FANCIERS' COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3438, 3 February 1920, Page 21

FANCIERS' COLUMN.

THE KENNEL.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication oi announcements of the Dunedin Fanciers' Clnb.

By. Terror. Fanoiers and breeders of dogs are cordially Invited to contribute to this column. "Terror" will endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but in order to do thig he must have the co-operation of his reader hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully responded to.

A question of interest to all fanciers is: "Should a dog with a blemished eye, accidentally acquired, bo allowed a prize at a show over dogs not similarly disfigured?" A number of judges in Englana have been asked for their opinions in respect to this matter, and their answers, though variously expressed, may be summed up under two headings—viz.: Yea, because accidentally acquired blemishes to eyes or other organs are not hereditary. Unless, of course, in other respects two dogs are equal, when the prize should go to the unblemished dog. No, because sometimes the judge may be in doubt as to whether the blemish is or 13 not accidentally acquired, and even if an accident has been the cause it may have been the result of faulty action or constitutional weakness. A dog should be judged as it appears on the day, and this in the interest of the future of the breed.

The new Otago Kennel Olub Committee have not allowed the grass to grow under their feet since obtaining recognition by the Kennel Club of New Zealand. Mr Bills has practically completed the construction of the plant, and all things considered, it is evident that the forthcoming show will be up-to-date in every respect. Over 100 dogs have already been entered. —An Invercargill fancier writes to congratulate the Dunedin "sports" who have had the courage to inaugurate the new Kennel Club, and vouches for genuine support from his direction at the forthcoming show.

—An enthusiaetio Dunedin fancier, Mr W. Henderson, jun., recently visited" Itabymere Kennels, Invercargill, and saw the Kaikoria Kotea pups, now three months old, which, he reports, are all doing well. — '- A Wellington fancier writes: —"When you see "The Climbers," a coming Vitagraph picture, in which Corinne Griffiths plays the lead, notice the dog that takes part. He is a very aristocratic Pekingese, and his name is King Beetle. He is a son of Minora, who was owned by the late King Edward, and named after the only horse to ever win a Derby for the King. The theatrical profession in all its branches is a devoted admirer of the Peke. So many actresses own a Peke (or Pekes), and often we see representatives of this fascinating breed upon the screen and sometimes upon the stage, which offers less scope for their presence. Apart from their attractive appearance, which graces any picture, and their small size, they are so fitted for the theatrical life by reason of their quiet and cleanliness. It is interesting to hear that Tang Sing Fat, the Pekingese purchased by Mr and Mrs La Blano from Mr A. Sherbrooke at a big price during the N.Z.T.D.C. show, made his first stage appearance recently at Dunedin in the revue 'Lonesome Baby.' 'Fat' is very courageous and responsive, and should prove an apt pupil, as Pekes are possessed of great intelligence. Mr 3 La Blanc, who has long desired a Peke for her own pety calls him 'An angel in dogskin,' and enthuses on his youthful chummy ways and model habits. Tang Sing Fat was bred by Mrs C Neale." A sportsman with faith that the instinct of dogs can be cultivated into a reasoning power little inferior to an educated man's tells this story of "Maggie," a most reasonable retriever. A wounded mallard fell into a river covered with thin ice at the sides. Maggie, sent to retrieve, broke her way through the ice to clear water., looked about her, -went on to the far bank, and thence took another reflective look at the ice. Her mind made up, she galloped eighty yards down stream—for which she was loudly derided by one onlooker, though not by her master. She now turned to thi3 river, and with her front feet deliberately broke a hole in the ice and drew back, watching like a cat at a mousehole. She must have seen the mallard swimming near the bank under th>9 ice, and thought to catch him as he came up to breathe. In about one minute she sprang into the hole, dived, and came up in mid-stream, the bird in her mouth.

A bitch in whelp and Hearing her time should (says an exchange) bo accommodated away from the noise of her kennel companions. Her bed should be a thick cornsack stretched on the floor of a dry shed. The more simple the bed is the less liability there is for any accident to the puppies as they arrive. Many people advise tho removal of the purroies, except the last one,. until all the trouble is over, but excepting in the case large litters, it Is, I think, better to loavie the whole business to the dam. After the completion of the whelping leave the clam and puppies alone. Especially with her first litter or two the dam is very jealous of interference. When she wants food she will come out, and then she may bo beguiled into another part of the establishment and the opportunity taken by the owner to know what sort of litter has arrived. With tho bitch anxious for food and drink and away from her litter, see that she is well satisfied with warm milk porridge. Sloppy food is necessary to her to ensure a full supply of milk. As the bitch gets to normal boiled meat

