POULTRY FARMING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16842, 28 April 1915, Page 12

POULTRY FARMING.

FIELD DAY AT PAPANUI

ADDRESSES BY GOVERNMENT EXPERTS.

A poultry fanners' field day was held at the farm of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, in Xortbooto Road, Papauui, yesterday afternoon. Tho gathering was held under the auspices of the Canterbury Egg Circle, and about two hundred visitors were present. The affair was the first of its kind hold in CkriKtchuroh, and owing to its success, it is proposed to hoici other gatnerings annually. Tho proceedings commenced at hairpast one o'olock, when tho visitors made a, thorough inspection of the birds which are taking part in the ogglaying competitions, and of the methods of housing and feeding which alo used to obtain the best results. Tho house used is known a* the " scratching type," and is 12ft wide and sft deep, a sleeping space 4ft-wide being included. JTard.s 20ft long by 12 ft wide are provided at the front and rear of the houses, and the birds are let out into the yard which is bast sheltered from the wind. There arc sixty pens used in connection with the competition, accommodating six birds in each, and there are also lour pons for spare birds. Pens for ducks, are also provided. The houses are kept very clean, fresh water being provided every day and fresh grit every week. Whito Leghorns were most numerous, the other birds being Brown Leghorns, White and Silver Wyandottea, "Rhode Island Reds, Rose-oonibs and Black Orpingtons. At the conclusion of the inspection the visitors assembled :uid were addressed by tho Government Poultry Experts-. Mr J. B. Merrett, the secretary oi the Canterbury Egg Circle, said that he wished to thank the Utility Club for allowing thorn V. hold the function on its grounds. What they had seen and learnt would bo of groat value to them, and ho would bo pleased if another visitors' day could bo held somewhere about the end of tho competition. The Egg Oirole consisted of 162 members, andtraa one of the strongest poultry organisations in the Dominion. Mr Merrott said that thirty-six thousand dozen eggs had arrived in New Zealand from California, and another forty-four thousand dozen would arrive next month. They were in excellent condition, and were eagerly purchased by the Wellington bakers;" but surely there was bomothiug wrong when the poultrymen of Now Zealand could not supply their own requirements. The New Zealand eggs wero better than the imported one*, and they should make up their minds to increase their produotion until there was no necessity to import eggs. He had .been assured by tho Prime Minister that the duty of 3d per dozen on imported eggn would not bo removed. Mr A. E. Salisbury, Government Poultry Instructor, spoke on ; "' Tho Farmer and Egg Produotion." He said that breeding was very important if the farmers were to maintain efficiency and a high average of eggs. Thoro wero two types of birds, the table type and the laying type, but as the farmers were in the business for profit they (should confine themselves as far as possible, to the latter. It was also best to keep to tho pure broods, and not to bother about the cross-breeds. Culling was also very important, but there wero many farmers who did not pay sufficient attention to tha£ matter. The most important point was feeding, and they should feed their birds well and regularly. They couldn't over-feed them. Skim milk when obtainable was also very good for egg-producing. Mr F. O. Brown, Government Poultry Expert, said there was certainly Gomething wrong when a country like New Zealand should require to import eggs to fulfil orders. Poultry-keopers must bo prepared to produce moro eggs and make importation unnecessary. They should not talk of exporting eggs until they were producing more eggs than could be used locally. An important matter for them to consider was cold storage, so that they could store the eggs in summer when they were plentiful, and use them for winter requirements. The high prices in ivintor wore of no use to themi *e *b*t scarcity of eggs meant that many people got out of the habit of eating them. Mr Brown then spoke on '' The Farmer and Table Poultry."' He said that many poultry-farmers did not pay sufficient attention to the question of table poultry. Tho quality of table : birds had gone back in recent yea re, and this was mainly due to tho farmers putting them on the market without giving them tho feed and care they required. It paid to keep birds in good condition and take an interest in them. Tho market in New Zealand for table poultry was better than in any other country, and prices were very satisfactory. Many farmers made tho mistake of keeping tho birds until they were fully grown, but the demand was keenest for young birds. Between 50 and 80 per cent of the birds which were put on the market could bo improved without much extra trouble. At' the conclusion of their addressee Messrs Salisbury and Brown, answered a number of questions. On the motion of Mr .T. Gibson * votes of thanks was accorded by acola- ' tnation io the Utility Poultry Club and to the speakers. Mr R. W. Hawke. rice-president of the crab, in replying, mentioned that the average per hen in the first competition was 148 egas. and last year it vrea 302, a considerable improvement. PROTEST TO THE GOVERNMENT.

Mr A. H. Fomison (Doylcston) moved "That this gathering expresses its indignation at the failure of the Government to provide an experimental farm in Christehurch, in place of the farm at Burnham, whioh had been abandoned on account of the distance from Christehurch and unsuitability of the soil, and reminds the Prime Minister of the promise made by him two years ago, that ho_ would establish a farm within five miles from the Chief Post Office, Christehurch,"

The resolution was seconded by Mr J. O. Howson (Papanui), and carried unanimously.