POULTRY FOR FARMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 34

POULTRY FOR FARMERS.

TO THE EDITOR

Bib, — In the account of an interview with Mr Rogen, of Evamdale, which appeared in your last issue there are a number of dogmatic assertions which appear to mo to be entirely misleading and calculated to influence prejudicially the industry which the Government is trying to foster. Mr Rjgen lays claim to being an authority on the subject, and as he supplies hid full credentials ib may be well at the outset to inquire how far these afford any indication of his capability in either of the roles which he essays to play — the role of a giver of disinterested practical advice to farmers or the role of a critic of the Government expert. Mr Rogen speaks " as one who has proved his possession of sound practical and theoretical knowledge by his judicious importations, succsssful breading, and showing, and as a constant and intelligent reader of all the current Home and American literature on the subject," tci. The fact taat Ml- Rogen has imported and bred Langshans and some other fowls which have taken high positions at shows is certainly a proof of his being a good judge of the points which receive commendation in the show pen, but is no more a proof that he has a' so and knowledge of the poultry industry from the economic point of view than is the fact of his aaserfciug that he is a constant reader of all the current literature on the subject. However much Mr Rogen may have read and dona his statements are sadly erroneous, and he has failed to acquire an intelligent grasp of the subject, Thus he says regarding LaDgsiiaus :

"Langshan pullota average 230 egg" ia '12 months." Anyono who has had to do with heavy birds of Asiatic origin knows that they never average anywhere near that figure. Litngshans no doubt lay better than Cochins or Brahm&f, and stand well as regards proportion of winter egg» to slimmer eggs ; but they cannot compare in fecundity with half o. dozen I other popular breeds. Mr Edward Brown, F.L.S., late editor of the Fanciers' G^zatto, now lecturer on poultry to a number of English county councils aud at the University of Edinburgh, says in his authoritative work on " Poultry as an Industry for Farmers and Cottagers": — "Mops. E» Lemoine, a noted French poultry breeder (who keeps over 5000 fowls), whose establishment; wao described in the report made to the Royal Commission on Agriculture, and whioh we have since visited, published a most elaborate and valuable series of statistics showing the qualities and characteristics of fowls. These we translated at the time into the Fanciers' Gazette, and though, as Mona, Lomoine pointed out, they must not be taken as exact so far as ' other plaoes are concerned, because every place varies in its condition?, yet as the result of three years' careful observations and conscientious testings these figures are important, and the' only statistics afforded of this nature up to the present time. There are, unfortunately, several • prominent breeds not included in the list, and whilst we have not similar tables for these, we can indicate relatively their position bj other experiments made." * *. Vs.From the above list I abstract the following records:— „' Eggs par Annum. Spaugled Hamburga 239 Brown Leghorns ... ifiO 131 ick Minorciw 180 Houdans 125 Vl> mouth Rocks 120 Lungshaas 115 .It will bo seen that Mr LemoinoV record gives the average number of eggs laid by his LMig-shans »s jusb one-half of Mr Rogen's quotation, a discrepancy which no difference in s> rain or looal conditions can recoucile. Moreover, Mr Rogon specially ioforms us that Langshans are the universal breed which do w'cll in all climatsi and circumstances. I have no wish to drcry Langshana, and am free to admit that thoy are what is called good general purpote birds ; but the Americana are no doubt right when they say there is no first-rate allround pure fowl. No haavy bird will compare with a Leghoru for layiug, just ai no layiug or non-sitting variety can compare with » Dorking or Indian game for the tablt. On tho other hand, for crossing with Mediterr»ueau breads for laying and with, say, Indian game for table, it is generally recognised that few -birds are more satisfactory than the Langshau ; but Mr Rogen goes out of his way to deprecaba this, and says "stick to the pure. Ho is sure that theru are no crojsoj equal to purebreds as layers and table birds." It is such a well-known fact that crossing gives increased hardine«s and a tendency to increased fecundity that the matter is not worth disputing. Moreover, there is a special mison for crossing purebred fowls, because it has bean 'found that the cross' tends to eliminate the delicacy and want of .fecundity which years of fancy breeding -have induced more or^ less in all the ' better known pure breeds. Turning now to another heavy fowl of Asiatic origin I iincl Mr Rogen quite a) much astray with regard to the Cochin as he is with regard to ibi cousin the Laogshan. He chucklos over " the alleged intention of Mr Henderson to import Cochins from China," and says "be understands it has taken English funoiors 100 years to bring ths raw artiole from China to its present perfection, and he smiled at the idea of New Zealand farmers beginning the performance again on their own account." As a m&tb-i 1 of faci, the English fancier did not commence his " improvements " of the Cochin until some 50 years ago, because tho first imcottntion was only made then. But he certainly did not let the grass grow under his feet when b« did start, for, as Mr Tegetrueier shows, the Cochin was soon altered almost beyond recognition. " Cochins as at present exhibited are a mass of useless feather* Whatever merit they possessed as profitable layers at the period of their introduction has been entirely bred out by those who have reared them for the poultry shows." In the fifties Mr Tegetmoier recorded tbe number of eggs laid by his Coschins, and found they averaged 146. The average of present-day Cjchin* is not much over 100. t Regarding Houdans, in reply to th€ interviewer's question, " You have heard of Mr 'Henderson importing Houdans from France ? " Mr Rogen replies " Yes, and I have pnly to say j that I have had Houdaus from all the best yards in England, and my experience is that the chickeas are very delicile (o start with. They are n>t winter layers." There is no need to dispute the accuracy of- Mr Rogen's statements this time, and one^cannot help being amused at the frankness with which he unconsciously gives himself away. There are Houdans and Houdans, and Mr Rogen has gone to the wrong place for them. He should have gone with Mr Henderson to. a French farm, instead of which he went to tho English f«noier«. It is a little mky to attack tbe ba»t fowl of the leading egg-producing country in tbe world. France, whioh exports to E-igland some 500 milliou «ggs •aunually and produces a total of gome 4000 millions, will be rather upset when she hears from EvAnedale that she has not got a good winter layer in tl-e Houdan. Even Louts Wright, who openly coquettes with the fancy, admits that English breeders have spoilt their Houdans (vide p»ge3 411-413 of his larger book). He cay«: "As a farmer's forrl the Houdan can scarcely be stir- ■ passed, ... as the fecundity will rapidly fill the egg basket. ... To keep up these valuable qualities it is necessary to pay attention . . , to selecting eggs for sitting from fine vigorous birds which are good layers as well as to the points which are desired by exhibitors. For want of such precautions and from continuous breeding during many successive generations for crost nlone the majority of the exhibition strains of Houdans in England have of late greatly deteriorated in laying powers according to a rigorous law we have already explained. As tbe Houdan can never be a first-class fowl merely from the fancier's point of view to lose these practical advantages is really to lose all that makes tbe fowl worth having." Edward Brown, Tegetmeier, ■ aud other leading authorities speak in a similar strain, and it is generally conceded that the better strains of Houdans are excellent winter l&yera. Aa to the chickens being very delicate^ the fact ia quite the reverse. Louis Wright says . " Hardly an egg will prove unprolific, and the chickens generally hatch gome hours before the time. . . We found these chicks hardier even than our Brahmas, and they appeared to feather as if by magic." If the chicks were not hardy the Houdan would scarely be a favourite in northern France, where the winter climate is more severe than that of Scotland and where the majority of fowls are kept by small farmers who have no special facilities or establishments. There can be no doubt that Mr Henderson's praise of the Houdan is very moderate aud well within the truth. He gaya; "For combination of good

