FOR THE FARMER.

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1906, Page 2

FOR THE FARMER.

« DOES POULTRY PAY? In view of this ever pertinent question we have no diffidence in reproducing the following from the Wanganui Chronicle : — There are no doubt a good many people debating this question to-day, but the broad fact remains that the poultry industry is gradually assuming important dimensions in this Colony. There are some people confident enough to declare that the hen is destined to rival the cow as a money maker. There are others who, having tried and failed, affirm that poultry does not pay. Obviously, however, it does not follow that because one man fails another should not succeed, and. there is a deal of truth in the argument of of the writer of an article in the current number of "The Australian Hen " that success or failure depends on the individual capacity and expierience of the man, the presence or absence of the capital, without which no business can be carried on with a reasonable prospect of success, and various other considerations. This same writer considers that it may be safely asserted that the value of a thing may be fairly accurately measured by the efforts made to procure it, and taht the efforts made by a country to capture a trade will show what value is attached to that particular trade. Thus we find that the people in the British Isles make great efforts to supply the increasing demand for poultry and eggs, and it is not to be supposed anybody would suggest it was for any other purpose than to make a profit. In Ireland the poultry industry has attained a higher degree of perfection in details than perhaps any other country. The Antrim Model Poultry Farm was established in 1902 by the 0.0. with stock birds and eggs for hatching from the best strains of pure-bred birds. The farm has been used as a training school, and a number of pupils have been trained and sent out as instructors. There are twelve 200---egg incubators in use, and the farm is a great success. In each of the other counties there fare from five to ten stations which supply eggs for hatching. Only the best tested birds are kept for breeding, so that Irish farmers are sure of getting good value for their money. The eggß are supplied at a low price, as the object is not necessarily to make a profit, but primarily to encourage the industry for the benefit of the people. In England there is not much done by public bodies. All rural industries appear to be gradually dying out for want of interest and enterprise. There are, however, several counties which keep travelling assistants, and they seem to be doing a great deal of good. The Council of Nundesley started a poultry farm a couple of years ago, and from the profits have been able to put something into the sinking fund and reduce the rates. In aome large and populous districts the people appear to have only one dominating thought, viz., to breed and fatten ducks and chickens. Aylesbury is famous for ducks and Heathfield for chickens. As recently pointed out in the " Hen," there were despatched from Heathfield and Nekfield stations about 1,250,000 chickens last year, and the writer unhesitatingly affirms that the poultry industry is a veritable blessing to every district where it is carried on in the proper way. A breeder, Mr T. Carr, Liverpool, writes in an English paper ("Feathered Life ") : " I have for 45 years been keeping utility poultry in large numbers, and for the last 15 years it has been my only source of income. Doubtless there will be gasps of horrified astonishment if I should dare to state that if a person thoi-oughly understands the business in all its branches there is a rich gold mine awaiting us near every large industrial town. Nevertheless, I repeat with firmness that there is nothing pays so well on the land as keeping poultry for eggproduction and table purposes in large numbers of 500 to 1,000 head at the rate of 200 to the acre. This I state from experience. Everybody who has the knowledge and is carrying on the business knows I am speaking the truth, but they are enriching: themselves and say nothing." Denmark does not yet export poultry, but preparations are being made, and the business will be started in a similar manner to the other rural industries. The export of eggs, bacon, and butter now mounts up to twenty-two millions sterling per annum. Russia and the Uunited States of America, export large quanties of poultry to England, but all second-claes. Denmark is so far the only country which has studied and complied with the requirements of the British markets. The eggs are gathered in by a central station. Every egg is marked with the registered number of the farmer. It is therefore practicable to trace every egg to its source, a fact which a good many farmers know to their sorrow is correct. The eggs are sorted in six classes and paid for according to weight. It might appear to be difficult to attend to so many details (of which only a few are mentioned), but that is not so. Once the machinery is set going it is simple and efficient, and it pays well. The home and export value of eggs is now over £3,000,000 per annum. There are about 150,000 acres of from 6 to 10 acres, and it is mainly from these the eggs are gathered. The average outcome for each small farmer throughout the land is therofore £20 per annum for eggs. In order to obtain a standing in the British market and secure best results, there are four things to be taken into account. These are: Quality, quantity, uninformity, and regularity. The correspondents contends that the poultry trade has never been properly organised in Australia. The legitimate demands of the markets have never been complied

with, and no serious effort has been made to gain a footing in foreign markets. The industry is rapidly gaining ground abroad. In progressive countries it is looked upon as the coming national industry, not least because it is a business which, unlike most others, can with success be taken in hand by people with small means. In this Colony, as we have said, the poultry industry is gradually assuming important dimensions, and we are at one with the Australian writer in the opinion that everything possible should be done to facilitate the building up of an enterprise which, if rationally developed, .should be fraught with far-reaching resnlts for good.