POULTRY

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12083, 11 August 1917, Page 11

POULTRY

fr n Official Organ of the New Zealand Uiility Poultry Club i 1

Mr John Jarvis, of Pa,lmerston North, was re-elected president of the North Island Poultry, Pigeon aDd Canary Association, at the annual meeting 011 Tuesday last-. The Ohristchurcli Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club will meet on Monday evening, when nominations close for officers for the -riisuing year. The annual meeting takes place a fortnight later. Owing to being unable to get through all tho business "on the order paper at tt-s meeting on Tuesday night, tin New Zealand Utility Poultry Club will meet on Tuesday evening. Tho newly elected president of the North Canterbury Poultry_Club (Mr C. .11. Bull) is a well-lfrnowri Rhode If.iand Red enthusiast', who exhibited successfully during the past season. Much merriment was caused at the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's meeting on Tuesday night, after the committee had announced t-lveir selection of the members to take part in the forthcoming debate, Heavy Breeds versus Light Breeds." One of the cl\osen debaters, who desired to be left- oTlt of tho debate, commenced giving reasons why lie .should not he included, and said, " Five out of the six members selected by the- committee aro Englishmen born in England. Where are the New Zealanders?" "'At the front." ejaculated a member, and the Yorkshireman collapsed, amidst roars or laughter. Mr "W. T. Green's Indian Runner ducks completed their four months of winter laving on Tuesday last, at Papa-, nui, and'registered 046 eggs, which is a world's record in public competition for six birds. On Thursday night the New Zealand Rhode Island Red Club will meet, when Mr G. 11. Ambler will continue the reading of his paper on tlie breed and demonstrate to members the good ana bad points of several female Reds which will he penned. ]Y£vR. "U . Ilawke "il hatidlo the birds afterwards from a utilitv viewpoint. Mis-; Jessie James is adding, another large brooder house at tho Farm at Hornby. A otXVogg ineub.ao, is also being installed on tho i- I '] ll ' which has already a number ot Uhite Shorn Minorca and Black OrpmgUm chickens, aud a 320 machine iully Cl, Thn C< North Canterbury Poultry Club is to he commended on its decision to divide the borough into wards, :ritl 10 get up committers to- "invnss uv. borough of Rangiora for exhibits 101 us next show. Mr C. Cussen, the Government Poultry Instructor, is on a lecturing tour in Central Otago but will return to Christchurch about the end of next week. Mr G. Finn, the president of tho Wellington Poultry Society, has taken m Silver Wyaudoties for a hobby, md recentlv purchased a quartet 110111 ifr F. Dacre. of Lin wood. On Saturday evening next a. patriotic concert will be given under the auspices of the Poultry Associations of Canterbury in the Opera House. All the proceeds arc in aid of the Lady Liverpool, Y.M.O.A. and Navy League war funds. The debate, " Heavy _v. Light Breeds," arranged bv the New Zealand [Ttility Poultry Club will tako plaeo on Tuesday