aiid vegetables may be given as before recommended. At this time the bitch will require* to be fed (not heavily) from three to four times a day. If the bitoh, especially in hot weather, keeps too close to the puppies, check that disposition by taking her away from them. With puppies well fed, three days old. and with warm weather at that, the dam's visit to the puppies must be restricted. Tho puppies by that means are not then overheated and weakened. The constant attention of the dam and the strain on her are often the cause of the bitch's collapse. Puppies may be made to lighten the dam's duties if they are educated into the habit of lapping light food, such as milk porridge or a little gravy mixed with meal. This habit may be commenced «n the ninth day, just about the time when the eyes are opened. , The fox terrier, that ever hardy animal that holds his own with the newer breeds, is not described by Youatt, except under the very wide term "the terriers but there is not doubt that he referred to this breed, as we know it to-day, as he describes the two varieties, rough and smooth, and Kives full details of tho rat-catching competitions with which their names were so frequently associated in the old days. Billy killed 100 rats in 6mjn 35seo, and won the Wager by lmin 55sec. , In another match he "destroyed the same number of rats in 6min and 13sec. In later years, when ho was getting old, and had only one eye and two teeth left, Billy was matched for 30 sovereigns against a Berkshire bitoh, whose owner backed her to kill 50 rats m quicker time than he could. The old dog killed his 50 in smin 6sec. The pit was then cleared and tho bitch let in, but after she had killed 30 rata she was so completely done that she lay incapable of moving in the centre of the ring. Tho fox terrier was first exhibited, as a separate breed, at Birmingham in 1862. And Jock won from a small class In 1864 there was an entry of over 40 at Nottingham, and the winner was .tartar, a dog that caused a great deal of correspondence to appear in the press about that time, as he was referred to as "only_ waiting his ears cropped to make him into a first-rate little bull terrier." This dog won 16 firsts under all the leading judges, and his name can be found in most of the present-day pedigrees. Another good one was Jock, the" Birmingham winner, who won 33 first prizes, eight of which were champions. He was said to be entirely free from the bull cross,' and was by Major William's Jock, and, according to Idstone, was "the most beautiful specimen of his kind exhibited for years." There was great rivalry between the two dogs, both of which seem to have been of an entirely different type, but Jock, from his picture which appears in- Stbnchcngc's "British Dogs, seems to have been more of the presentday type and besides his own winnings he left a "big name behind him as a sire, as at the Birmingham Show of 1869, with an entry of 119 in the breed, every winner or highly commended dog, with one exception, was sired by. him. About this time there were a lot of broken-haired terriers of all colours with a lot of bull in them that were used for fighting, and names such as Eodfern's Tip, who won several matches, and Venus, a sandy-coloured bitch, that went to scale at about 231 b, and who, at the age of .13, met and beat a bitch well known from Ashton, and whose son Briton was open to fight anything in the world at 231 b, were well known. These dogs, with the fox terrier proper and the bull terrier, seem to have all got muddled up, but the probabilities are that the rough terriers were the original basis of the other two. SHEEP DOC NOTES. By TEsnoa. The M'Kenzie Collie Club's Quarterly Committee has resolved to hold its thirtieth annual trials on March 24. -Mr M. Elliot is to judge. The olub has arranged to hold a suitable members' and competitors' dinner and smoke concert, at which returned soldiers will bo guests. Several extra cash prizes have been arranged for, and I understand first prizes will be £2O and £ls respectively, open to all; and valuable specials will be offered for local and district maiden dogs, etc. e ~~~~

EOULTRI KOTES.

By Tebboh. "Getting Ready."—(l) You will find the information asked for in this week's notes. (2) Give three drops of chlorodyfte in a teaspoonful of salad oil. If one dose does not thoroughly cure, as it probably will,, try a similar dose in three days' time. A correspondent sends me an egg laid by a pullet at 14 weeks old. The exhibit is about the size of a pigeon's egg, and illustrates what may be expected at that ags. But it is not the size of the egg that matters so much as the age at which it was laid. The first egg and the last egg of the season is often very small. I have seen many of the kind laid by matured hens. I don't know whether the fact that the pullet laid at 14- weeks is a record in respect to early laying, but it is certainly too early, and consequently a matter for regret. Birds at that age which look like laying should bo shifted to other quarters or have their food changed ; say change oats to wheat, or vice versa. Any change will answer the purpose. be a record. I have often heard and read of birds starting to lay at extraordinarily early ages, but have always been more inclined to regard the fact as a misfortune than as an achievement to bo proud of and consequently to record. As_ another poultry scribe puts it: —"I am not in favour of starving growing pullets, but all strong animal food which is ■ generally used for egg-production should be kept away, and the too-forward pullets shifted to different quarters once or twice, which will cheek them. Of course, one' does not like to prevent pullets from laying now with eggs so high in price as thev , always ai*o at this time of the year. "We want a quick return for our outlay, and quite right, as long as it does not injure the constitutions of the young stock and make them only

one-season layers instead of two or even three."

