THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 698, 6 May 1916, Page 5

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

FOR FANCIER, AMATEUR & POULTRY FARMER Edited by J. B. MERRETT, P.O. Box 588, Christchurch

The Young Bird Show. ) Notwithstanding the wet weather ' on Tuesday evening there was an I excellent attendance at the New Zeai land Utility Poultry Club's Young Bird Show. There was a good en- [ try of birds. Messrs J. H. Shaw and i J. Cussen were the judges. | Mr R. W. Hawke had an excellent j win of three firsts. The genuine interest displayed by j the members goes to show thai their exhibitions are a source of educaI lion to beginners. A great many people are. under the impression that the utility breeder has no interest in standard qualities- This is an error. The increasing support given the fancy shows each season goes to prove that the utility classes are greatly on the improve, and will dominate the shows in a few years. The Spirit of Co-operation. At the conference in Wellington last week a very spirited discussion took place on the subject of cooperation. It was generally agreed that all co-operative ventures that have failed did so for want of loyally and support from the very men the agency was designed to assist. One speaker said he did not believe in pledging all his supplies, and yet he lamented the fact that many large producers sold their eggs privately. Such one-sided advocacy as this cannot fail to lose its effect. At Palmerslon North suppliers are pledged to supply the agency with the whole of their supplies for one year, and are under a heavy penalty if they break their agreement. The Otago Egg Circle, which is now being formed, has a rule as follow:—"Each member shall agree to send all eggs for wholesale disposal through the Circle. No member to hawk eggs or sell direct to grocers." It is no use producers aiming at centralisation unless they give deserved loyalty to the cause. The desire to sell privately arises from a selfish spirit, and is an injustice to other members who are loyal to the cause. The Price of Eggs. Eggs still continue to sell at a high price. The demand is so good that prices could be forced even higher, bul it is not desirable that this should be done. Eggs retail at 2/6 a dozen is quite sufficient for the public to pay. It is true supplies are lessening, but the spirit of ! equity should govern the market, and it is better to get a consistently good price for several weeks than a spasmodic high price which prejudices the public and cause supplies to accumulate. Producers' arc doing well, and general satisfaction is expressed at present market rates. Canterbury does not want to compete with American eggs, and this is what will happen should local prices be increased. Valued Assistance. The Department of Agriculture is taking great interest in the poultry industry. During the past year the poulty instructors have accomplished splendid work. The appointment of Mr C. J. Cussen to Canterbury is a decided help, and his instruction is being much appreciated. At the late conference the instructors gave great assistance, and their addresses were educative and helpful to all. Good Feeding. Now is the time to pay special attention to feeding. It is to the pullets we must look for eggs in any quantity. From 280 pullets we saw 119 eggs gathered one day this week. At the high price of eggs the birds will soon pay for the food which proved so costly to rear them. To secure eggs the birds should be kept in warm quarters and fed freely on the best of foods. Anyone can get eggs in the spring, but the evidence of a man's -ability to succeed with poultry is largely seen in the number of eggs he can market now. The pullets will be all the better for an addition of meat foods. If fresh meat can be secured it is the best food, but meat meal in concentrated form gives excellent results. Plenty of scratching material should be supplied, and the grain foods spread among it. This encourages exercise, and is an essential factor in winter egg production. A Field Day. Next' Saturday Dr. J. Henrv Crawshaw will entertain a number of

Ipoultrymeu at Kaiapoi. The visitors • will be shown over his model farm, I and addresses will be given by j Messrs Brown and Cussen, Government Poultry Experts. The in- ■ dustry promises good growth at j Kaiapoi, and the general interest taken in it by Dr. Crawshaw is doing much to help the industry along. Quite a number of working men intend keeping a hundred fowls. In these times of the high cost of living the income can be largely increased in this way. At least t'l per week can be cleared from one hundred selected layers. The field day at Kaiapoi will give a number of farmers a chance of hearing the poultry experts, in addition to the object lesson supplied by a wellkept poultry plant. The Egg Markets. The prices ruling at the egg market at Auckland to-dav arc 2/2; Wellington, 2/5; Christchurch, 2/3; and Dunedin 2/2 for first grade, stamped and guaranteed. It is fortunate there are no heavy shipping orders just now, or it would be a problem to fill them. A shipping order for 800 dozen last week had to go unfilled for want of supplies. Stamping Foreign Eggs. The Comptroller of Customs at Wellington has informed the secretary of the New Zealand Poultry Association that the American eggs which arrived in Wellington during Easter were exempt from Ihe new Act, owing to their having been ordered before the provisions were gazetted. , The Christchurch Show. The schedule of the Christchurch Show is now being circulated, and may be obtained from the secretary of the club, or from the poultry saleyards, 20(5 Tuam Street. As usual, the classes are numerous and the prizes good. Keen competition is promised in many classes, and the show will be an undoubted success. The N.Z. Utility Poultry Standard. The standard for judging utility breeds in New Zealand, is now in print, and will be issued ready for the show season. It will fill a longfelt want. It is the result of two years' work by a committee set up by the N.Z. Utility Poultry Club. Visiting the Competition. Quite a number of people visit the Egg-laying Competition on wrong days. It is hard for them, after having got there, to be told they cannot be admitted, as recently when a visitor from Dunedin could not go on any other day than the Monday, and found he was refused entrance. The club tries to meet visitors in the matter by a permit. Care would need to be taken, or else the privilege would be abused and everyone would be affected i from the north or south. There is; no excuse for local people, as publicity is given to the visiting day. In America the competitions are open for inspection every.day in the year. The difference is they have State paid men to attend the business, whereas at Papanui the club has to make the test self-supporting, and j cannot afford to make it an instruction bureau for beginners. The secretary has asked us to announce that the test is open to visitors every Saturday, between two and four o'clock. A permit will be issued to country visitors wishing to visit the grounds on a Wednesday, between 11 a.m. and noon. Visitors should write for a permit to Mr J. H. Shaw, Churchill Street, ChristchurchJava Maize. A shipment of Java maize has arrived, and is being eagerly purchased by producers. It is an excellent winter food for egg-production, Meetings. The annual meeting of the N.Z. Utility Poultry Club will be held on Tuesday evening. The Christchurch Poultry Club meets every Monday evening. The Canterbury Egg Circle Committee meets this evening to arrange the Field Day and receive conference delegates' report, The Egg Farmers' Association meets next Tuesday evening for their regular monthly meeting. Mr J. W. Green, delegate to the conference, for the Utility Club, will give his report next Tuesday evening.