week. Messrs 0. Willis, J. r. M'Hartj and E. E. Marsden will champion the heavy breeds, and Messrs C. Atkinson, T. Fazackerley and W. Stephenson the light breeds. Mr A. Atkins, a. successful breeder Df Brown Leghorns at Manaknu, lias purchased a good cockerel from" a Canterbury breeder during the last weelc. Tho beautiful sunny days lately will bring all backward birds into laying form quickly if they are allowed out for a few hours io scratch for insects, vhicli are plentiful at this season of tho jrear. The following aro the highest, returns for tho Auckland egg-laying competition at the end of tho thirteenth week :■— K. Wallace. W.L. » . 347 ft. Shaw, W.L. . . • 311 W. Bloomfipld, Blk. Orp. . 329 Reliable Farm, W.L. . . 313 C. Sinel, Blk. Orp. . . 208 Hokowhitu Farm, Blk. Orp. . 204 ('.. Thomas, W.L. . • 2bS S. H. Scott, W.W. . . 271 At. the close of the fourth' week of the duck test at Auckland the Seaview Poultry Farm's Indian R.unners were leading with 140 eggs, S. H. Scott second with 104 and W. Bloom field third, 94 eggs. Tlie highest totals in the'Masterton single pen competition on August 3 rere: — Black Orpingtons. T. E. Conway . . .89 F. Staines . • . B*l C. H. Johnstone . . SI White Leghorns. W. A. M'Kenzie . . P7 J. Stevens. No. 2 ,80 T. W. Barne.s . . 80 W. .T. Stevens . .* 77 E. E. Marsden . . 74 W. J. Stevens . .77 Silver Wyandottes. R. O. Jarrett . . .73 T. Dowt'hwaite . . 7.1 6. H. Scoit . . . . 02 White Rocks. W. Knight . . .7] P. Freeman . . .63 The highest totals in the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's single pen competition on August 7 were:—' Light Breeds. Green Bros. . . . 103 R. H. Taylor . .100 H. Williams . . . SCi Atkinson Bros. . . 91 Black OTpingtons. T. E. C'onwav . , P3 Silver 'Vyandottes. T. Wilson ... 92 Mr R. H. Taylor's White Leghorn completed its. hundred eggs iij 121 days, or three days longer than Green Bros.' bird. 5 UTILITY POULTRY CLUB. A meeting of the New Zealand [Ttility Poultry Club was held on Tuesday llight. ~Mr S. Dick (president) presided, and there was an attendance of about sixty members. Correspondence was read from the Lower F'endalton Red Cross Guild, thanking tho ci'ab for its generous donations of eggs for the weekly sale at the Red Cross shop in Catihedral Square. The delegates' report of the South Island Poultry Association's meeting in Dunedin was received, and it was derided to pay half of _ the Kaitangata Poultry Club's costs in procuring Mr Cunningham's services to judge the ut'ility poultry seotion of its show-. Mr Ha-vke reportled that every member of 'ihe 'Committee? appointed to weigh the fowls last Saturday nighti had rolled up, and the work was. done scientifically. A vote of thanks _ was passed to the committee for its services. Mr J. W. Green reported that the committee selected for the debate. (" Beaw v. Light Breeds") at thd Education Committee's next meeting tight were:—Messrs G. Willis, E. E. Marsden and J. T. M'Sarg, heavy breeds, and Messrs O. Atkinson, T. Fazackerley and W. Stephenson, light breeds. Agreed to, and it was also decided to take up a collection at the door. Ihe cb airman rei>ortod Uwt seven