Messrs W. A. Gee (president) and A. E. Wilson have been appointed the Utility Club's delegates to the annual Poultry Conference, which this year will be held in Dunedin. The club's remits are as follows: —(1) "That, in view of the great shortage of grain in the Dominion this year th 0 executive of the New Zealand Poultry Association request tho Government to at once make inquiries regarding the price of a shipment of maize landed in New Zealand from South Africa or elsewhere; and, further, that in the event of a favourable reply the secretary of the Poultry Association notify all affiliated societies with full particulars, when such affiliated society may send in its order him (with cheque) within fourteen days ; (2) "That as a great international laying trials to be held at The Hague,, commencing October, 1920, and extending to September, 1921, tho Government be asked to' pay freight on half a dozen representative teams from New Zealand; the Government poultry instructor to approve and arrange for transit of all teams." . With regard to remit No. 1 mentioned in the foregoing, there can be no question but that the scarcity and price of poultry food is a most serious problem for poultry breeders, and, in view of the fact that egg producers must live, it is serious also from the consumers' point of view, for if food increases in price so will eggs, _ and they are dear enough already in the opinion of most people, I fancy. Treating on this question, the N.Z. Poultry Journal says:—"From what can be gathered from farmers, it is obvious wheat is to be greatly increased in price, while pollard and bran are to rise accordingly. At the present time 9s is being paid in the south for wheat, and no one contemplates less than 10s for the new crop. It is said New Zealand is to be several million bushels short of its requirements. If this is so, how > will the poultry industry suffer? Provision must be made for poultry, or there will be a N general sacrifice of thousands of head of poultry this coming year. Substitutes for wheat are hard to secure. It will be for the conference to give this subject closest consideration. The Government must be urged to protect the industry, or the price of eggs will rise to an unknown figure in this country. We urge all who possibly can to keep their flocks keyed up to the best, as they are sure to be rewarded. There is some talk of the Board of Trade stepping in and fixing the price of eggs. They are welcome. Our case will stand tho closest investigation. There are few men who work as long hours or geti so little for their labour as poultrymen. lhe cost of foods and the interest on plarft, tho risks and th© long hours of labour,, entitle the poultrymen to a better return, and he must get it. Now the war is ended the N.Z. Poutry Association must do a greater work. It is the mouth-piece of the industry. All members of tho different societies are looking to it for guidance and protection. Finance is required for the association to carry on its work. Recently an appeal has been sent out to all societies to help raise funds. The Auckland Co-op. Egg Society, Etc!., set an excellent example. Its members raised £4O. The Canterbury Egg Circle has raised £25, with more to follow. What are other societies doing? The show season approaching, and the young bird show in March being so near at hand, breeders; will do well to begin at once training the intended exhibits have properly when before tho judge. They should be penned and handled frequently for a fortnight at least, and a month with particularly wild specimens, before the show. White and parti-coloured birds should be washed, and the best method of doing so is as follows: Prepare three tubs of water, fairly warm. Brush soft soap into the first to form a lather. Insert bird gently (in rather a darkend place). Nail-brush him or her down from comb to tip of tail, always working the brush in one direction only.. Now put brush down and wash in same way with hand, laying the water on freely. Spead out each wing on left hand, and wash with palm of right hand. Do the same with tail. Be very gentle with young feathering. Now lift out; pass hand over to clear off suds. Put into second water. Lave over the bird, freely spreading out wings and tail. Get out all soap possible. ■Lift into third and cooler water, in which is a little glycerine and "blue." Cleanse thoroughly. Take out th© bird. Wring off all water, and sop over'the bird gently with soft towels. Place root of tail in soft towel, and squeeze out as much water as possible. Now let the bird flap its wings. Hold it by legs whilst this is done. Place in a box or basket before a good fire. Drop a bit of muslin between bird and fire, and put a saucer of water near so that the bird does not dry too guickly. Turn the hamper frequently. For this reason, a hamper is better than an open-fronted box. If you have a box you will have to turn the bird. Some use a stove-heated room only; no basket or box. Some have a room fire-heated and exhibition pens on a large scale. Wash two days before a show. The egg-laying returns at the Auckland Poultry-keepers' Association's contest show 'he following in the leads: —Duck section —Indian Runners: E. W. Daniel, 1178 ;' J. Owen, 1083; S. H. Scott, 1011. Heavy breed section—E. Hangard, 1115; G. H. Shaw, 1078; Mrs 0. Thomas, 1068; W. Blomfield. 1028: O. Windnsfv 1025; H. G. Perritt, 1019 fall black Orpingtons). Light breed section—T. ,F. Blomfield, 1102; Mrs J. Small, 10&; R. M. Smith, 1069; J. A. Arbur7 1052: A. G. Heighway, 1051; A. S. Holmes. 1049 (all white Leghorns). One hundred and eighty-two eggs in 182 consecutive days, it must be admitted, is a good performance. It is the achievement of a duck belonging to Mr E. W. Daniels at the Mount Albert (Victoria) egglayine contest, and is alleged to be a world's record. ' The bird, it i 3 said, is still going . strong A team of six wnite Leghorns, the property of Mr G. M'Donell, also of Victoria, is reported to have laid an average of eggs a piece from Ist April to 29th December. , " Fresh" a woman was recemly fined £lO and co>?ts. The stipendiary magistrate ruled that before an egg can be marked " Fresh" it must be laid in the United Kvngdoro, and as the eg_ , s > in question had been laid in America ho inflicted the fine mentioned. A new which is attracting attention in England is the "Mendel," which, it is claimed, has been evolved by _ crossing and subsequent selection on Mendelian lines. A correspondent, writing to tho Poultry World, says: "In your critique of Manchester show you say of Mendels, ' The

