THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2132, 25 April 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Answers to Correspondents. Groymouth.—(l) Dipping fowls to got rid of parasites is n dangerous practico unless tho weather is very warm and the process is dono early in tho day to enablo tho bird t<> dry out its feathers. It is much hotter to dust tho birds with a good insect powder. (2) .Thero avo no breeders of Black Spanish now. Tho breed has died out in New Zealand. (3) Naturally birds liko round perches in preference to square. If a perch is mado two inches wide, round tho corners off, and it will'do admirably.

The conference. The conference held last week was in every way a success. Tlio representation was remarkably good, visitors coming from all parts of tho Dominion. Tho papers were educativo, and special prominouco was given to tho marketing of poultry products. Chief among tho items of importance was tho visit of the officers of tho Department of • Agriculture. An opportunity was givcii tliem to bring them in closer toucli with producers, and to give thein first-rate information as to the importance of tho poultry industry. .

Government Assistance. An appeal will bo mado to tho Government for two additional instructions,and it'is to be hoped that tho_ request will be granted. There is no industry that deserves more attention tlian poultry. When it is considered that thero is only one instructor, it is really marvellous what progress has been made. The great waste which is going on all over tho Dominion, especially among farmers, should bo arrested, and instruction is needed for this purpose. Several other matters are to be brought before the notice of tho Minister of Agriculture. They are of great importance, and deserve immediate' attention.

praotloal Poultrymen. The naturo of tho papers read at the conference give evidence that the papers embodied the thought of very practical men. They were characterised by an intelligent grasp of the industry, and proved an education to those who heard them. The questions and _ answers evoked considerable information, and constituted a pleasing feature of the conference.

New World's Record. Word has been received from Australia that, at Bendigo, a new world's record for egg-laying has been made. The new total is 1675, and was put up by Mr. H. Hanbury. Another record has been mado at Burnley by Mr. J. H. Gill (1668). These are remarkable figures, and they put our New Zealand record of 1632 quite in the shado. It Boems as.if the 1700 goal for six hens will soon be reached. Many claim that 1800 will- be obtained, for several individual pens have ' already been found that have, produced 800 eggs cach. Whether such records will have a good effect on the industry is open to doubt. Such a strain-must , inevitably carry' with it penalties of ii severe nature.

World's Record Weight. : It is pleasing to note th3t a wellknown North Island breeder will secure ;tho record for the greatest weight of eggs in the two years' test. Heretaunga •frins thei ; prize for. numbers for two-■j'ear-old'hcns, but the weight' of eggs goes to another breeder. As the ofiioml figures havo not yet been announced, I will reserve the name for a future issue. The Egg Standard. The conference made an egg standard for Now Zealand which should bo of great value in helping to improve the grade of eggs for market. Tho weight for the test grade was fixed at 2oz. per egg. This is not a very, high standard when it is. remembered that tho Danish standard is Joz. per egg higher. In view of our having a big export trade it-is essential that a good grado should be established. . The tendency of tho egg-laying competition has been to produce numbers at the expense oit size. The weight Btandard iu Australia for competition is higher than our own and we should certainly keep pace with them.

1564 In Queensland. The Gatton (Queensland) competition finished on March 31, and 'the three first competitors were:— . Moritz Brothers (S.A.), 1564. ' A. H. Padinan (S.A.). 1536. Loloma Yards (N.S.W.), 1514. All these places were filled by our Leghorns, 'l'he first two are straightout, and the third pen was bred from stock supplied by Padman. Moritz Brothers havo had a very fine year. First in Queensland, and second 'at Parafield (S.A.) is what they have dono so far, and at tho Victorian competition, which finishes on April 14, they will probably bo second, with a score o! well over 1500. Two scores of over 1500 in one season, following on years of good solid work in South Australia, stamp the Moritz Brothers as breeders' of the first rank, and it is hoped that they will stay at tho top, as they deserve to do after their consistent plugging. Padman has won threo times in Queensland, with 1538, 1532, and 1520, and he has now added a fourth score of over 1500 at the samo place—an extraordinary record, indeed, but a performance that is in keeping with his acknowledged title of world beater. This is tlie second time that tho first two places in tho Queensland competition havo been filled by South Austra- : lians;

♦ (By Chantecler.)

