[Copyright.] POULTRY KEEPING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2210, 9 July 1896, Page 8

[Copyright.] POULTRY KEEPING.

By Edward Brown, F.L.S. . IV.-SELECTION, BREEDING, AND HOUSING POULTRY.

First Piuncifles.— Selection. We 1 aye already seen what are the leading varieties of roultry, and learnt something as to their general qualities. A most important point in this connection- is, which variety or varieties will best aid us in arriving at the object we have in view P And it is for this reason that a study of the previous article is recommended preliminary to decision. Equally important is a clear realisation of what tha poultry-keeper desires to accomplish, and the class of produce which will pay him best. For instance, if eggs are chiefly in demand, it is most important that breeds be chosen which will give the largest number of eggs regularly, as far as that be possible, all the year roußd. Whereas, on the other hand, should there be a large demand for good poultry, it would be more profitable to keep such varieties as would give Urge, .fleshy, rapid growing chickens. In every branch of business it is well to have an ideal, and this is as essential in poultry-keeping as in anything else. Where the demand is for egg«, we should recommend everyone who possibly cm J do so to keep two varieties — one a non-sitter, and the other a member of the goneral purpose family, the objacb of which is to have epg* iv winter as well as in summer. Much may be dons, even with uon-sitting fowla, to obtnio egge in winter if the pullets are bred sufficiently early, and a succossion of young heus arranged for. In this way I have known poultrykeepers who were never without eggs from white Leghorns the whole winter through. But at the same time it must ba borno in miud that the gecersl purpose breeds are by nature better winter layers than are non-sitters, chiefly owing to the fact that they carry more profuve plumage, and having been engaged in hatching and rearing during the spring aud early suromsr have a greater reserve force than the others. The question of keeping two breeds is. not so difficult at it sometimes appears to be, because the breeding pnns'neod only be [separated for, say, three months, after which all the fowls may bo permitted to run together. Where the demand is for table poultry, I know of nothing equal to a crocs between, either the Indian game or the old English game and the Dorking. It may be well here just to mention two or three very excellent croiSßß suitable for those who desire fowls, at once good as layers and yet passable for table purposes— not. of course, equal to first market qualities, bnt still roomy, fleshy fowls. The black Minorca and Langshan cross can be recommended, as can that between white Leghorns and either the Plymouth Rock or Langshan, the former bsing rather the more rapid in growth. Both these crosses give birds fair in flesh development, and, if properly faltsd, they look well upon the table, whilst tho hens are better winter layers than either pure Leghorns or pure Minorcas, the eggs biiug even more evenly distributed over tho year. I have also heard tbat tb.B white Lpghorn and ailver Wyandotte make a good cross, bub have not seen the results myself as yet. There may be those who, having already a number of fowls, probably mongrels, desire to improve them in the cheapest and simplest manner, and the following quotation from "Poultry-keeping ai an Industry for Farmers and Cottagers" will show how this can be done :— " This is to buy * few male birds of the breed or breeds selected, and run them with a number of selected hens, breeding from these alone. If it is wished to make the table properties stronger, a cock bird of tho following varieties should be introduced :— lndian game, old English game, Dotkiug, or ensve. If the lajiDg is to bo i-uprov^d, obtviu a Minorca, Leghorn, Andalusi&u, Scotch grey, or redcap cock ; or if the birds are to be mado better all round, secure a Langahan, Plymouth Rock, or Wyandobte cock. Iv this way the quality of poultry can be improved year by year, but a fresh stock bird of the same variety must be introduced every season, "A couple of cocks with 2o young hens would be sufficient to produce several hundred chickens in one seaion, the cookorelu of whioU could be

