibred) laid 60 eggs. - each." ■ A striking feature of the tests, .was tho bad laying'-abilities of the inbred, pullets. With two .-exceptions they were very erratic in their. performances,laying heavily for a. short period and then'ceasing altogether. . The Pennsylvania Departmentvot Agriculture has been compiling some information concerning egg-producttoip, and concludes that the : egg yield "is .governed by cliniatic conditions which; have to do not only with temporature but w-ith the . length of day,, and with the amount, of sunshine.. As to table qualities, the Pennsylvania compilers quote data as-to the proportion of ; waste in a Plymouth Rock ■ and ;-in. a .Leghorn.- The percentage of dressed fowl m the Plymouth Kock (as compared ' with, live ' weight) was 90.5, per, cent.; hut in the Leghorn it was only 86.8 per cent., Of the-Ply-mouth Rock 75.49 .was eatable, .but of tho Leghorn only 66.55. : The Rock ...had: nmre juicy , tender meat and less tough couhcctivo tissue than .the' Leghorn. . . DRY OR MOIST BUTTER. HOW TO MAKE. EITHER. The moisture content of Ne\y Zealand but- ' 'tor has lately.-.increased,, and, tho latest analyses found it to bo about 13, per cent. '. Much water'means, of course, ' much ovor- : run, but, low grading., Littlo water means ' 'a higher grading but smaller overrun, and, ' perhaps, smaller payments to suppliers. It ; is for the; butter maker, to chopso which ho : will oatrpriiso. .' , " : Moisture' content is determined' by the I manipulations of the butter -\vhen working j it,", and' by ■ tho, .temporaturo of the 1 wash 'water.-.-Dry .'butter can'.bo; obtained by keepr; ing the cream.and tlie butter, cold,.by.chum- ■ 'ing to small granules, by washing'.tho .butter a very littlo, ,aud by giving : it plenty of . time' to drain.' . ;. - ' : . - , ! : " Moist butter'can -be. obtained; byv churning ' longer at ■' a j high'et; ;t'omperSturo' .the j 'granules, are large," and 'by"churning'"'the • butter in .the 1 Jto '-. soft; butter, but it is easily pressed out' of cold.butter. . .- INSECT PESTS. [ - - DANGER ■' FROM -THE ISLANDS. > An Auckland Press 'Association message states that M.r. : ;Arnett; : -G.overnmerit'Fruit i Inspector, coudemned eight cases' of oranges by tho Tofua from the Islands,' 'though they 1 were; covered by v a certificate- from tho shippers that they came from a district frco of ; ; discaso. ' • . ■ . • About;3oo'bags of maize per Tofua' were ' also diseased.; ~Mr. 'Arnott has no authority to destroy diseased maize, but ho has ar- ' rauged with tho'importers 1 to place tho ship--1 ment in the freezing works for three da'.vs, " hoping to ;kill' the.-' fly :in .the grain;.,,. The »' pest, Mr.;Arnett says,.is'most dangerous; 1 if ', oiice it" got,' hold .of-,New;'Zealand' it would ' bring'ruin to farmers. - : ' . Fruit imported io/New:Zealand has.to bo : -accompanied' by a certificate declaring: that it was grown in a; district free from certain specified diseases.' Fruit,;;however, is always ; inspected on arrival, -in.'"spite of-the certifi'cate.;' ■'' .- i' I '' ■ ■ 'i ' .. '■' ' i '; Grain.has previously arrived at. Auckland, ••infected, with the,fly,.and on 'that\occasion f it was arranged for . the shipment riot to - be distributed ; for fear of spreading the dis--6 case locally. LOur laws.at present'do hot pro- > 'yide for'the' confiscation' of this particular 0 pest v but Mr.-. T."W. ( Kirk .(biologist), uridei ' instructions froih his department, is looking 7 .into the-matter,; with-a view ;to;--legislatioE J rbcirig introduced, to meet the -danger in fur ture. - : J- '.v.. ;:; •-,; - . - ; ; ; 0 -COVERED MILK CANS. 1 .- J ■' I'. - In the average of .