THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9610, 16 March 1917, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

NEW ZEALAND UTILITY CLUB TWELFTH EGG-LAYING COMPETITION FOR FOWLS. RESULT OF FORTY-EIGHTH WEEK.

Special to the "Times. " CHRISTCHURCH. March 15. The forty-eighth week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s twelfth egglaying competition closed on March 13th. Details are : LIGHT BREEDS.

EGG-LATINO TESTS. . , It seems but yesterday that poultrymen were proclaiming that the duplication of egg-laying tests was a mistake, and thu,t there should only be one test in the Dominion, • and that this should be entirely controlled by the Government. Now we are having these eggproducing competitions duplicated in all ■parts of the Dominion. A test has. been going in Southland for a year, a test is to be conducted at Auckland, and a single pen dry-mash test is to take place at Masterton. ' Thus we will have four tests taking place in the Dominion this year. The remarkable thing about these new competitions is that they are not being supported merely by local breeders, but owners of record laying stock from all parts of the Dominion are taking part. One regrets that the single- pen test on the wonderful plant of Mr Kemball, at Masterton, is not being made a district affair, a single pen testing business for the breeders of the Wairarapa; the best of all means of discovering the most desirable breeders for the man who wants to conduct hie breeding operations on the best lines. The work of this test will be followed with keen interest. It is hardly a matter for congratulation that the ordinary style of egg-laying competition is lit creasing. While it may have some effect in the particular district in which it is held in the direction of arousing interest in a more profitable type of laying bird it is not furnishing the data or having the outside effect a State conducted test would have. , The Jest conducted by a society may be as clean and straightforward as possible, but it will never carrv the weight with the breeders of other countries that a Government competition will.

EGG CIRCLES. At the Easter Poultry Conference the egg-circle societies of the Dominion will hold a special meeting to consider the question of a Wellington agency. Other important matters will also he considered at the same time, especially the best system on which an egg circle should be formed and conducted. These associations of egg-producers are supposed to be purely 00-operative societies, but hampered by want of capital they have to employ a city agent who may not even have sympathy with the co-opera-tive principle, and while acting as the agent of a co-operative society in one district may be competing against* a similar cooperative company in another town. In other cases the agents are faithful enough, agents, but they hav^

too much control of tho trade in their hands, while it is impossible for them (o act the role of speculator and agent at the one time. producers .a™ fast coming to realise that tho egg U their one means of advancing tneir business, but the benefit from it never be secured unices the manage , agent, or secretary, whatever he may oe, is under the direct control of execu> tire. It is to be hoped tho Wdlm?ton meeting will not lose bight of tni fact. THE CHRISTCHURCH LAYING COMPETITION. Following is the ballot for the pens in the nest test at Papanui:— Light Breeds Teams Contest-Brown LeghoTns, Verrall Bros., Pen 1. Uhi to Leghorns, H. T. Boss G. Gee 3, Calder Bros 4, • Stephenson 5, A. Phillips 6, John Mclnncs 7, L. ). Wright 8. H. Bower 9. Green Bros 10, Te Aiiau Stud Farm 11. Atkinson Bros. 12 llokowhitu 13, S. Dick 14, W. Sneesby 15, J. M. Alley 16, J. Robinson L. Rangiuru 18, Omeo Farm 19, Herstaunga 20, Master Green 21, Smart Bros. 22 W. Pavey 23, T. E. Conway 24, Mrs Mills 25. T 'W. Wilson 26. K. Mills 21. A. W. Adams 28, Reliable Poultry Farm 29, A. G. Brailey 30, J. Stevens 31, Fazackerley and Son 32, 11. W. Hawke S 3. J. ’’Nancarrow 31, Calder Bros. 35, T. Kennedy 36, Heretaunga 37, M. A. Currin 38, H. Ball 39, W. H. West 40 and A E. Wilson 41. Heavy Breeds Teams’ Contest—Silver Wyandottes, Green Bros. Pen 42, A. IV. Adams 43, W. W. Hewinson 44. Mrs F. Howell 45. T. Kennedy 46. T. Powthwaite 47. Wild to Wyandottes, G. E. Beuje 48. Black Orpingtons, Mrs Claridge 49, T. B. Conway 49, A. S. Cooper 51. J. Nancarrow 52, T. Conway 53, Victor Gee 54, B. E.. Marsden 55, F. Staines 56, Hokowhitu Farm 57, Miss James 58. White Plymouth Hock, H J. Gopporth 59, G. Wills 60. Rhode Island Beds. A. S. Cooper 61 and E. F. Oakes 62.

Duck Contest Knight Pen 63. Herotaunga 64, Mrs Gee 65, W. T. Green 66, H. Bower 67.

Light Breeds Single Bird ContestWhite leghorns. Green Bros. Pen 68, W. Davey 69, Victor Gee 70, J. Nancarrow 71. Atkinson Bros. 72, E. Mill* 73, H Williams 74, E, H. Taylor 75, To Anau Stud 76, Mrs Mills 77, E. H. James 78, A. E. Wilson 79, P. Freeman 80. Minorcas, Miss James 81 and 82.

Heaw Breeds Single Bird ContestBlack Wyandottes. E. W. Hawke Pen 83. Black Orpingtons, T.. E. Conway Pen 84. Silver Wyandottes, Thomas Wilson, Pen 85, Green Bros. 86, E, J. Eoss 87. Ehode Island Eed—J. Nanoarrow Pen 88. The Utility Poultry Club, controllers of the test, has decided to retain all birds in the present single-pen test which'are in profit on March 31st, and which are likely 'to' reach 250 eggs or over in the full twelve months.

