THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1402, 30 March 1912, Page 23

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

: -> : (By Chantecler.)

CO-OPERATION. The writer has always boon an ardent supporter of co-operation among poultrymoii, and quite alive to the many advantages outlined in Mr. Ferguson's letter in last week's note!-. Whether the time is npo for. such an undertaking as that writer prescribes is a question'. To organise* a company strong enough to handle the poultry business in oaeh of the four centres is a huge undertaking. Ido not know the man capable (with time and money) of doing it, nor ran I see the men who aro lifted to' handle each of the branches. The writer happens to know a little of tho qualifications required' of such men and their value. -Wo have only to look back on tho efforts made by poultrymen to co-operate in Auckland, Christchurch, Levin, and other places to find'that each one-failed through want of experience on the part.of the management. These .men.did their best, and are not to he blamed any tnoro than numbers who rush into poultry-keeping and make a failure for want of experience. Tho fact remains that these failures stand out, and thousands, at least J;20,000i hato been wasted, and the industry retarded. What guarantee have we that a repetition of these instances will not be repeated? I know Mr. Ferguson will say wo cannot tell till wo try, and' that my warning sounds like the man that is afraid to venture. Not at all. It is simply commercial caution. Assure me of a good organiser, capable, and businesslike management, and 1 will find .£IOOO towards co-operation right away, but 1 will not entrust my money until J am suro it will be handled by men showing at least as much, if not more, business intelligence than myself. There are several things that our experience has taught us that militate against co-operation: (1). AVant of sufficient capital. This is usually tho cause of failure among most industrious concerns. Business transactions are not always immediately reproductive, and just as things are got going the business is hampered for want of capi-. tal. (2) Want of' unity. A company starts business, creates a good market, arid what do you find,—that ,soine.,"pOiiltry-. nien-.will market their goods:;privatet,v;'. '■and/save commission.'' ~\\'c know'.'theni.v Every •shilling appeals to then V,' and.they" fall a victim to its enticement rather than adhere to the principles rif co-opera-tion, and so protect themselves. The competitive system is used ngainst the company by the very men. it is designed to assist. (3) Expensive overhead charges. The profits are necessarily small, though with a large turnover they become remunerative, but what with high routs hoards of director--, etc.. I do not, think the scheme would work. (1) AVant of good managers. Where are these men Mr. Ferguson speaks of? I confess I dbn't know them. If Mr. Ferguson will name his men I will consider their qualifications, And' give them my support, but I assure liira that the undertaking is a hugs affair, and it will not be said that these columns advocated a scheme that did not hold out a caution, so that those responsible may be warned of the danger, 'i'o me, Mr. Ferguson's scheme is too big for immediate action. Let a company start operations in Wellington, and should it, work out satisfactorily on two years' showing, then gradually extend its usefulness to the other centres. Support would be readily given, and those firms interested in the industry would no doubt work harmoniously with the 'Wellington, company in trying to carry out Mr. Ferguson's ideals. Winter Housing ■ ATe have lately been asked for information concernin.q: intensive poultry-keeping. For those, uniamiiiar-.with the "system it implies keeping. the'birds wholly under cover. Experiments have shown us that birds kept in an open shed with plenty of scratching accommodation faro better and give belter returns than when allowed to have large runs and exposed to all kinds of weather. Tho system opens up great possibilities for tho city.man; in his quarter-acre section he can keep as many birds and with better results than.if ho owned two acres. Tho man who kept 500 birds in two acres, with runs and sheds, coii, on tho intensive system, become independent and run his two or three thousand birds. AViro-netting runs are considered so much waste of good ground. It becomes''.,stale, and in wet weather .'unhealthy. Tho .grass does not grow, and the birds aro trailing around in frost, li'tid, and water, and demanding more food for bodily maintenance, when, under batter conditions, that same food would be turned into eggs. By courtesy of the "New Zealand Poultry Journal" we aro enabled to show our readers one of these largo houses m use at tho New Zealand Poultry Institute. Christchurch. It accemmo'dotes 500 birds, and is 102 feet long bv 16' feet wide. Back stud 4ft. Gin., front 7ft. Gin. . AVire-netted front, all,but two feet, which is boarded, inside of which.is a trough for the water- supply. .Back wall is asbestos slate, rcof iron. Droppingboard runs the whole length of the house, and is 4ft. wide, 2ft. from ground. Perches are Is!, and raised nine inches from dropping-board.

