POULTRY FARMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11303, 22 December 1898, Page 3

POULTRY FARMING.

TO THK EDITOE. Sik, —It was with groat interest I read Mr R. H. Thompson's letter in your paper of the 15th:inst., regarding the poultry, industry. It is'quite truo that wo have got to look facts in the face, and take a step' further than to talk about prices hero and there, what might be'done, what ought to come, and so on forever. The Government poultry expert gave a very intelligent lecture On this subject at'the: last show in Dunedin ; but I should like to know what is he going to do himself with regard to this industry ?' I mean to say what ii the Government going to do to induce people to" take it up? Of course, most of us know that the Government stations are ', doing ■ well by selling eggs and poultry; but that cannot ba looked upon as a help. tU is much more like competition, which a poultry farmer just starting cannot work against.' Mr Thompson's suggestion to the Government to grant 10 acres of good land to anyone starting poultry farming is very good. Fifty pounds seems to mo a very small sum to start with; but the question is: when the poultry are raised, • where are they to go to ? In this case most of the profit will go to the middleman. The railway charges are so very expensive, and obstacles are put in tho way of anyone wanting to send poultry or eggs to town in small quantities. With regard to export, I believe poultry crates for this purpose can be seen in Wellington ; but, if looked at, what then—who 11 to pack the fowls? Where can they bofrozen, and. what will all this cost in New. Zealand? .

On the whole, is there hope—of only a small • success—for any man or woman starting poultry farming in a small way, with a very limited knowledge, say, £200, and plenty of push ? Where is the help offered by" the Government ? Is the poultry expert likely to come and show them how to work the incubators, • and the cheapest way of feeding the fowls 1-. Ii is not, that I can see, of any use to them to learn that the Government stations are doing: well.—l am, etc., ! A Poultry Fabmeb. .