WONDERFUL HENS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 February 1930, Page 8

WONDERFUL HENS

A SWINDLER'S “SECRET.” A story of a secret scheme to make ' hens in England lay an egg every day was told at the Winchester Assizes, when Frederick Hardy Ruffle, aged 71, a poultry farmer, of Earlington, near Portsmouth, was charged with obtaining £5OO from Air John A. Alusson, and £250 each from. Air Bernard E. Alays, Air Edward J. Alorgan, and Air William IL Bridges. It was stated that Ruffle induced the men to hand over their life savings by telling them that he had a secret, process of feeding which would make a hen lay an egg every day. Each ben, thus, would produce 355 eggs a year for five years running without, moulting. Air Alusson said he was now out: of work and living on. charity. Air Bridges said Ruffle told him that his process would make hens lay more eggs in the winter than in the summer. His notepaper bore the words : “This is the only poultry farm of its kind in England.” Ali- Justice Charles: I should think it was.

> Air 11. G. Cambridge, a poultry farmer, of Hayling Island, said Ruf- ; fie had 120 poor class birds which would not average more than 120 eggs a year. It was impossible to get 365 eggs from any bird m a year, and he would like to know the man’s secret. Air Justice Charles: He is in the dock; ask him. Ruffles said He had had 12 years’ experience as a poultry farmer in the I nited States and Canaria. He knew a farm in California where six eggs a week were got from each hen all the year round. “You must not let a hen know the difference between summer ami winter, ami you can get an SJ egg every day,” he continued. ' || Air Justice Charles: Do you know anv liens that Jay three a day?—No. — Ruffle, who had many convictions and was an undischarged bankrupt, B was . sentenced to three years’ penal k servitude. B