M'lhvraith, West Melton, W.L 0 l'i T. White, Wost Shore, Napier, W.I/ 0 El T. Voso, Carterton, W.L, (i 10 13. P. L. Clayfon, Eltotnlimin, W.L . 4 •' It, James, Marshland^ W.L W N T . Solomon, Wostport, W 1; 22 H R. A. Lazarus, Hntt !>i. •!» Uorctaunga, P.U., Silverstroam, N. 1, 'W.L. ... 21 -14 Wainoni I'. Farm, Auckland, W.L 10 Vi J. W. Green, St. Albans, W.L. . v ... 9 U Willis and ' Son, NewBrighton, W.L 13 23 G. G'larko, Cbristchurch, W.L : 2 3 J. Corrio, lieckonhara, W.L 0 0 M. Stewart, Christchurch, M'.L ; 0 0 A. G. Brailev, Hillmorten, W.L 0 0 A. W. Adams, Sheffield, W.L 13 36 Calder Bros., OamarH, W.L 7 11 L. T. Wright, Annat, W.L, 20 18 W. E. Green, St. Albans, W.L 3 -t W. Davoy, Wellington, W.L 0 1 R. W. Hawlco, Papanui, W.L 24 49 J. W. Green, St. Albans, R.C.W.L 0 0 T. IvrttTup, Palracrstou •North, B.M. 2 7 Totals 373 672

HEAVY BREEDS. l'otai Total for to tfee!j, date. T. Kennedy, Rangiora, W.W 11 M J. B. Merrett, St. Albans, W.R. 4 13 T, Fazackerley, Woolston, 8.0 30 ■ 5§ Mrs. J. W. Green, St. Ai* bans, B.W . S: : 13 W. Scull, St. Albans, B.W. 11 23 R. Munger, Hutt, 81. 0.... 11 U Miss Rita Niso.n, 81. 0. 20 42 Miss Laing, Papanui, 81. o.' 6 21 A. R. Browne, Pet a tie, H. 8., 81. 0 8 10 Miss E. Willis, Shirley, 81. '0 10 13 J. B. Merrott, St. Albans, . 81. 0. ....' 15 21 J. B. Merrett, St. Albans, S.W . 0 0 A. W. Adams, Sheffield, S.W . 0 2 Ja-s. Ashton, Hanmer Springs, S.W. ......... 4 9 T. Kennedy, • Rangiora, S.W 10 , 22 Thos. Wilson, Marshlands, S.W 9 17 W. E. Green, St. Albans, S.W i 6 R. Roxburgh, Belfast,, S.W 0 0 Totals 161 310 FOR DUCKS, Tli© New Zealand Utility Poultry ] Club's fifth egg-laying test, for ducks. Returns for the second week arc as fol- i 'low: 1 - Total Total for to week, tote. T. • Dowthwaite, Avondalo, I.R 0 0 Herotaunga P.C., Silverstream, I.R. 9 11 Waanoni P. Farm, Greenitho, A., I.R t 0 Glencoo Ranch, Karori. • I.R. I 4 Evans and Johnston, I.R. & & T. R. Hall, Levin, 1.R,... 0 0 Totals 17 19 Tho letters after cach entry donoto the breed, as underß.L., Brown Leg* horn; W.L., Whits Leghorn; 1t.C.W,1i., R. 0., Wliifcs Leghorn; 8.M., Black Minorca; W.W.,' White Wyandotte; W.R., White Rock; 8.0., Sufi Orpington; 8.W., Black Wyajjdotte; 81. 0., Black Orpington; S.W., Silver Wyandot to; 1.R., Indian Runners. An early hatching of 19 White Leghorn chicks is reported by Mr. A. Lazarus, of Lower Hutt, Mr, Larazus has an advertisement in this issue concerning his poultry farm.