POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9893, 25 January 1911, Page 2

POULTRY NOTES.

(By Egg-o-tist.) Influence of the Frozen Meat Trade on Poultry. For some time past the Press haH tickled tlie minds of the farmers wii.li news of tlm likelihood of other countries besides England becoming pur chasers of our hoof and muMon. \Ju ponltrymeu realise the value of thin expansion in tho moat trade to thcmV An increased muat export moans a higher price in our Dominion for sheep and (untie, and that, undoubtedly, will cause an increased demand for table poultry. Hitherto, Otf«s have been, and sfciil are, tiie most laorutivo brunch of tlie business; iv fact, in most, of our towns tlie prices realised for table birds have been anything but aucouraging. Now, it appears, there is going to bo a turn in the poultry tide before loug; eggs this season are very cheap, but if we keep looking ahead we may yet see an increased rise in the table department, to somewhat compensate us. Poultry for Export. During the last few years there has been a great fiilling-off iv exporting poultry, as it is generally understood, but, for all that, great numbers of them have left the country and some did not go far away. The oceau-going steamers aud also the coastal boats are responsible for draining the country of some of its birds. The intercolonial boat?, however, arrange for their egs supplies principally from Australia, as they can be bought cheaper there i\m\ they cost less to produce iv the Commonwealth. There should be a good opeuiug for frozen turkeys »t Home, aud ir seems strange that, apparently, no one has taken this up on an extensive scale, especially when our seasons are so favourably placed to (it iv with the Christmas trade in England. Systematic Fattening. The Government Poultry Instructor, Mr Brown, has repeatedly advocated a better class of bird beiug put before the consumer, this improvement to be brought about by crammiug both young aud old, and duubMess, once there is a supply of choico poultry to be had, a demaud will arise to meet It, with a lift in values. This geutkmau farther suggests that there is a good opening for a few who would take up the fattening branch as a business of its "'Wn. The fowls could either be bought outright fro-n the farmers or dealt with on coiamissiou. Not much capital would be needed, as the turnover, though small per brad, would be quick, A few lessons in the rise of the cramming machiue, a few cows to provide milk, an important item in fattening poultry, a horse aud trap, aud some serviceable coops, systematically arranged in a roomy, wellventilated shed, should meet most, if not all. the necessary equipment to set up as a colonial "higgler" (a term used largely in Sussex, England, a district voted for its prime table poultry).

It appears to me quite a feasible project that committees of Egg Circles in the near futuro should seriously consider arranging for, iv various districts, depots to be estahlisliod tor receiving members' store birds, where fhev would be primed off ready for the market, in tho same way as the dairy farmer takes his nuik to the factory, and the factory dors the rest of the work necessary to convert it iuto cheese or butter, so might the puultryman take his birds to the Circle's "higgler" or fattening house. This would be another step up the ladder of co-operation. Philo System. A somewhat novel system for managing poultry is the Philo System, the domiuant feature being that it is especially suited for small plots of giouuds.the uumbers of fowls that can he Kept on half au acre is incredible to believe. The fowls are euclosed iv little boxes that, at first sight, do not look unlike bee hives. As the ground would soou get contaminated, with so many birds, constant renovation is necessary, by digging Another peculiarity is the method adopted for raising the chickens. Ordinary brooders are dispensed with altogether, and ouly artificial heat used for about a week. This is oertaiuly, at anyrate, one strong poiut in its favour, as there cau be no danger of fire, aud there would be a great saving of expense. For further information those curious to know more should get the book, costing os 6d, of which the Poultry Journal is the agent. Leg-Bauds. Since referring to these useful articles I have heard that enquiries have beeu made as to where they cau be purchased. Almost auy ironmonger stocks them, aud also the Poultry Journal. However, like eggs, yoa will pay according to where you buy them One shilling per dozen is a reasonable figure for them, iv small lots. Second-hand Incubators. Though oue can often get a good bargain out of a second-hand article, I strongly advise amateurs to be chary of buying an old iuoubator. It is, perhaps, sometimes worth the risk wheu one has previously managed oue, and uuderstands how to adjust them. Still, when w« know that it is quite possible to get the price of a new machine back, in one good hatch of chickens, it does scarcely seem worth while to buy anything but the best. Lausdowne Meeting. To-morrow uight the Egg Circle members will again be ou the warpath, this time at Lansdowne School, to disoourse on the virtues of cooperation, and also to read papers relative to the industry. There are in that salubrious suburb mauy enthusiasts, who should make an effort to attend. Opponents of Circles, too, ought to take advantage of this meeting to query the speakers, aud I venture to say that there will not be many there who will not be enlightened considerably. The Egg Circle movemeut is such a broad, far-reach-ing subject, that oue ought not to be surprised, perhaps, that so few really understand it, aud ignorance of its economic points is, 1 am sure, the chief reason why its membership has not increased quicker, though, considering the novelty, its original sup-

porters can feel well esatibfied with th c results attained. One point. I wish to state, and that is we must awake to the indisputable fact, that the day is rapidly passing that it is no longer an old woman's galiie, but au industry which requires activity, intelligence of the highest order, a knowledge of chemistry, mechanics, business methods, in fact to be a successful poultrymau, you want lo be as wide awake as tha smartest. With regard to the meeting advertied last week for Faruridge, it was decided, at the last moment, to post; pone it for a t'3w weeii.-: en account of the harvcrituiß aud tho Solway picnic.