POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 150, 24 March 1928, Page 26

POULTRY NOTES

"New Laid.")

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A Trip to Wallacevillc. The trip to the Government Laboratory and Experimental I’oultry Farm at Wallacevillc which was undertaken by the delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand I’oultrv Association and their friends was a fitting conclusion to a successful gathering. Two motor buses were comfortably filled, and as the weather was all that could be desired, a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. The route to Wallqceville was specially mapped out with a view to showing the visitors something of the residential portions of the Hutt Valiev, and particularly that district which but a year or two.ago was chiefly occupied by dairy farms and market gardens, but now houses a large and increasing population. The buses were halted for a few minutes on one of the ramps, in order to allow the passengers to get a bird’s eye view of the scene, and many favourable comments were made oil the activity which was in evidence in all directions. The route lay along the Waiwetu Road, part of Waterloo Road, thence past the Eastern Hutt School to the Main Road, and it chanced that as the buses passed by the school the youngsters were at play in the grounds. This school has rather a reputation for the manner in which tlie beautiful flowers and lawns are kept, and one gentleman, who had travelled over a very considerable portion of the world, remarked that nowhere else had he seen such ideal conditions under which children were taught. A brief halt was made at the corner of Military Road in order to allow the passengers to read the wording of the memorial erected to the gallant little band of heroes who fell during a skirmish with the Maoris at Boulcott’s farm, after winch a run, with stops only to pick up a few of the local poultry-keepers here and there, was made to the laboratory. Hero a welcome w-as extended by the officer in charge, Air. Hopkirk, who also delivered a lecturette on poultry-keeping as viewed from the standpoint of scientific investigation in- , to the parasites’which sometimes inflict the inmates of the poultry yard. Grouped around the laboratory were a number of microscopes by means of which could be seen some of the parasites in question. In addition to these there was quite an array of bottles containing- specimens of portions of birds which had been afflicted with various diseases while alive. One point which is worthy of note was Mr. Hopkirk’s request that poultrymen should make use of the services of the laboratory in diagnosing and grappling with any disease which may appear in their flocks, 'The service is free, and there may be times when such help may be invaluable. A move was next made to the poultry farm ,which adjoins the laboratory. The first thing of interest to the practical breeder was tlie display of White Leghorn cockerels, which, as Air, Brown, the chief poultry instructor, pointed out, were being hardened off. They were housed in some disused horse boxes which served the purpose admirably', and had a great range of grass on which to disport themselves. The time of year, as all breeders know, was rather early for the best appearance of the young birds, but for all that it was easy to see that careful selection and mating had been practised in order to produce such a bunch, and it will not be .su-rprisiiij, if there is a good demand for breeding cockerels trout among the number seeu that day. The houses and all the necessary equipment for an up-to-date plant are laid out and built on commou-sense Hues, with a view to economy of labour, and the officers responsible are to be complimented on what they have achieved in less than two years. There is nothing elaborate, and no undue expense has been incurred in fancy fitments. The posts used in supporting the vvire netting in the poultry runs, for instance, are old boiler tubes obtained from the railway workshops, and with an occasional coat of paint they should be good tor a lifetime. Various types of incubators and brooders arc on hand, utid will be put into commission during the coming hatching season, and it is possible that after a time there will be quite a mass of specialised information available on the subjects of both incubating and brooding as the result of the work done. Aluclt progress has been made of late years in these important matters, but there is still a great deal to be done in order to save some of the ejionuous waste that occurs year after year, more particularly as regards the losses of young stock. If these losses can be cut in half, the cost of the institution at Wallaceville will be amply justified.