June 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette of X.S. W. 4il7 



Breeding for Stamina. 



There is still a good deal to learn as to how this can be done, not only in the output of 

 the desired nuniljer of eggs in the shortest time, l)ut in accomplishing this with the least 

 possible mortality. This is where the records of a two years' test will be of great value. 

 T)ie series of five one-year tests demonstrated how to breed, when to breed, how to feed, 

 when to feed, and \\liat to feed, and brought the accomplishment of a possible lay of 250 

 eggs per hen, and now the two years" test has proved that this can be done without the 

 loss of a single hen, the two leading pens running right through the two-years' ordeal 

 without the replacement of a bird. Now this, coinjiared with the fact that some pens 

 lost ."iO per cent, of the competing hens, oi)ens up a l)ig avenue of thought and research 

 during the future continuance of these tests wliicli may solve for us this problem. CTreat 

 egg machines, to put out large numbers of eggs in a short time, is oidy one part ; how to 

 do this without the early l)reakiiig up of the machine is the other. These two-year 

 tests should do a great deal of good in this way. To get early pullets, which is absolutely 

 necessary to make poultr}- farnung pay, breeders have had to resort to l)reeding from 

 untried pullets with many hereditary atHictions, thus increasing weakness of stamina and 

 susceptil>ility to disease, and if only the tried specimens of two years are bred from, a 

 bird of stronger stamina will be produced. 



No. 25. Silver Wyandottes D. Salter. 



Weather Conditions. 



April and May passed over very dry, and m ith \ery little frosty weather. June gave 

 lis 3 inciies of rain in twenty-one days, and was accompanied witli continued cold weather, 

 which had rather a depressing effect nn the output. July was a verj- dry month, with 

 very many severe frosts, but they had no harmful effect. Frosts continued at intervals 

 throughout August and Septemlier, and October followed very dry, and with the con- 

 tinuance of the drought right throughout Noveml)er, December, and January, the pens 

 were completely denuded of grass, and green food was (juite unobtainable. Ten inches 

 of rain in February gave a beautiful grassy sward, which was much relished by the hens. 

 Altogether, however, the seasons have been favourable to good results. 



Mortality and Disease. 



Chicken-pox was nuich less prevalent than in former tests, and scaly leg gave much 

 less trouble ; no other infectious diseases have been met witii, and the only and great 

 trouble, which no doubt can be mitigated, is the hereditary weakness of the ovary and its 

 coimcctions. As already stated, this has been brought about by excessive laying, without 



