TABLE POULTRY.

Evening Post, Volume XLIX, Issue 107, 7 May 1895, Page 3

TABLE POULTRY.

♦ TO THE SDITOB. Sib—Judging by the specimens of fowls to be seen in the shop windows of Wellington (and I might add all other towns in whioh I have been in this colony), it appears as if there is not a single person in the country who iB devoted to the breeding of table fowls. Why this should be I know not, as it costs less to keep suitable birds for the purpose, for the simple reason that they come earlier to maturity. As to the most suitable birds for the purpose, there is no hesitation in stating that an Indian game rooster, crossed with X>orlcing hens, is head and shonlders above all other breeds or crossed breeds put together. Let me advise any person interested in fowls to prove it for themselves, as it is utterly impossible for me to give them the faintest idea as to the amazing difference between their progeny and those of common mongrels. As I was only a year or two ago a wellknown breeder, exhibitor, and|judge in the Old Country, your readers may rely upon it I would not lead them astray; but my advice to all fowl breeders is to kill all your mongrels, and start afresh with Indian game and Dorkings, and you will remember the day with pleasure when you kill your first pair of youngsters as long as you live, as there will be as much difference between them and the too prevalent mongrel of today as there is between the brightness of the snn and moon. The chief point of the cross above mentioned is plumpness and meaty breasts, smallness of bone, fowls of good Bize, and the finest of flesh. As a oontrastl will describe those to ba seen in town to-day. Small weedy birds, plenty of bone, breasts like carving knives, and little or no meat, of very inferior quality. I believe I am correct in stating that the Government has distributed leaflets ad. vising farmers and others how to prepare and paok their fowls for export. So far so good. But would it not have been far better to tell them how to breed first-rate birds before telling them how to pack them ? At present, so far as I can see, there are absolutely no first-class birds to export. As Great Britain is at present paying away over six million pounda annually for imported poultry and ngge, I cannot understand why the colonies do not make an effort to secure the larger portion of it instead cf. its going to France, Italy, and Rusßia, as at present. If any of your readers desire any information about fowls, I would gladly do all I could to help them free of charge if a stamp was sent for reply. Or I would answer any question in your columns if you think the subjeob sufficiently intei eating to award it space. I am, Ac, Fbed Btfobd. 21, Ingestre-street.