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killed off for market poultry ; and those of thfc pullets that are best in size, most rapid iv growth, and moßfc nearly resembling theic fathers should again be selected for breeding fehe following spring, when they should be mated with a couple of freßh two-year-old cockerels of the same variety as those used the year before. By coi tinuing this process yeac by year, ere long the breed will become almost; pure, though there will constantly re-appeac traces of the mongrel blood. Still, tbeso will be fewer and fewer, for pure blood is usually greater in its prepotency. After the second or third year two-year-old hens only should be mated for breeding with a young cocky but pullets may be put to run with an old cock. Of course, if a fresh breed be introduced, all the previous efforts will be largely upset." BREEDING*. Coming to the question of breeding, there arfl a few important points observable, which can probably best be emphasised by merely naming. Ist. Whatever the breed or objeot, it U desirable to depend ohiefly upon young birds in their first or second years. No hen should be kept after she is 27 months old, unless under exceptional circumstances. She will have given the greater quantity of her e<jgs, and still be fair for table purposes. 2nd. We mut look to the male bird for external characteristics and ehepe, but the female will influence egg pro* duction and flesh qualities especially. 3rd. Breeding stock should »lw»ys bo well grown, and it is inadviaable to breed f rcm one-year-old parents on both aides. If we have young pullets, then the male birds should be two years old, and- via versa. 4th. Sbamina and good condition are essential in breeding s^cck, and no tainted or doubtful bird should be used in this manner. sth. Breeding and laying stock should always be kept in rather lean condition, and to this end fat-forming foods should be avoided.

THE GAELIC SOCIETY. The monthly meeting of the GaelTo Society was held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Stufti'b street, on the night of the Ist mist. Mr D. C. Rl'Donald occupied the chair, and the audience was a numerous one. The Chairman reminded the auuiocce if the forthcoming annual gatheiiu?, ia vkw of nhich the present meeting would bo prolonged lo afford a few reels t:> those who might wish to train their fett for the ball, and also to allow more time for the adiirefs which Dr Gordon Macjouald bad kindly consented to deliver. He had much pleasure in calling u^cn the doctor, who was a true Highlander, to address the racet : n<». Dr Macdonald, whose remarks were frequently applauded, spoke of' his recent impressions of the Higbhnds. |He referred to the counties or Caithness and Sutherland, and tUted that what was Eaid of them also applied more , or le«8 to all the Highlands. Thsre ' marked improvement i effected within fcba past few yea: 8, principally through the legit]*tion 1 affecting ths crofters and ameliorating their i condition. For very many years the crofters ; had teen tenants at will, aud had to reclaim , their meagre crofts from the hculher, and the only reward their toil met with was an increase of rent with every iirprovernent they effected on their holdings. That ' was all cbai.ged now. Fixity of tenure, compensation for improvements, and fair rents i assessed by arbitrators wero the order of the • day, and the condition of the crofters now comi pared very favourably with that of the working ' classes in the large cities ; and when the agitt- ! tion for enlarging the crofts became an accom- , plished f&c 1 ; their condition would be still i better. Too dookr gave a vivid description ; of several other matters as they presented : themselves to his eyo on his rectut trip, his . word picturu of a Highland communion service being particularly beautiful and realistic. Mr D. Munko gave a Gaelic speech, demon- ■ strati Dg that the Gaelic language was not in a djiog sbate. According to the JftQb census the Gaelic speakers in Scotland had increased by. 26,000 duiicg the preceding decade. There i wero ia Canada alone 400,000 Gaelic-speaking people, aud it was estimated there were some i two millions on the surface of the globe who had the me of the Gaelic tongue. Mr Muuro also mentioned that he h&d letters from some of the office-bearers of the W&itsvki Gaelic , Society in'cimatiog that, if possible, they would ; bo present at the annual gathering. i An attractive programme was gone .through, 1 Mrs Campbell singing " A fhleasgaich og," Mr ; D. Muuro "Deoch slaintg a Chamaronaich > bhoidhich," Mrs J. M 'Donald "Auld Robin ; Gray," Mrs M Thereon "The barring o' oor ■ door," Mr Colin M'Konzie, "Jock M'Grath," Mr D. Hatheson "Eilean an fhr&oioh," Mr > Audroi? VVilliamsoa "Myo&ntia wee wilia and i I," Mr A. Smith " BonneU o\ blue," Mr J. Turner "Mo run geal dilea%" Mr Lachlan M 'Donald the Gaelic versiou of "Mary of Argjle," and Mr Andrew Sutherland " The maroh of the Cameron men." Mr James Muic contributed a Scottish recitation " When Jock and I were' Young," and Masters D. M'Donald, R. Clark, and W. Smith danced the HigbUnd fling. The pipes were played by Pipe-major M'Keohnie, Mr J. Murray, and Me John M 'Kechuie, jun. Messrs John Livingstone, Duncan M'Kqnzle, Robert Henderson, and Dr Macdonald were elected mombers. Mr Donald Sutherland, of. Milford Sound, was present, and received '» public welcome.

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