138 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Feb. 2, 1920. 



Doubtless, a similar result will follow the failure of the wheat crop and 

 general drought in 1919. In none of the years mentioned above was the crop 

 failure the sole cause of the trouble, but in each case it was accentuated by 

 the fact th^ both bran and pollard, as well as wheat, were being fed to cattle? 

 sheep, and even horses. If the poultry men could see what is fed to cattle 

 in the dairying districts during drought periods, such as we have just passed 

 through, they would at once understand where much of these materials go,, 

 and realise that such shortages are inevitable. 



Substitutes. 

 There is at the present time but little hope of relief from substitutes. One 

 looks around to ascertain what there is available, only to find some minor 

 articles, such as oil cakes. These, too, are not only high in price, but their 

 usefulness is limited from points of view of palatability and digestibility. 

 Lucerne also looms into view as a possible substitute, and it might be said 

 to be one of the very best, but, here again, the poultry farmer finds himself 

 up against a dead end owing to high prices and the difficulty experienced 

 in obtaining good samples. Yet, in this fodder lies his hope of relief beyond 

 the immediate moment. 



At the present time the shortage of pollard is so acute, however, that 

 poultry farmers are much concerned to know what to use in its place in the 

 morning feed. Many use wheat, but it will soon be found that dry grain is 

 not appetising to birds that have been used to their morning mash, and they 

 do not take readily to it as an alternative. 



The result is a falling-ofE in egg production. The poultry farmer cannot, 

 afford to go on the principle that the birds will eat diy grain if sufficiently 

 hungry. That might Avork with little loss with non-producing animals, 

 but the palatability of a feed is a very important factor to the poultry farmer. 

 Where materials are not available for the morning mash, the most satisfactory 

 substitute is steamed wheat. The best way to make a good appetising meal 

 of wheat is to bring to the boil just as much water as can be absorbed by the 

 right quantity of wheat, pour the wheat into it and then cover with a bag. 

 Do this at night, and a palatable feed will be available npxt mornino-. 



Grow Lucerne. 



The objection "lack of moisture" will be raised, no doubt, but very many, 

 probably the majority of poultry farms, are now served with the city or some 

 town water supply. The question of suitable land presents itself perhaps as 

 another bar to the project, bat in reality; with the aid of water, it is not. It 

 may not be generally known, but it is nevertheless a fact that lucerne can, 

 with the aid of watej and poultry manure, be successfully grown on some of 

 the poorest land in Central Cumberland. 



It has been emphasised from time to time in these notes that green lucerne 

 is about the most economical green food tliat can be fed to poultry — the one 

 class that is most calculated to save the feed bill. Many jifuiltry farmers are 

 finding this out. 



