POUTLTRY NOTES

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 13927, 4 August 1905, Page 3

POUTLTRY NOTES

"Brood»r" will be pleased at all times •to answer any questions in refereiice to poultry matters. ,

(By "Brooder.")

INTERVIEW WITH MR D. D. HYDE.

Knowing that Mr Hyde was paying a visit' to this district in connection with poultry matlers, I availed 1 myself of the opportunity, and had a very long conversation with him' on the prospects of the poultry business generally. On calling upon Mr Hyde at -his hotel, I was received with that usual cordiality which" characterises him at all times, and it is very pleasing to meet one in his position who is so willing at all tim^s to give \ the inforn.tajion find advice -equired.

Being aware that our expert had just come from Blenheim, I uaturaMy questioned him in reference to the state of thinsrs there, for wo 'haye 1 seen many complaints in the press since tho inception of ' cho laying competition tin? re and at Lincoln College.

Mr -Hyde assured me- that those complaints, were quite uncalled for,, and' at tho present time it is ' cry gratifying to know that all ,of the pens, with the exception of two, arc showijirt- some fruit. At tfoe same time, the results would have been much better had the birds boon prepared for the task they have had to undertake.

Many of the birds are far ioo young, and others again wore in very poor

condition upon" arrival, "and it has taken -a* goodi deal oi attention to make, them at all. lit for work.

Mr Brown, who has charge there, i<| a very capable and painstaking man, ami , since his arrival at Blenheim has, by has labours, made himself very popular, with the comm«ittee and the public, \«o much so that ihey have requested the Department to allow him to remain in charg-e imtil ihe end of the competition. Asked, as* to the size of the pens, 1 was told they were 25x8, but Mr Hyrlc said they wore too small, and, had his plan been adhered to they would h^vej^eif aA}oust,4o ,feet square. Then the birds would have had green •grass all the time, but as it is at present many of -the pens are bare, especially those where the birds have been laying heavily. Next year some alteration will be made, so a& to g*ve larger range. By, the way, already arrangements are being made for another competition. . My host, spoke of the wonderful impetus the, competition had given to the poultry business in tho Blenheim district. The amount of money required to start one of these contests is very .large, and Mr Hyde kindly supplied the following figures : -—Land for accommodation pens £250, 100 pens, total £438, , sundries (whitewashing, etc), £63, plant £18, fencing section £11, water supply £8, total £788. '

This gives accommodation for 600 bircls, and the amount of land purchased was 10 acres.

jMy l-cadcrs will bo surprised io know that the price obtained for the eggs is Is Id per doz f6r the whole output, f.0.b., Blenheim,, a contract I eing made with the Wairarapa Farmers' Co-oper-ative.

Coming to the" matter of poultry for export, Mr 'Hyde prophesies a good season, especially in the south, where breeders have gone in for table poultry on a large scale. Last year over 100.000 birds were exported through the ftovcroinent, besides many that went, through private companies. h\ addition, tho Home steamers, instead qt getting their supr plies of eggs and poultry in England, as hitherto, arc securing them in the colony.

Great stress was laid ou the fact that the quality, of stall' has greatly improved, and Ihc time ds not far distant when v?c will be able to supply the quality of poultry required by the consnimeir' in London. So far wo Imye only been able to cater for the South African market, where a second grade article is acceptable. UJr Hyde said that if private enterprise would not exploit the London market this season, he would -make strong representations to the Government to make a trial shipment of first-class stud".

Knowing that 'many changes are taking place in our standard breeds of poultry, I Questioned Mr Hyde as to his opinion of the Black Orpington, which is at present our most useful and popular breed. He said that unless breeders i were not very careful it would' be ruined as a utility bird. They are being bred too large, too coarse and too' loose in the feather, and if a . radical change does not take plo.ee tho same will happen to tho Orpington as with the Minorca and I/aingwhdn . Mr Hydo said livi* years ago ,he warned / breeders at Chris tchurch about these two breeds, and his words have come

To improve thp laying qualities of hens Mr Hyde recommends the more

frequent use of the trap nests and only to breed from the very best layers. Also it is necessary to encourage the hens to be industrious, and there is nothing' bettor for this than a scratching shed with a fair amount of clean litter to feed the grain in. The active hen is the bird which lays well. As of late recommendations have been made to adopt poultry culture as a subject in the technical schools, I asked Mr Hyde's opinion on the matter. He at once said it would bo a really good thing as long as it was done in a f practical way : but very groat care must be exercised in the appointment of instructors. He advised the sending of teachers to the State farms to take a course of instruction. Students simply have to pay for their board, about 10s per week. Already several have availed themselves of this opportunity and have benefit ted by the experi-

In conclusion, M,r Hyde said' he fousd it very hard to g-et people to carry out his advice. He repeatedly found people had failed through doing the opposite to what his instructions were. 1 thanked Mr Hyde for his kindness, and he assumed me it was a pleasure to be able to give information at all times. Tie hoped a' some future dalft to deliver a lecture or two ,in the Taranaki district. .