POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 26

POULTRY NOTES

(By

"New-laid.”)

Practical Assistance in Culling. During the recent Poultry Association conference, and in the course of some eulogistic references to the work done by tho Government poultry instructors, it was pointed out that their services were available for those poultrykeeners who required them in culling their flocks, and who chose to make their wants known in the right quarter. This is practical assistance of tho most valuable kind, and should be made use of

by those who are in earnest as to. weeding out tho duds, wasters, drones, or whatever other term is applied to the birds that are only a drag on the prosperity of the plant. The cost of feeding is still far and away too high to allow of keeping anything but the best, and the sooner tlio others aro killed off tho better. It is just hero that a really practical demonstration of what birds to keep and what to cull out is most needed, especially by those who are new to the task of poultry keeping, as it may easily bo better than a vast amount ot reading of poultry literature. . While the instructor is on the job, it is quite a good idea te have a general overhaul of the breeders, which will be required for use in the course of a few more months. Masterton Egg-laying Competition. The schedule for the second annual egg-laying competition to be conducted by tho Masterton Fancy and Utility Poultry Club has just reached tho writer, and a somewhat cursory examination of the rules and regulations shows that tho undertaking appears to bo one that is on the right lines to bo of great value to the industry. The contest is to be held at Solway, and the two views given, one showing tho general lay-out of the farm, and the other showing the first row or single jiens, which have all been specially built of concrete, indicate that advantage has rightly heen taken of the experience gained during the conduct of tho other competitions held elsewhcro in the Dominion, for many years past. The test is being held in two divisions —single hen championship, and threebird team contest, and in each case piovision is made for birds of both light and heavy breeds to be entered. The ILt of prizes and trophies to be awarded during and at the conclusion of the contest, is a tribute to the value sot on tho purebred fowl, consisting as it docs of cash prizes and two valuable silver trophies. Mrs. Vai lance has contributed a silver cup, to be competed for by light breeds, and to bo won twice in succession or three times at intervals, and Mr. Maunsell has contributed what is considered to be probably the finest trophy offered to competition. It is rt representation of a hen, on a suitable mounting, and is made of solid silver, the value being forty guineas. This has to be won three times in succession c.r five times at intervals before becoming the property ,of the winner. The Secretary, Mr. E. J. ’ Coleman, Poultry Cluli, Masterton, will supply any information necessary. The result of the competition now finishing will be published in this column. The Croad Langshan.

Tho Langshan as it is bred in this country, and in England by .the friends of the ancient “Croad” type, is without question, one of the handsomest as well as most useful breeds of domestic fowls, says “Croadite” in an exchange. Lordly in station with a poise and balance all its own, it has a broad, deep body, and wide standing strnight logs, not short and out of proportion to the rest of the bird, and not long ana stilty as in the “modern” type, with beautiful head points and full spreading tail "with extraordinary development of sickles and coverts; and to complete the picture, with that beautiful iridescent sheen on the plumage which seems to bo almost a breed characteristic of the Langshan. Lovers of the beautiful in Nature may well say: “Here is very near perfection in symmetry, size and colour." The Langshan is a wonderful hardy and vigorous race of fowls,- with great power to withstand the rigours of the coldest climates, and the ability to grow and develop lustily with no coddling or fussHaving beep bred for unnumbered generations in the cold northern hill country of China, they seem to. be naturally fitted for tho cold weather, which accounts probably for their well-known reputation of “the best winter layeis.” As a table fowl the Langshan is unsurpassed, carrying an abundance of breast meat-, and with very small bones for the size of the fowl, with flesh cf a peculiarly fine texture, and with a certain flavour more like turkey than any-thing-else. They make a table proposition very tempting. Those who have stood by the Langshan through all the dark days are having the satisfaction now of seeing it come back into popularity, and this through sheer inherent worth and not as in other breds that have in a measure taken its place in the public eye of late through shrewd advertising and unlimited printers’ ink. Water will find its level, and tho Langshan is coming back into its own as is evidenced by increased entries at the shews during the past year or two and the great volume of business done by the breeders.