qualities, chose a Houdan. - Fair size; very hfrrdy; good table bird; fairly good layer; large egtf.": To bring oat the full potentialities with regard to laying it should," of course, bo crossed on the principle already discussed. On the subject of Leghorns' Mr Rogen is, if possible, still more at sea :J' With regard to the expert's idea that Leghorns are good wmtes. layers, Mr Rogon says ha hau had both English and American imported birds, and never found them good layers." Now tho Leghorns happen to be the elect laying fowls of America, - where many millions *ra kept, and ths eminently practical American' is not likely to fo far astray in such a matter. Moreover, I have before me the records of % poultry establish- , ment kept by Mr Annelt on hi* large dairy f*rm in the north of England wbioa ,»re quite, 'conclusive. Mr Edward Brown has visited this farm, and gives his observations as fol-: lows : — x "The development of this seotion has bean a gradual one, and one of the first experiments made by Mr Anaett was in the direction of learning what breed of fowls was most suited to his place and requirements. The farm t which oonsists of 2000 acres, largely devoted to dairying, runs by the seashore, and though there are sandhills which give a measure of protection, those keen north-east winds which hare such great force on tho Northumbrian coast can blow at will over its entire surface. No delicate breed could withstand inch * climate. Mr Annett has tpent much time and thought, making many experiments, in order . to discover what breed would prove most successful as an egg-producer, as his object is to ■ supply this artiole of fcod ever in demand. To this end he tried all our best laving varieties, and as a result he has celeok-d the white Leghorn. Mr Annett placed the results of his experiments at our disposal, and the following, are the figures obtained from his c&refally-kept

records :— 1800 1890 Ten White Ton -White Leghorn Hens. Leghorn Pullets. From Jan. 1. From Jan. la, January ... 174 ... 17 February ... n l7B ... 35 1 March .. „; 228 ... 20* ' April 23S ... • 228 May 24» ... 233 June 208 ... 21fi July ... ' ... 134 „; 189 August ..; 131 ... 151 September ... «4 ... M October ... 7 ... 44 November „. 5 ... 112 December ... 45 ... 45

Ib will be seen from this that the Lcghorfr fa not only a good layer, but a good winter layer in a teverer climate than that of Otago. Ib is not difficult, however, to understand how it is that, Mr Rogen fails with Leghorns, for ha ■applies the key to the position himself. No doubt Leghorns would nob lay well in a house with an open front;. Writing on the " Transactions of tb.t> Highland and Agricultural Society for 1897." Mr Edward Brown sayß :— " Very little need be said an to the importance of properly housing our poultry. That fowls can be.kept healthily under what are sometimes termed • natural conditions '. ia undoubted, bat each • , practice sacrifice* all that has been achieved by domf abicatioQ. We know what the result would be if milch cows were allowed to remain on the pastures during winter. So with , poultry. Eggs *re, to' a large extent, dependent upon external condition!. ■ And it is at night when that heat force which influences their production ia cfcit fly eliminated. The birds can keep themselves warm during the day by exercise — not so when 'they are at rest. • . , We may therefore accept it as an absolute necessity, that birds should have a> good, comfortable house in which to roost." Mr RogenV advice on the time to set is correct enough if applied to Laugshnnn, but is quite iucorreeb if applied to Leghorn*, &a. Leghorns hatched in Juno end July would not lay through the following winter, but would rooult in the autumn and then cease to be productive. • ' ■ As to tbe rest of the interview, criticism i« easy, because for the most part it may b« summed up in Mr Rogen's own criticism of Mr Henderson's pamphlet : "It contains a good many useful hints, such, however, as may be found iv any book published on the subject." — I am, &0., Practical Poultbyman, Dunedin, September 24.