LAYINO COMPEriTIONS. FOWLS. The following are the returns for the New Zealand L'lility Poultry Club's sovonth egg-laying competitinn "for- fowls for the fitly-second week, ending March Total Total for to Week. Date. A. 11. Padman, Adelaide, W. Leghorns 1 1111 A. J{. Browne, Greonmeadows, White Leghorns 19 1410 T. Collins, Waiwetu, White Leghorn* 10 1239 C. SI. Peck, Avondalo, Black Orpingtons 16 1102 G. H. Barnett, Leeston, Brown Leghorns 16 1217 Heretaunga. Poultry Co., Silverstream, W. Leghorns!'... 22 H55 W. Halpin, Greenmcadows, White Leghorns 1 1265 W. Knight, Hutt, No. 1, W. Leghorns 26 1291 A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Whito Wyandottes 12 1222 W. Knight, Hutt, Whito Leghorns 8 1092 Vorrall Bros., Swannanoa, W. Leghorns ; 9 1172 A. E. Wilson, Shirley, W. Leghorns .*..... 9 1088 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, Otaki, White Leghorns 0 1195 D. Stewart, Normandy, Taranaki, W. Leghorns 16 979 A. I). Meuzics, Addington, R.-combed W. Leghorn ' 8 1022 Edgar Hall, Lower Hutt, B. Orpingtons ..... 6 994 C. Hammond, Ruakura, W. Plymouth Rocks 21 1225 G. Finn, Wellington, W. Leghorns 12 1101 Dominion Poultry Plant, Coroiiiandel, W. Leghorns 13 1188 A. R. Browne, Cieenmeadows, W. Leghorns 13 1211 Mrs. 11. \V. llawke, Papanui, Whito Leghorns 15 1206 Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, White / .■ Leghorns ,'.......:. , 13 1353 ;R. : Willii iaßd : Sons. New ■•>•'.'.•.. Brfg!i,ton,- , B.;..Orpingtans... ■*■. 947 H'. Sfeadows, Spreydon, White Leghorns 15 1127 P: J. Keller, Rolleston, Campines '• 18 927 W. G. Goodwin, Thames, W. I I,eghorns 13 1267 R. Willis and Sons, New Brighton, W. Leghorns ... 16 1183 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns 13 1238 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver Wyandoltes 25 1333 James Ashton, Hanmer, Silver Wvandottes 3 SCI P. J. Keller, Rolleston, White Leghorns 2 1186 G. it. Bradford, Cust, White Leghorns 1 "75 D. Y. Gibson, Herbert, White Leghorns 7 1301 W. Nixon, Burwood, White Leghorns 18 1137 11. M. Bannehr, Riccarton, W. Plymouth Rocks 21 1009 Thomas Frethey, Martinborough, Buff Leghorns ... 8 1211 C. L. Bridges, Wanganui, W. Leghorns H 1121 James Maxwell, Masterton, B. Orpingtons U 9M G. 11. Robinson, Chvistchurch, White Leghorns 10 10S6 A. E. Kent, Shirley, White Leghorns 11 HS3 W. Balch, ■ Belfast, White -■■.Leghorns ...;.......:....\ .29 1218 Heretaunga Poultry Co., Silverslream, W. Leghorns ... 11 1325 X. Solomon, Westport,. White Leghorns 9 "28 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns 1 1097 G. 11. Robinson, Christchurch, Black Orpingtons 10 1241 A. Stevenson, Wellington, W. Leghorns 16 1266 fl. Leger, Weroroa, White Leghorns ..'. 2 1183 •W.O. Sail, Gust, Whito Leuhorns .16 1273 Master Gordon Wilson- Shirley, W. Leghorns 0 1071 A. B. Kinnear, Adelaide, W. . Leghorns 12 1231 T. Dowthwaite, Auckland, W. Leghorns 1 090 A. Tisch, Dalliugton,' WhiU Leghorns :.;...... .« 1377 C. M. Peek, Avondale, W. Leghorns 10 12G4 A. F. H. Sutherland, Wellington, W. Plymouth Rocks 1G 936 T. ' Kennedy, Rangiora, W. Wyando'ttes '~ 28 1322 A. W. Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes 23 1109 W. Scull, Christtlmrch, Black Wyandottes : ... 25 1191 :\V. Nixon, Burwood, Whito i Leghorns' .:.::*...:. 22 1135 Jt. and M. Bradley,' Pnpanni, W. Lephorns ... 13 1340 J. W. Green, St. Albans, W. Leghorns 28 1370 774 70,838

The Competitions. It seems as if therHerctaunga Poultry Company will win both the hen and the duclc competitions at Papanui. The test closes n«>:t Sunday." The scores will not vary much from the returns givcu in this issue. , Next.Week's Notes. Commencing with . next Friday's Dominion,'the poultry notes will bo published every Friday. .This, will give our readers tho competition returns a day earlier, and more space will bo given to the notes. Correspondents. Owing to want of spaco a number of questions from our readors aro hold over till next week. London Conference. Owing to the illness of Mrs. Tod,'. Mr. Jnmah Tod will be unable to leave for; IjUglaiiil for some time to come.- Ho wasto havo represented New Zealand at the. London Conference, iu July. ..New Zealand's voto will now to .; recorded:' by ii'iuT; /;.";... Day-old Chicks.—Finest Leghorns for Vj-'z Production. Hatched March to Octniier. i'irdess Brooder and 30 Chicks, 4(K; 05 per 100, rail paid. Write for circular now. H- LEG'ER, Weroroa,

DUCKS. Tho. following are the returns for the Now Zealand Utility Poultry Club's second egg-laying competition for ducks for tho fifty-second week ending March 27:— Total Total for to Week. Date. Herctaunga Poultry Co., Silvorslream, I. Runners ... 6 1351 W. Knight, Hutt, I. Runners 0 1311 W. Knight, Hutt, I. Runners i 11GS S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners 7 .. G9G T. Strong, Doyleston, Indian Runners 25 106G S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners 0 849 C. Hammond; Ruakura, I. Runners :... 0 1097 A. R. Browne, Greenmeadows, Indian Runners , 7 . 1208 W.. Hodgson, ■: Cheviot, Indian. ' .Runners. ......12.' BSB •T.'Dowtliwaito/i'.Avondnle, L;:':.'. '■- ,; 'Runners ........»....;.. ':5V 910 T. R. Hall, Wereroa,-Indian . .'■ Runners .; 1098 B. A. O'Brien, Waihi, Indian Runners. 0 1003 P. J. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners 5 1195 F. Webb, Levin, I. Runners 0 727