H.—29

12

The work attaching to the Laboratory farm has be;en carried out satisfactorily during the year, and the manurial top-dressing tests for mutton-production have been continued during the year under the supervision of Mr. B. C. Aston, Chemist. Poultry Industry. The following is the report of the; Chief Poultry Instructor (Mr. F. C. Brown) for the year under review :— The cennmon view in regard to poultry-keeping is changing. It is now being considered an industry capable of being a considerable wealth-creating medium to the Dominion. While it has been proved that poultry-keeping is capable of providing an independent means of livelihood, the old reservations still exist. Capital is essential, but even more so is experience and the desired temperament. Unfortunately, poultry-keeping, more than any other industry e>f the soil, suffers greatly from the; opinion in which it is regarded as an industry by many people, who, thinking it can be conducted as a sole means of livelihood without any previe>us knowledge, rush into it without capital, experience, or the other essentials to success. The knowledge is now available of how te) manage poultry profitably on a large scale, but to apply this knowledge it is essential that it be first tested in prae;ticc, and it is certainly suicidal to do this otherwise than in a small way. Already the groat bulk of the eggs and birds in the Dominion are produced as a side line on the small farms where land is coinparaliveily cheap and the conditions are present for its economies! working. It is from these places that the chie;f production must be expected to come in the future. Export of eggs : Dining recent years small consignments of e-.ggs were sent to London anel elsewhere chiefly as a means of ascertaining whether these could be landed in a satisfactory condition on the overseas markets. In a genera] way the experiments proved satisfactory. Last year, however, an endeavour was made to test the London market on a commercial scale;. In all three shipments were made, comprising 106,214 dozen eggs in shesll, valued at £6,895, together with 5,-150 lb. of egg-pulp, valued at £429. While the price for the eggs shipped in shell was a payable one, it is to be regretted that the; piece! received for the pulp proved unpayable, and reports go to show that the; prospeot of establishing an export trade in pielp is very remote. The; landing on the London market of these three shiipments in good order and condition, and the favourable reception accorded them, hits made the year under review the most eventful one; hi the history of the industry. The improvoel position of the industry is one; for congratulation —indeed, its future sucoess appears tei he; more promising than ever before. The leical consuming publie; are now we'll supplied with eggs, and at a most moderate price, except for a short time in early winte;r, while it is gratifying to know that wc have the; prospeot of a geioel market feir unloading any future summer surplus of eggs. There being yet no legislation to enforce e;ompulse>ry Government grading eif e;ggs for export, an arrangement was made between the Department and the New Zealand Poultry Assentation whereby the grading, testing, packing, &c. was supervised by the Poultry Instructors anel a Government certificate given them accordingly. Whilst the eggs exported were <>!' good quality, it is lei he regretted that owing to lack of knowledge or carelessness on the part of producers, by her too many eggs hael tee be; geuec through to scceire the desired quality at the trading depots. Owing to being undersized, or in a dirty, stale condition, it was met uncommon to have' to rejeot from 50 per- oent. upwards of the! eggs coming forward. If producers can lie induced to send their eggs to the graeling-depots in a proper manner it is quite possible; that (lies overhead charges can be considerably reduced deiring the coming export season. Willi a vie;w eif improving matters in this connection the Poultry Instructors (whose work in grading was largely responsible feir the quality eif eggs exported last year) are continuing their efforts in this direction by delivering lectures and giving demonstrations in various parts of the Dominion, as a moans of teaching the prodeecer how to properly grade his eggs for the export trade. In addition, the Department has arranged to again distribute to preiducers this year (through the New Zealand Poultry Association) a epiantity of bulletins, setting forth in a clear manner the class of eggs elesire'il for export anel theise that are not. The following extract from a repent of a buyer, dated the 13th December, 1923, gives some indication as to the line impression that last season's shipments of Neiw Zealand e;ggs oreated em the London market: "As an instance of how the eggs were reoeived em this market it may be said that nei sooner hael they been cleared than buyers wanteel further quantities, anel in many cases they were asking as to when further shipments woeelei be coming forward. There is no doubt that if the standard of grading anel packing arc maintained, goeiel prices can be realize;d here for these eggs." With a view to protecting our future; export trade 1 would strongly recommend that legislation be; brought elown at the' earliest possible moment enforcing compulsory Government grading of all eggs that leave the Dominion. As it is there is nothing to prevent eggrdealers anel others during the coming season exporting ungraded eggs and injuring the good name which New Zealand neiw peissesses for its eggs." Poultry-stations: As the Avonhead Poultry Station situated at Christohurch, originally established for the Repatriation Department, was not suitable for fulfilling the eilijeeifs of breieeling anil distributing tested stock eif various breeds of poultry throughout the country, and also unsuitable for the conduct of research and experimental work, it was closed elown eleiring the year. The one remaining poultry plant now operated by the Department is that run in connection with the; Ruakura Farm of Instruction. Wool. The wool-clip for the 1923-24 season was a good one;. The wool, be;ing clean, gave a high yield, and considerable improvement was shown as regareis classing, efce. The local sales opened with satisfactory prices on a rising market, and several Dominion rccorels were established. The highest prices obtained were 33fd. for half-bred, 33|d. for Merino, and 32|d. for Corriedalc. The average price re;alized for the Dominion was 16d. per pound, as against for the previous year. The eruantity of wool sold locally was a record for the Dominion, the sum realized being estimated at £11,200,000, which sum becoming almost immediately available to growers is a consideration, and demonstrates the financial benefit accruing to the Dominion through the enhanced offerings at local sales which has developed during the; past two seasons. The (quantity of wool exported for the twelve months was 259,068,642 lb., of a declared value of £15,265,264, as against £11,955,567 for the previous twelve months. The Wool Instructor, Mr. J. G. Cook, has been kept fully occupied in giving lectures and demonstrations throughout the Dominion, and the demands upon his time for these purposes indicate that this instructional work is well appreciated. SWINK. The year has shown a further increase in the swine industry, and the increased interest being manifested indicates a, more satisfactory position as likely to result in the near future. The Instructor in Swine Husbandry attached to the Division, Mr. K. W. Gorringe, has given instruction by way of