POULTRY IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 2507, 9 April 1902, Page 49

POULTRY IN OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.

By Terhoh.

II.—MOSGIEL AND DISTRICT. It is a legitimate thing, m my opinion, for a fanoier to "hold his hand" to himself if he thinks proper to do so; consequently I hope I am not "giving the show away"' when I say that notwithstanding that Mr Peter Sinclair has given out (fo I am told) that he has "nothing to speak of" this season, I consider that in silver Wyuadottes he is stronger than ever he \va« before. Such promising pullets, at auy rate, I never saw anywhere, and as I have watched with interest Mr Sinclair's progress in this fancy for some years now, I feel that I am warranted in saying that ir his own mind he is well satisfied. At present they are, some of them—he has good" specimens of various pullet ages—of just the right shade to stand the iuev itable changes which will take place between now and show time. The contrast between the white and black in most instances is distinct, solid, and brilliant. In some of the older specimens the back and breast lacing is perfect; the wing 'acing and barring is clear and distinct, and pure white wing tips to flights make juet the contrast desired. Should these birds lighten too much by show time the younger generations will take up the running, for they promise just as well. In white Leghorns and white Wyandottes also Mr Sinclair is well up, but the advance is not so striking in these classes. Mr Chas. T. Grant has as even a lot of buff Orpingtons as, I think, will be met with this season, and he has them in a considerable flock. Some of them are from eggs obtained from Mr John Taylor, of Miltou, whose birds I admired so much in my labt year's trip, and which scored so well at the various shows; and when 1 say that this year's pullets are quite equal to their forbears I give a good testimonial. They are not only e\en, but fairly free of the blemishes almost invariably to be spen in the breed —-i.e.. black or black-tipped feathers in tails, and, whilst racy in cairiage. are, as they should be, table birds of heavy build. Tho cockerels are not quite up to the pullets, but in the mob are one or two fair specimens. Mr Grant is also well up in silver Wyandottes, having some of Goss's. Sinclair's, and Crumblehome's strains, and pome of the pullets arc haid to fault. In these yards are also white Wyandnttes of Orr's and Sinclair's strains; and amongst them is one very handsome pullet and several good ones. Next to his buflfa this fancier's utrcagbh lies in his Minorcas. With regard to these I may say that he has about the finest crowd of cockerels to be met with in Otago. One beauty (slightly high in tail) i 1- from eggs fron Bart ley and MaF^ey. He i« nplendict in head, having aood eve. comb, lobes, wattles, and siror.g face. Had he been a little longer in back hk. tail x.ould "not havo looked so jaunty. Othi.r specimens I saw in this breed are more likely a1"a1"- winners, having ao serious fau't: but T liked the bird I have criticised. In pullets this breeder i« not qmte t-o strong, but he has bred some which are very likely birdfHaving reported upon Mr Grant's housing very fully Isst year, I will say no more on thi- point this time than that all his arrangements are most admirable, ancf that with the accommodation provided it is no wonder his birds prosper. Though breeding mainly for market, Mr Grant has evidently a keen eye for the fancy, ar>d the result no doubt will be that for the greater part of his stock he will get the best prices. To accentuate the wisdom of Mr Grant's procedure I may say that I myself know of a case whfre, on the strength of extra good quality, a Mo=giel breeder was offered 6d extra per pair for crossbred? (first crosses) by n Dunedin merchant who was buying for export. Who will say after this that it does not pay better to breed good stock than mongrels? To my mind the poorsst cockerel amongst Mr Grant's fleck i> worth a guinea of any f.irmor'o money for breed me purpo ■•"= Next week I l-ppou upon the run- of Mes-r* Dec-k.-r. Rowan. Peter Wallace, and A. Grant