-.ton tests; in Europe-tht s number of bacteria per gram 'in milk drawr j into a covered pail was less than onc-fiftl of that in milk drawn' into an open-'pail, Filtering did not appreciably lessen the numk ber of bacteria. i , ; A NEW ALFALFA, ■' Y EAJILIERj LATER, HEAVIER CROPS. ® The seed of a; Peruvian strain of alfalfa ; : was presented to tho United-States ; Depart ment . of Agriculture recently by a firm ;ii Chili, and a study of the .resulting cropi has led to the conclusion that the'.strain i: L sufflciently - different from all'other alfalfa: to constitute ii'distinct botanical variety It was found that this,variety grows mor< rapidly, makes quicker recovery'after cut ting, , begins growth earlier in - spring, an( continues growth later in autumn than, com „ mon alfalfa. This results ill one or two ad ° ditional cuttings each year, and also in i ' greater. yield from each cutting due to. iti .; vigorous growth. A considerable' degree o; j" cold is' necessary. before; its ■ growth ceases. - MILK OF NEWLY-CALVED COWS. i. After experiments, a.writer in the;-' Jour is nal',' of the British Board of Agriculture ha: concluded "that it may fairly bo assnmet n that tho milk of newly-calved cows may hi used, for all ordinary purposes at the em of ■ three complete days'from' calving, pro vided the milk; is * then free from blood am is apparently normal." • • EARLY LAMBS. .0 ' ■ ~ r "- n A Christchurch Press Association messag o states that lambing has begun in variou is parts of, North and, Mid-Canterbury, but th 's season will riot be' at its height for a montl io at least.' Tho present early lambs aro in o tended for tho early demands of the butchers I, and probably show, purposes, as-lambing s. y early is not generally favoured by farmers; io " —: — : — -. 'f LINCOLN EGG-LAYING COMPETITION, A Press Association message from Christ church states that the official report'for th week ending July 17 of tho Utility Poultr; ia Club's fourth egg-laying competition at Lin w coin College shows "that 877 eggs were laii it during the week, bringing tho total to dat ia to 9643. The best layings for tho week wer 5- by W- Sail's White Leghorns 33, T. Ken ■e iiedy's Silver Wyandottos 30, R. E. M ' Evans's Silver Wyandottes • 28, Mrs. J

Mills's Whito Leghorns 27, A. Padman's White. Leghorns 2", D. 51. Peek's Whito Lchorn.i 27, "N.Z. Poultry Journal" Institute's White Leghorns 26, W. C. Burbur.v's Whito Leghorns, 26. The highest totals to dato arc: T. Kennedy's Silver Wyandottes 420. "N.Z. Poultry Journal" Institute's White Leghorns 363, A. Padman's White Leghorns 355, Drury and Roses's Whito Leghorns 338, R. W. Hawko's Whito Leghorns 305, Allan Petrie's Whito Leghorns 303, W. Sail's Whito Leghorns 303. TOWN AND COUNTRY. MUTUAL INTERESTS IN ELTHAM. About two years ago the Eltham Volunteer Fire Brigade was lacking funds, and approached the local branch of tho Farmers' Union for assistance. Tho farmers, recognising that their interests in Eltham were'-largo, including the Egraont Box Factory, Eltham Bijtter Factory, and a bacon factory, gavo a social, which turned out a financial success, and tho proceeds were handed over to tho Brigade. Oil Saturday last tho combined committees again, met, and made arrangements to hold another social, for'the purpose of retaining a manual fire.' engine (now useless for the Borough), for tho use of the rural district around Eltham. Tho Brigade agreed to instruct any now volunteers in the use of the engine, and also to take charge in ease of the engine being required. Further, by resolution, their premises were placed at tho disposal of the Farmers' Union for meetings. This offer was gladly accepted. In return, the. members of tho Union, then present stated that so far as they personally wore concerned tho social to assist the Brifa■ado would be an annual event. BETTER FARMING. Some Manawatu farmers ( says our correspondent) intend for tho first time to manure their grass land prior to closing it up fpr next season's hay crop, and with that object in viow.