POULTRY COLUMN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 14 September 1911, Page 8

POULTRY COLUMN.

(Journal of Department of Agriculture.) The following is continued from last week’s article:— COMMONSENSE. There is no qualification more needed in these days of increasing knowledge of poultry than commonsense. The air is full of theories—patents and gimcrack ideas which, like the philosopher’s stone, will enable the possessor to solve tiio secrets of nature and make money without earning it. Unfortunately, human nature is ,as prone as- ever to be humbugged—waiting, in fact, for the quack to come along and find a fresh victim.' I would appeal to every reader of these notes to carefully analyse and turn over in his mind any new theory or idea which may be presented to him,, and weigh it in the scales of commonsense, remembering that, keen intelligence searches after truth in the poultry world have been working for years to arrive at the best methods of managing fowls on a commercial scale. Where the exorcise of commonsense is most needed is with that class of people who, with experience of half a dozen birds in a back-yard, think they have sufficient knowledge of the (business to warrant their taking up poultry keeping as a means of livelihood. It is useless pointing out to them the heavy crop of failures among amateur poultrymen like themselves who thought there was nothing in utility poultry keeping till they had learned the bitter lesson of experience,. They refuse to‘realise that keeping,, poultry on a larg escale is a business which demands more of those directing it than almost any other branch of primary -production. The man who succeeds at commercial poultry-keeping—and we have many such at the present time—has an enthusiasm for the business—an enthusiasm, by the way, which few men in other undertakings have for their work; is energetic, and has a keen eye for detail. The business demands never-ending attention, more exacting work, in fact, than even such an arduous occupation as milk-production entails. True, the men who possess these special qualifications arc men who would succeed in most other occupations had they the necessary experience of them ; but successful men in ether walks of life would not necessarily make good pom-' trymen. In other words; the business demands very special qualifications only possessed by few men, .and it is because their natural aptitude is combined with keen business instincts that certain men have now proved that ogg-farming is a really payable undertaking. I have bet with a score of instances where, because a certain man has succeeded at poultry-keeping, others have considered that they could go and do likewise, “just with a few tips from yourself.” They have quite left out of'jbheir calculations, however, the “human equipment,” which counts more with poultry than with anything else. •.

One of the most regrettable sights in the utility poultry world at the present time is the number of men, mere fledglings in the industry, who are pluming themselves as authorities and aVo leading others down the* lane to failure which themselves must soon travel. There are too many cheap reputations in these days. The successful man is not he who can win in an egg-laying competition with birds bred by another, but rather lie who can produce from his own mating stock of’ outstanding quality. Experience is essential in all walks/of life, but nowhere is it of more importance than in poultry-keeping. The man who desires to succeed should take example tVom poultrymen who have proved their knowledge of the industry after years of sustained effort..

The statement is frequently made that there is no money in poultry. Neither there is for many who undertake it. Commonsense again dictates that for articles of consumption which are in daily need and the use of which is increasing among all classes all over the world there must be an everexpanding call. Somebody must .meet this demand, and in these days of specialisation it is obvious that to the man who will study the business and reduce it to a strict economic proppsir tion, egg-production, and, in the near future, table poultry, can be madman undertaking giving a certainty of result. It is, however, a business, and must be approached as such, if not as an independent undertaking for the few who have the natural inclination for it, then as a side lino for the farmer on the small holding. EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS. Fowls. The twenty-third week of the. New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s seventh egg-laying competition was completed on Wednesday. The official record of the competition is as follows : Last week’s Total - total, to date. G. H. Robinson (ChristChrist), U.O. ... ... 31 628 T. Kennedy (llangoria), S.W. ... ... 37 612,; Misses M. and M. Bradley (Papanui), W.L. 32 605 A. 11. Browne (Greenmeadows), W.L. ... 34 558 Horctaunga Poultry Co., (Silverstroam), W.L. ... 34 510 Heretaxinga Poultry Co. (Silvcrstream), W.L. 32 539 A. E. Browne (Greenmeadows), W.L. ... 29 534 W. Nixon (Burwood), W.L 31 533 JRdgar Hall (L. Hutt), 13.0 32 527 A. E. Wilson (Shiiloy) W.W 30 521 A. Tisch (Dallington), W. L 29 520 ' Timings Frothey (Martinborough), 13. L. ... 33 505

DUCKS (all Indian Runners). The following is tire report of the twenty-third week of the club’s competition for ducks, which was completed on Wednesday:— Last Week’s Tl. to Total. Date. Horetannga Poultry Co, (Silvcrstrcam), ••• 25 (502 W. Knight (Hutt) ... 30 595 A. R. Browne (Greenmeadows) ... ... 3.1 594 P. ; J. : Keller (Rolleston) 24 540