THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11594, 12 January 1916, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

NOTES. (By OROW-BLACK.) Tho Utilitv Poultry Club will meet on Tuesday*©veiling and discuss important matters relative to the next egg-laving competitions. ■Air J. Hondry and Mr T. Calder wero visitors to Christchurch last week. At one time Mr Hendry was secretary of tho Oaraaru Poultry Society, and Mr Calder was treasurer of the same societv for many years. Three and a half months old Silver Wyandotte pullets realised 8s a pair it' Saturday's auction sale. • Sydnev papers to hand state that poultry was exceedingly clear in that city during Christmas week, and very few. large establishments were able to include it in the menu for Christmas. Dressed hens wero being retailed at 10s each, and turkeys £l3 ea.cn. A meeting of tho Utility Poultry Club was held on January 4. Mr J. \V. Green presiding. The Christchurch Poultry Club wrote, inviting suggestions for improving the classification of the utility section of its show, and the executive with Mr L. Cocker were appointed a committee to go into the matter and report. The Visiting Committee reported that the fowls in the competition wero_ looking well., and there were promises for a good egg yield during the autumn. The caretaker reported that the highest totals for December were as follows: —Light breeds—Master J Green. "White Leghorns, 112 eggs; Dalmuir Yards and Mrs Mills, White Leghorns, 130 eggs each; heavy breeds—Mr W. Bloomfield's Black Orpingtons 117 eggs, and Mr T. Kennedy's White Wyandottes 110 eggs. The president reported that Mr Y. Atkinson was leaving to go to, tho frout next week, and it was decided to entertain him at a social. A special feature of the HarperAdams Agricultural College (Newport) laying competition is a section comprising ten pens for farmers. At tho sale of the late Lord Rothschild's poultry on October 14 last'over 1200 birds were submitted to auction. The Tring Park Poultry Farm (England) has won renown with its Red and Light Sussex fowls all over the world. Buff and White Orpingtons' were very successfully reared, as well as Rhode Island Reds and Indian Games. Big prices were not expected, but according to. the " Feathered World," the cheap men found themselves left, and not a few went homo empty-handed and disappointed. Buff Orpingtons were the first offered for sale. Pullets averaged 12s each and cockerels went off well at 30s to 38s each for the best. Among the Whites there, was keener, competition, and pullets realised 20s to 38s each for the best specimens. The top-priced white cock made £o, others 29s to 30s, and cockerels were in good demand at 30s to 30s. Excitement ran high when tho Sussex wore reached, and several lots of pullets of the red variety were sold at £2 2s each; others at 15s to 30s each. The best cock brought £7 10s, others making £3 6s, £2 2s and £1 15s; cockerels £2 2s to £4 4s. . Excitement prevailed when tho champion Light Sussex cock was put up and gradually rose till £lB, when he was knocked down to Mr Mond. The same buyer secured the best cockerel at £7 10s, pullets at £3 12s and hens at £2 os each. Sales of pullets at £2 2s to £3 3s each were quite common. There was a big lot of Light Sussex cockerels, and sold readily at £2, £3, £3 6s and £5 IDs, tho best cockerel making £l3. The Indian Gajne did not bring much money as they were only kept for crossing. Rhode Island Red pullots found plenty of purchasers at.2os to'3ss each; while cockerels found, buyers at from 25s to 5-js each.

At the last meeting of the Utility Poultry Club the president stated that an appeal was being niadd in England for 1000 head of breeding stock for France. Mr Green said this was . a splendid opportunity for New Zealand poultry breeders to show their appreciation of the splendid sacrifices made by the farmers And peasantry in tho invaded provinces of France, and moved that the Utility Poultry Club open a list of all .those willing to contribute birds. The' motion was carried unanimously, and it was also agreed to ask tho New Zealand Poultry Association to request tho Government to provide free freightage on the birds. The following persons have intimated their intention of helping:—Green Brothers, two pons of three White Leghorns and a cockerel; J. A: Chisholm, two Plymouth Rock liens and a cockerel; Thomas Wilson, a trio of Silver Wyandottes; Atkinson Brothers, a trio of White Leghorns; J. H. Shaw, a trio of Brown Leghorns and a trio of Silver Wyandottes; 11. W. Hawke, a trio of White Leghorns; and the New Poultry Journal Institute, a breeding pen- Mr Green said that the " Feathered World" pointed out that the claiins of the ruined agriculturists of France were pressing. The names of further supporters will be gratefully received by Mr J. H. Shaw, secretary of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, Christchurch..

The single-bird laying competition to be held at Papanui in conjunction with the next heavy and light breeds' tests promises to be well supported by most of the noted breeders.

Mr F. Poundsford, the well-known poultry'grader, has intimated his intention of entering a pen of White Leghorns in the Utility Club's next competition. At u, meeting of the Executive Council of the South Island Poultry Association correspondence Mas read from Wostport, Gore and Tapanui relating to tho association's art union, and enclosing orders for books of tickets. The .secretary reported that he hoped to have tho tickets ready for distribution at tho cud of the month.

At the present prices of food poultrymen are experiencing a very rough time, and culling heavily their flocks. On Saturday one poultryman auctioned 200 White. Leghorns, and other large breeders have intimated'their intention of reducing their usual complement of birds by one-half. Most poultryraen recognise that if they keep birds for egg production or show they must feed well at this season of the year to keep up the vitality of the birds, but on one large plant 1 visited I observt?d most of tho birds had dropped into heavy moult. This should not be, and though I was not inquisitive to learn the cause, I am satisfied the birds had been fed too poor a ration this last mouth. Severn! North Island fanciers have been seeking quotations for Minorcas, White Leghorns, Silver Wyandottes and White Wyandottes. ■ Messrs Green Brothers have been asked by a South African breeder to forward a quotation for fifty White Leghorn hens. The inquirer also enclosed an order for a breeding - pen of six White Leghorns to he forwarded by the nest boat.

The white of an egg, from which tho chicken is formed, is composed of albuminous or nitrogenous matter; the yolk, whoso purpose it i.s to nourish the 'embryo during the- first three weeks of growth and for tho first day or two after hatching, is composed of albumen, organic salts, vitelline, colouring matter, phosphoric acid, fat and sulphur. At each end of the yolk., fastened to the vitelline membrane which encloses it. are two pieces of thickened albumen, tenned._tho ohalazae. Their purpose is to hold tho yolk in position, and they are not, as many imagine, in any -way connected with the germ of life. Were it not for them the yolk would float about in the white, seriously affecting hatching: -in fact, preventing it from taking place. To discover whelher an egg cnni:iir,s tin- germ of life before incubation has commenced

experimentalists, but so far all efforts have- proved futile. Such knowledge, if it were available, would help the poultry-keeper very materially, since it would mean a considerable increase in his profits. A great, many theories have been advanced from time to time regarding this matter, but tho only ono that appears to bo founded on common sens.e'was told to the writer by an old Irish "hen wife" away in the wilds of County Clare. She stated that if tho broad end of a new-laid egg is placed in the mouth, enclosed with the lips, and gently breathed upon, heat is given off 'if it contains tho germ of life; if it is sterile it remains quite cold. There seems some reason in this since where there is life there must be. warmth, and after an exhaustive trial all the eggs she stated to bo fertile proved so"; but, unfortunately, those she rejected were not tested, which' rather spoilt the value of the experiment. 1 must confess that, although I have made ninny tests of a like nature, the failures have been as numeious hj» the successes.