THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1509, 3 August 1912, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

. > * (By Chantecler.)

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ''J.F.," Feilding.—Tho cause of your ducklings dying is cramp, occasioned through • access to too much water. You should let the little fellows havo a meal first, then a drink or two at tho fountain, and removo the water. When you let them rush to water before taking food, cramp seizes them, and they die. The symptoms which j'du describo show this to be the cause. • "T.K.," Hutt — The poultry industry has never had such encouragement in the way of prices as tho present. You can with safety raise__tablo poultry, as the demand is growing each year, and prices, are improving. Government Assistance. A deputation of poultrymen will wait on the Premier on August 2G, to ask for assistance to develop the poultry industry. It is not expected that they will multiply their requests, but will rather confine them to the most .important and. practical features of the business. Tho export trade will probably be the chief subject dealt with. . And Once More—Co-operation. Poultrymen are slowly recognising the value of co-operation, and it is reasonably expected that, in a few years, a remarkable change will take place in the system of marketing.eggs and poultry. Tho erratic prices of the egg market are enough to bewildor anyone. During' the past two months the market has been up and down from Is. 3d. to -2s. 6d. dozen. In many instances tho producers have themselves to blame. locally, we have an agent acting on behalf of egg circles, while on tho other' hand, big producers who do not market' through the agent, are cutting against hiin in soliciting the trade. The producers may save a littlo commission, but they dose it again for want of a uniform price, in addition to loss of valuable time away from the farm. Not only would-the egg market bo more equitable in price.under eo-operation, but the poultrymen would effect considerable 'saving, in tho purchase of foodstuffs and requisites for their business. At the preterit- huge amounts of commission are being spent'annually to. agents for tho marketing of eggs and poultry. Theso can be conserved among poultrymen it a properly organised company were formed.

The Experiment Farm. It is generally conceded that an experiment farm, much on the lines of the Agricultural Universities in America, ■ is -needed for New Zealand poultry men. Tho facilities for students to learn poultry farming in New Zealand are very crude. In fact, it would be hard to nnd anything more diffic,ult. There are np instructors, no accommodation, experiments to guide. Granted that the present farms have accomplished a good work in reproducing stock and circulating it among the farmers, there is much that needs to bo done. Ruakur'a. and Milton should be maintained to show as to what commercial possibilities there - are . in poultry-keeping. They would-be self-sup-

porting, and bo no lax on (he country. Burnham is out of da to and nut of roach to those who wish to sea and earn, and should bs promptly dismantled. It takes a day to go there and bock from Christchurch, and how many can afford to spare tho time to go, nnd even see less than can be seen within two miles of the Square, and a two-penny rido in. tho tram. The acquisition of a suitable piece of -'round near Christchnrch would enable the poultrvmer. to■ eco and learn what modern-day poultry-keeping means. Experiments could bo mads that would give valuable aid io tho industry. In Mr. Brun, the Government have a canablo man, who could ■ tako charge of such an establishment. An assistant expert could l>e appointed to do tho work which Mr. Brun is now doing. A ear Wellington would also prove a suitable location, but distance out would bo detrimental, while if Canterbury gave up Burnliam they would havo some claim to an experiment farm. In view of tho largo number of farmers in Canterbury, it is at Christchurch tho greatest good would be done. The Chick Season. Now that wo are into August, the chick season will bo in full swing. The beginner cannot do better than get his breeders together and learn the essentials of chicken-raising. As has often been remarked in this column, it takes considerable experience to becomo an expert at the work. There are many details that have to bo attended to to enable one to raise chickens successfully. Most beginners expect too much. , I hey must expect losses. Thousands of chicks are lost annually in. New Zealand, even under expert caro. AVhat tho losses of'tho inexperienced amount to makes one shudder to think. With tho prices of poultry as they, are to-day, every should bo made to raiso every chick. None should be lost. Tho cockerels are needed for table purposes, as it is plainly seen.there is a shortage. Tho beginner will learn much by visiting an up-to-date poultry farm and noting how things are dono.

Scarcity of Ducks. There is a big shortage in ducks this year, and prices - are prohibitive. Many people who bred, ducks two seasons ago sold their breeders and abandoned the business owing to tho low market prices obtained for them. They did not pay to raise—now tho high prices show there is a big shortage-. Prices have gone up 200 per cent, this year. 'Hero is when export orders come in. AV'hen ducks were plentiful, an export trade would havo strengthened the prices and encouraged people to raiso ducks. It is the same with eggs—an export trade would keep eggs at a fair value of Is. in place of 9d. and lOd. a dozen, which will bo the summer price.

Poultry By Post, The experiment of supplying tho public with fresh'fish by means of the parcel post suggests possibilities of furnishing the consumers with choice table poultry by the same means. Tho rates of postago are so. liberal that this concession is one of the greatest boons the public can receive. The matter is worthy of tho consideration of tho deputation which is to wait on the Prime Minister on August 26.