breed has every appearance-of being- a great layer, and we should think, in addition, has no little value as a table fowl.' It is with pleasure I can state that your opinion and surmise are correct. I do not know whether they have been tried in largo flocks, but blacks kept in groups of 20 to 50 have put up a flock average ■of 175, and 25 per cent, passed the 200 mark. When, in addition to these qualities, breeders have a small-boned bird with little offal, carrying a great quantity of white flesh on the breast, you can understand why Mendels are forging ahead without being boomed." Messrs Eraser and Co., produce merchants, auctioneers., commission agents, anc agents for the Otago Egg Circle, 146 Craw f ford street, Dunedin, report: Fresh egg% 2s; Egg Circle eggs, 2s 2d. Market firm We held our usual poultry auction sale on Kednesday at 1.30, and high prices were realised for all lines, ducks realising record prices of 12s lOd per pair. The following prices were realised : —Hens—] 2 at 5s lOd, 30 at 6s, 45 at 6s 2d, 30 at 6s 4d, 80 at 6s ' 6d, 94 at 7s, 45 at 7s 4d, 37 at Bs. Cockerels—--7s to 9s. Ducks—3o at 12s Bd, 85 at 12s lOd. Geese—s at lis lOd per pair. Turkeys— , Gobblers, is 6£d; hens, Is per lb live weight. There is a good demand for all classes, and we recommend consignments. l Reilly's Central Produce Mart (.Ltd.) report. A full yarding of poultry on Wednesday. We offered some very prime ' ducklings, _ 'which realised record prices. Those having duckings to dispose of would be well advised to communicate with us at once. Prices for r.ll lines were well . maintained. Hens—l 3at 5s 4d, 25 at 5s 6d, 22 at 5s Bd, 26 at 5s lOd, 75 at 6s, 18 at 6s 2d, 6 at 6s 4d. 3 at 6s 6d, 11 at 6s Bd, 3 at 7s, 12 at 7s 6d, 12 at 7s Bd, 13 at' Bs, 7 at 8s 2d, 7 at 8s 4d, 6 at 9s 8d per pair. Cockerels—7 at 5s lOd, 3 at 6s, 2 at 6s ?d, 5 at 7s, 4 at Bs, 6 at 8s Bd, sat 10s per pair. Chickens—26 at 2s 6d, 2 at 2s Bd, 6 at 3s, 15 at 3s 4d, 2 at 5s per pair. Ducks—2 at 9s 4d, 4 at 10s 6d, 2 at 11a per pair. Ducklings—7 at lis 6d, 4 at 12s, 1 at 12s 2d, 3 at 12s fd, 17 at 139 per pair. The, egg market is very firm, and pme.". have advanced. We have secured; up to 2s 2d for our consignments.