REVIEW.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7015, 12 May 1884, Page 5

REVIEW.

A PRACTICAL POULTRY BOOK FOR ENGLAND AND NEW ZEALAND. Wobks on our domestic poultry have bean very plentiful of late years. Some of these publications have been of a pretentious character, and have shown a good deal of scientific care in their preparation, while in the great majority of instances, especially those* so-called oheap books, their perusal has been disappointing to the careful reader. Indeed, many of these popular works on poultry contain statements which appear to be more due to the fertile imagination of the writer than to industry displayed in observing and collecting facts in the field of Nature.. These books, too often without the name of any author, appear to be little more than copies with slight variations of other books perhaps not characterised - by strict accuracy of statement or close observation of facts. Such works do a great deal of injury. The amateur poultry-keepers who purchase these for information cannot fail to be disappointed, because the printed statement aeldom agrees with his observed facta. Blame is thus placed where it should not be, and discontent arises in consequence. Of quite a different character is the new work of Mr. Alfred Saunders, entitled "On Domestic Birds: A Practical Poultry Book for England and New Zealand." The work is published in London by Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington, and for the sale of which Mr. N. G-. Lennox, of this city, has been, appointed agent. Mr. Saunders is brother of Mr. Saunders of the Central News Agency, London, and was for many years a Bettler in Nelson and Canterbury. He is known, too, a3 an able politician, he having been Superintendent of Nelson, and for many years a member of the House of Representatives. Poultry keeping has been a hobby with Mr. Saunders for over half a century, under various conditions, and the work before us is a recital, in a condensed form, of his experience as a poultry keeper. The work is very different from many modern books on poultry keeping ; it is severely practical, and gives minute details upon many topics on which few. New Zealand settlers will require instruction. But as the instructions given are intended for those who are ignorant of the first principles of successful poultry rearing, as well as those conversant with the subject, all classes of readers are likely to receive useful hints on many points. Mr. Saunders places a much lower average egg production to the credit of fowls than the generality of writers on this subject. • This, however, may be accounted for in some degree by the fact that Mr. Saunders writes the results of his own experience, while too many writers have largely indulged in fancy. The Langshan is a strong favourite with Mr. Saunders, and when hens are confined in a yard he thinks the least space which should be allowed them to ensure cleanliness and good health is 200 square feet to each mature bird. The introduction and liberation of ferrets in the South Island, for the destruction of rabbits, he views with disfavour from a poultry-keeper's point of observation. He states that on two occasions he has known of about forty chickens being killed in one night by a ferret.- As to the height of fences required to keep fowls within enclosures, he gives the following information :—"For heavy Cochins the yard fence will require to bo three feet high; for' Brahmas, four; for Langshaus,' 6; for Dorkings, Houdans, or Polish, eight; and for game Hamburgs or bantams, 10." The work is carefully prepared, conveys much useful information, and should be in the hands of all poultry-keepers. At the close of the volume is a paper, by Mr. A. M. Johnson, atone time Curator of the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, upon the rearing of "Pheaiants, Partridges, and Californian Quail." A good index has been compiled, and the contents of the book are thus of eaey reference.