-havo placed orders. There is every probability that potato and onion crops ■ will be extensively grown in tho district next season. TIRED FARMERS ANQ THE RABBITS. ..Councillor M'Neij proposed, at Saturday's meeting of the Kiwitea County Council, that' the Council obtain a quantity of poisoned pollard for rabbits, tho poison to be supplied free to any settlers requiring it. Tho chairman (Mr. S. Carman) said; lie was not enthusiastic over the matter aftor their experience of last year. -.Thoy had obtained a quantity of rabbit poison, and the sottlers wero too indifferent to tako it' and distribute, it over, their land. ' . He had himself, takon a quantity to his place,, and had to destroy 601b.' of it to get rid of it, hecause, the : settlers were : not sufficiently: in-. torcsted to tako it,.even though they could: have got it for nothing. ' ' Councillor M'Neil urged tho adoption, of theproposal," 'saying the settlers in his riding had availed themselves of tho facilities. Jast. year'.' •. The rabbits were on the increase, and they must bo kept in check if possible... The motion was adopted. FRUIT-GROWING LECTURE. - Mr. Boucher, Government Pomologist, de-1 livercd a lecture at Palmerston -North last evening (says our correspondent), upon tho care 'of fruit trees. There was a fair audience.; Mr. Boucher'treated upon the-various diseases, and emphasised the care that shoidd be exercised in keeping,tho trees clean, other-. ' wise owilers. wero'liable to-, prosecution. To-, morrow night Mr. Boucher wi}l, lecture inFeildinr;. . . ' , . ' • : WINTER IN WAIRARAPA. ■ Tho weather in Wairarapa for tho past few days lias been more akin to that of winter than, at any other time during the year (writes our correspondent), and farmers who . were ploughing have been forced to ceaso , operations. A'few early lambs have'made ' their appearance, and tho present stato of i the temperature is not likely t-o conduco to 'their general'..welfare., There has not been- • too ; much rain, but warmer weather will be •welcomed.-' The' pastures' are rather short,' and at present not too succulent, hut tho farmers generally report that' stock are in very fair condition.. So-far,;there havo boon no report's of mortality among ewes and early lambs in consequence of the cold snaps. •V/OOL MARKETINC. A! FARMER'S MAXIM. A number of Wairarapa farmers kept their wool back' on the London 'market, untili:the late series of sales, and in view of even'tho . small riso in prices, they are at present congratulating themselves'. Several clips, including those -of.Messrs; H. and G. Williams, of Te Parae,' wero divided, so that a pprtion of each could bo put on the market at the May,. July, and September sales ;;and tho practice-will no' doubt bo followed as much as possible by sheepfarmers whenever there is'a threatened slump. A well-known sheep-' farmer says that his maxim has always been to sell locally when prices.are high,'and ship when 1 the market: is down. ■ . : . ' 'OUR DIARY. SHOWS. Oct. 21, 22.—Hawke's Bay A. and P. (Hastings). .. .- . «. - October 38, 29.—Wairarapa A. and P. (Carterton).-; Nov. 4, 5, 6.—Manawatu. Nov. 11,"12, IS.—Christchurch. Feb. 26. —Bush Districts (Woodville). Nov. 11) 12.—Wanganui. • Sept. 2. —Bulb Show, Masterton. Nov. 17, 18.—Marlborough (Blenheim).' Nov. 18,-19.—Egmont (Hawera).' Nov. 24, .25.—Nelson. ' : . LONDON WOOL SALES. ' sth series, begin . . Sept. 29 6th „ : „ ... ... Nov. 24;. ,