CONCERN POULTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 31

CONCERN POULTRY.

Mr D. Hyde, Government Poultry Expert, has just completed a tour of inspection of the different poultry grading stations and export depots in the colony and a course of lecturing in the various towns, and yesterday gave some interesting particulars in connection therewith to a representative of this paper. What was most noticeable throughout the tour*, said Mr Hs'de. was the rapid strides which the poultry industry has taken in the North Island during the past year. There MiHyde was struck with the fact that the northern people are taking a very keen interest in the poultry business and are beginning to realise that there is a good deal to be learnt in the raising of poultry and that when^ learnt there ib nothing tc, approach it as a profitable business. Poultry raising in Auckland is being taken up as an actual business, and generally the people are getting to work in a business like manner. As an instance, of the progress being made, Mr Ilvde has obtained from three breeders a written guarantee that they will supply no less than 17,000 head of poultry for purposes of export 'pexfc year. One Auckland firm last year raised 11,700 head, mainly ducks, and disposed of almost the whole of them at 6d per 'b liye weight, and in some cases 7d and 8d per lb. Again, different farmers in the Auckland district have given up the raising 1 of pigs and . the dairying industry in favour of - poultry raising. It wilL of course, beseen that arrangements arc made to eppe with this substantial increase of business in the- North Island. Poultry breeders in the North Island are more fortunate than those in the south, for the reason that the climate in the former place is very much more suitable. There the industry is conducted on a laige scale, and the number of big establishments there is very numerous, whereas in the South Island there are only three important poultry farms. The demand for birds is, however, heavy right throughout the colony, and no time will require to be lost in making provision, for the coming season. There has also been a considerable increase in the number of eggs handled at the Auckland depot this year as compared with previous years. While in. this part of the colony Mr Hyde has been engaged latterly in grading at the Milton depot, where his attention was occupied for about a week. Birds are now being sent out from the Milton station to all who require them. Visitors to this poultry farm have spoken very favourably of it indeed, and say they have never seen a finer one. Speaking of- egg-laying competitions, Mr Hyde said they were invaluable. For one thing they showed what, could be produced fro* the poultry industry if properly conducted. In. both ths Blenheim and Lincoln competitions twothirds of the birds in the pens there had, not previously been kept merely as layers; put as prize strains, and when in future competitions purely laying birds are bred and entered results will bo even bettei than on this' occasion, and will fcho^R to still greater advantage the importance ol the poultry-Taising industry — that is, if properly conducted. These competition! will run. on indefinitely, as in Australia/ The number of pens at Lincoln has latelj been increased from 38 to 100, as is th« case at Bknh.*iui. At the Government

grading station at Burnhain. 18 miles this Bide of Christchurch, a small competition of seven pens is being held, and the results being obtained are very satisfactory. In New Zealand there is a distinct advantage in the fact that birds of different strains can be. exchanged among the different stations, and the work carried on without ■having -to import any birds at all. In America poultry raising is now being considered more from a utilitarian than from «. show point of view, and the demand for the American bird is greater than that for the English. Mr Hyde has made a trial of 'the some 3000 egg 3 which were placed in the Taieri and Peninsula Company's cool storage chambers some eight months ago, and with most satisfactory results. These eggs were purchased and stored at a cost of about 10£ d 'per dozen. The idea is to purchase eggs when the market is glutted and they are cheap, and store them away until Buch time as they become scarce and the price has a tendency to run high. The market can thus be fairly well regulated. (Private enterprise is responsible for the purchase of the eggs, the Government's share of the business being in storing and preserving them at a moderate charge The department intends to make & fairly large '■ 'display at the Christohurch Exhibition of \ «II- modern appliances for the raising of poultry. A programme has not yet been j snapped out, but that will be done by Mr Hjde on returning to Wellington- To-day Mr Hyde goes on to Burnham, where there is a> grading depot and then to the Sumner Deaf and Dumb Institute in connection wir.h poultry raising there. Mr Hrde expects to reach Wellington on Saturday next., and will shortly put in hand the work of compiling his yearly report, in which will be included figures relative to the poultry export of the colony and interesting facts about the industry in general. '