Mr J. E. Qriffen has been appointed to the position of manager of the test. There were 37 applicants.

WOMEN AS FOULTEY EAISEES

For many years \in England women had found congenial and profitable occupation in breeding poultry. Prominent women, headed by the Marchioness of Salisbury, prior to the war, had devoted much time to the development of the industry,, and had specially interested . themselves in women's work in that sphere. A considerable number of the county council poultry lecturers in England, Scotland, and Ireland were women. A good deal of scientific work had been performed by women, notably by Mrs Bateson, who had assisted her husband in many of his Mendelian experiments. When it was definitely stated that the successful artificial rearing of chickens was the crux of the whole matter, it would readily be seen that women naturally were better fitted for caring for such small fry than were men; None of them wished to see their women folk 'doing hard work for which Nature had never intended them. The cleaning up and weight carrying could be delegated to lads. The important points which alone made for success were summed up in careful oversight and scrupulous attention to details, for which women were noted. POINTEES.

Don’t give heating or stimulating food in hot weather. A light, diet is relished in summer by fowls.' * " * "

Small potatoes can be bought cheaply for poultry feed. Potatoes are a cheap form of food for. poultry at this season. Plenty of ventilation in the roosting house is necessary in hot weather. Look out for vermin in the nest at' this season. Cleanliness is a great preventive of disease.

Weekly Tot» ; Total, to da'-* Crown Leghorn*— -Veirall Bros.. Swannanoa... 11 1136 Brackenfield Farm, Upper 1042 Riccarton a White Leghorn*— W. Davev, Wellington 18 1301 J. B. Merrett. Christchurch 14 1170 K. G. Shearman, Ashburton 5 1099 Heretaunga Poultry Com< 13 1089 pany, Silverstream 16 1306 M. A. Currin. Hawera 23 1292 Dahnuir Poultry Yard*. 12 1188 Mrs H. Graham. Hataitai 8 1068 J. Wordsworth, Geraldine 2 1075 H. E. Boss, Ashburton 9 1219 R. H. James, Marshlands ... 14 1007 C. J. Norton. Ashburton ... 7 1167 Alfred Baton. St; Albans ... 4 1144 M. H. Walker. Foston 2 1063 Green Bro*. (No. 2)* St. 1189 7 H. Leger, Levin 10 1174 J. Nancarrow, Burwood ... 12 1318 Calder Bros.. Oamaxu 17 1282 E. Pounsford, Addington ••• 3 1140 A. W. Adams. Sheffield ii 1214 A. B. Phillips. St. Albans... 5 1150 T. Kennedy, Eangiora 8 1034 V. J. Hill. Dunsandel 10 1205 B. P. L. Cl arson. Masterton 17 1205 T. B. Conwav. Kirwee 11 1158 Heretaunga Poultry Company (No. 1), Silver10 1158 Egff Ranch, Otaki 5 1192 R. Dick, Linwood * 1067 9 1061 H C. Tates, Woolston E. P. Amves, Papanui 4 1113 A. E. Wilson, Shirley 0 1089 Mrs J- Mills, Uunedm 22 1437 .. , A Q. Brniley. .FiJIroortep... 2 962 Green Broe. (No. 1), St. 10 1181 Atkinson Bros., Christ8 1204 A. A. Hoare, Martinborough 11 8 1247 1023 L. T. Wright, Annat —■ 14 1229 Te Anau Utility Stud. Ash11 1247 T. Moll-wraith. West Melton 3 1095 E. A. Lazarus. Hutti> 15 TFT w: Bower. Levin 14 if S Woodnorfh. VVjnton . 4 1048 Hokowhitu Poultry Company. -Upper Hutt. 12 1052 Calder Bros- frmaru • 17 133b . J. B. Merrett (No. 1), St. 9 1223 Master Jack Green. St. 12 1293 483 57,154 third HEAVY BREED TEST. White Wvandottes — 13 846 T. Kennedy, Eangiora Green Bros.. St. Albans ... 12 1015 White - Plymouth- Books — 1084 • W. Knight, Jmwer .Hutt ... Rhode Island IKeds — 1 20 982 A. S. Cooper, Spreydon 4 Black Orpingtons— 1102 Miss E. Willis. Shirley 18 0. J. Norton. Ashburton ... 11 1091 T. B. Conway, Kirwee 24 1248 J. Nancarrow. Burwood ... 17 1144 Miss J. James, JBookbum ... 17 1078 Silver Wyandottes— 1071 T. Doirthwaite, Avondale ... 12 A. W. Adams. Sheffield ....... 22 998 : Totals' ' — 170 11,659 FIRST SINGLE PEN TEfeT. Island Reds— A. S. Cooper, Spreydon 4 175 A. S. Cooper, Spreydon 5 235 White Leghorns— E. H. James. Marshlands ... 3 260 T. L. Wright, Annat 4 195 Kangiuru Egg Ranch, Otaki — 152 Green. Bros,, St. Albans ••• 5 246 Calder Bros.. Camara 3 256 W. Davev. Wellington ...... 5 245 J. B. Merrett. Christchurch 0 155 A. E. Wilson. Shirley ...... 0 41 - . Mrs J. Mills,. Dunedin 2 246 Atkinson Bros.* Christ221 B. PTL- Clayson. Masterton 3 226 J. Wordsworth. Geraldine... 0 173 38 2828 SEVENTH DUCK TEST. Indian Runner*— W. Knight Lower Hutt,... 0 1054 Heretaunga Poultry Comii 1213 pany, Silverstream H. W. Bower, Levin 14 1314 Totals 25 3581