NOTES BY " CROWBLACK." J

papers had been handed in for the essay competition. 'Mr 'Willis reported on behalf of tfhef Management Committee. He said the increased returns during the _ past' month were excellent; the birds in the competition, on the whole, being in good order. The hoppers had not been iiibuilled in the pens owing to unsuitable material coming to hand, and the committee recommended not putting them iu until the autumn. Agreed to. .Messrs A E. Whiting and H. Williams reported that the committee appointed to inquire into the reason of s-cme of the heavy breed i>ens in tho laying competition yielding undersized eggs, had not. been able to solve the problem. The committee was thanked for its investigation. .Mr Merrett asked the club to tslupport! the concert to be given on Aug'ast IS iu aid of the Lady Liverpool Fund. Agresd to. Messrs H. Williams and W. Stephenson were appointed the Visiting Comlrittee for August. Mi- Cocker reported that with Messrs E. J. Ro.;s and J. TindaJl. the birds in the competition were judged as show specimens by them on Saturday. Tho best specimens were —Messrs Auey's White Leghorns (23 pointy out of possible -33 1-3); T. Fazackerley's (28 points), r.nd Airs Mill's White Loghorns (23 points). Tho committee pointed out that the birds on the whole u ere in wretehed order to judge as ex-hibit-ion specimens, and believed that the work should be done immediately alter the birds have settled down at the commencement of a. test-. From a breed point of view , the Black Orpingtons, with only ono or two exceptions, failed to comply with tho requirements'of the standard. Several of the pens nwlud* ed specimens showing too much white in 'lobe, too long in tail feathers, and overlapping combs, thus clearly showing there was nMch foreign blood in some teams. In one or 'two pens of V\ hit-e Leghorns there were also evidence of-crossing. The Silver Wyandot tes were fair specimens ol' the breed in most of the peas. The White Rocks showed too much cushion, and were rather low-set! for a Rock. The single pen of W iiice Wyandottes were .not in show form, but the team of Brown Leghorns were in good order, though they failed in colour of plumage. J. he following are the points awarded ior show and table specimens Show Tnfalo Specimens. Specimens. Wc-iKHt. « t , Pts. Lus. Pts. Brown Leghovns— Verrau Uros. . . 22 26 - 23.7 hue Lc^h'jrua—•ii. I*. i(oss , t ,22 26 ,)0 " Oeo . < ' f : , (.'alder Bros., IS'o. 1 . oy ' _ 7>-i'y W. btopnenson . , t A. K. L-Juiiip 6 . , . 17 : 6 " , J. •?<; Lines . , , 18 25 _ 23 7 ;• i \\ ngllt ... 19 a -21.0 J-l. \v. Bov.-er . . ono (■ircon Jriros. . " - ™- J Au, " u Wlity Stud ; 17 25 - 5/a Atkinson Brog. . . i- ,- M _ ~, ( , HolioivhUu P. Co. . ' is 5 S .1 ~o' 7 •S. Dick .... 20 27 - 'Vs IJalmuu' P. YarcU . . 18 "v-'r <Vi J. AI. Allot- . . . o ti 2«i ■J. iv??binson . . . ]7 »; .... O.i g Jtnngium Karicli . 20 li'i 0 Omeo P. i'Vna . . , M 24 Herolaunga. P. Co.. y O . 1 jg 04 21/j .Master Jack Groen . 13 »i 101 Bros. . . ! U h -20.0 TV Conway ! ! ! Z '^3 J.ira .J. Miiln , , o | -">s" 00 « T. W. -Wilson . O {q-f i! - ¥ illfi .... 35 oj's A. AJama . . . o<i •Jj o{ 9 Kfliabio P. Farm . . 93 20.0 A. (r. Brailr-v . , .17 95 uo'g John hifvojis . . .17 - ]8 7 1' azackerloy a-nd Son 26 23" n '• If. W. ilawke . . .12 -n J. Nancarro sen. . . 21 i>3i Caidftr Jiro®. ( A \o, 2 . , 2« 21 - °1 9 T. Kennedy . . ' ]"<, £.l ~l*9 i pi-ctauugft Co., Xo. -2 LI 214 rr A u ,V urnh • • • " 27 - 2-ti; La-h ■ . . .IS 22 V.. , , , 20 23 —21.0 A. K. "Wilson . ... 21 -">lJ- To r, if- AVilliania . , ,17 oji oVq Silver V.'vnndottes— "" C ; - . .22 3i - 31.0 A. \\, Aaam9 . . . " ? o<) nc a W. AV. Hewin?on . , 20 2S 25.'< Mrs F. Howell . . . 2n 31 ni n T. Kennedy . , , 24 29j 260 T. Do-.vtliv,'aito . , . 'ir.l iq'-i Whifo Wvandottoslilacr, Orpingtons— Mrs Ciuridge . . .19 29?; T. E. (Vjmvj--, Ko. 1 . )s .-jf _ A. S. Coopor . , , i.j 25 22'-S J. sen. . . 31 oq 3 T. B. Conway, No. 2 , 20 o-i •}]"'() Victor Gee . . .11 29 13. E. Marsden . . .15 27 04.G F. Stainea . . . . 1 j goj Hoko .vhihi P. Co. . , u 32 29.2 Miss J. Jnmes . . . 17 33 201 White Tfocka— H. J. Coppcrth . , 20 3o* Rhods Island Reds — A. S. E. F. Oaltes . . ,19 33 VARIOUS POULTRY TOPICS. AN INTERESTING CHAT. Tlie writer had an interesting chat the other day Avith 3lr J. 8.. Merrett, who was, to use a slang phrase, " up to his neck in work," catching up arrears that had accumulated during his trip« throughout the North Island. Much oi the- conversation turned u{>on the Asiatic egg, hut that subject has been dealt' with very fully in the "Btar" lately, and particularly in Saturday's report- of the conference of poultrymen. pastrycooks and bakers. POOR QUALITY OF POLLARD. Tho chief object of tnv visit to the North Island," said Mr Merrett, "was to join the executive of the New Zealand Poultry Association in presenting to tho Minister of Agriculture some of the remits passed at th(» .Toaster conference. "Wo asked the Minister io fix a standard for pollard. At present, you see. millers are turning out bran "and calling it. wonder thev are satisfied with the'price, £'6 15s a" ton.

Tils poullrjmMi doesn't, miitf for brau, but to pay pollard pricey for it. is a bit too much. Now, isn t it. Receiving a nodded assent, lie went on: "We also asked for greater caro to be exercised in handling eggs sent through the post. But. our main subject was the Asiatic egg. ion vo already reported the Minister's promise to have the importation of liquid yo-k 9 stopped as from September 1 next. DOUBT EXPRESSED. "Yes, but do you think the Ministci reallv intends doing it?" You've Sot me. there, said -Mr Merrett. "Parliament ran do a lot. of things, but 1 don't think it possible to shut out of New Zealand an\ pure food. The frozen stuff now coming in is quite pure. The Government' may, of course, nrohibit tho use of the imported voile's. In any ease, it wou.d toko a year to absorb the supplies ou | order and on hand, and by that time 1 producers could do much towards making up tho shortage. SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENTS. " You appear to have given much attention to niacins returned soldiers in the- poultry industry ?" " Yes. At first. I thought the best method was to ha\ T e a demonstration farm, where the returned soldiers would be under an instructor ior a year. The ' stickers' would stand out from those who grew tired of the Avork, and at tho end of the year these men could be given a start in poultiy-kecp-ing. In New South Wales they havegone in for the settlement- system, and now fifty applicants have bee a -settled in the industry. When in tho "V.airarapa I was offered ample land for a settlement for ten returned soldiers. The gift was worth many hundreds of pounds, but the locality was not. suitable. So application is being made for 183 acres already secured by the Government, and on this area eighteen returned soldiers can be placed. An instructor would be placed in charge. Each soldier would have ten acres. He could keep a couple of cows, have iruit trees, flower and vegetable gardens, and supplement his poultry income. Each would have a good home erected, and tho settlement would work on cooperative lines in of all foods and requisites, as well as in the marketing of their produce." EXPERIENCE KSSENTIAL. "Rut haven't the patriotic committees tried to start men in poultrykeeping?" "Yes. but they are not likely to succeed. Experience is of more value than financial assistance. Capital may bo easily obtained. * but it is experience that/ must be diligently acquired. Poul-try-keeping is not a simple work. You smile? Well. let. me tell you it requires a great deal of thought and attention to detail. It is unlike handling most, undertakings. The poultrykeeper has to caro for life ot the highest animal order, and great care is needed to make his work a success." NORTH AND SOUTH' COMPARED. " How 1 docs tho North island compare with the South? Have they a.a good egg. and poultry supplies?" " Why, bless you, no," was the response. 'Mf it wero not for tho South Island they would suffer tremendously. The census will shortly show us which island has the most poultry, but ns the North Island has rnoro population, and as all tlie floating trade centres in Wellington, we supply the north with thousands of dozens of eggs from tho south, mostly from Oamaru and Dunedin. "While in Fratbcrstou a week or so hack eggs were, so scares as to command 13s or] a, dozen, while roosters required as poultry for sick cases had to come hundreds of miles. 1 motored for twenty-four miles from Mastert-on to Fcat-herston, arid saw scarcely a dozen fowls on tho farms. You couldn't do that in Canterbury." " What is the cause of their shortago. " Mostly dear foods. Owing to the price of foods the farmer will not rear poultry in the north. Hundreds of our boys now at tho f"ont used to keep poultry. As they were called- up they their birds, and we have lost that production. 'lhen poultrymou in a. large way aro afraid" to venture far. owing to tho mon/icß of tho imported PKjrs. All that onn bo rectified il' tho bakers -will give an assurance that they will use pulp produced by white men—and I believe they will. We need increased output. In Canada the. Government put on ten additional instructors in one district with that end in viicw. The Board of Trade made an appeal in England to the farmers to produce more eggs, with the result that last year saw such an ouormous growth :us to make up nearly half of England's imported eggs, which, before the war, cost Tier eight millions of money annually." WEEDING OUT WASTERS. " One more question, and then Til leave you to get on with your work. How, does the voluino of trade iu eggs and poultry in Christchurch compare with the pre-war trade?" " In the matter of poultry, the numbers marketed are smaller, but they are of greater value. In eggs we marketmore. The Canterbury Egg Circle number two hundred and fifty members, but. it ;is difficult to know whether less or more eggs wero (marketed before the war. Tho circle markets more, you see, but- that, is the- result of concentration. 1 fear that when the censius returns come to hand th 0 numbers of birds kept will be less, and we may find a- greater need for importations. Still, tho quality of the birds is improving, and with a little more encouragement, and the promise of foreign competition cut out. w e can soon bring our production up ot- requirements. As tho reporter left, the premises ho could hear Mr Merrett endeavouring to "buck up" a couple of pessimistic poultrymen, and exacting promises to keep th e ' incubators full.