444 Agrimltiiml Gazette of S.S.W. [June^, 1920. 



in any case be only approximate without actual analysis of samples of ea.ch 

 food to be used. Taking the general averages of the analytical and 

 digestible constituents of each of the foods suggested, and in the pi'oportion 

 mentioned, the balance should be suificiently neai' to conform to my usual 

 recommendation of one to four and a half, or one to five, considered necessary 

 for laying hens ; nor is it absolutely necessary to be so pi'ecise in this 

 matter, taking into consideration the fact that two individual bii'ds might do 

 equally well on a very much wider or narrower ratio. 



Palatability is, however, a more vital issue, because if birds will not eat 

 the food, even a ration balanced most exactly on the basis of chemical com- 

 bination would be a failure, while a much inferior ration analytically, if 

 jjalatably good, would produce better results. It should also be understood 

 that to force laying hens to eat food that is not appetising to them will at 

 once reduce the egg supply. 



It is necessary to warn poultry keepers that the use of substitutes of 

 which nothing is known in regard to their effect on poultry maj' lead to 

 serious trouble. Cases have already come under the notice of the Depart- 

 ment in which this has occurred. 



The Hatching Season, 



Notwithstanding all that can be said on the food question, the advice 

 given in last month's notes to " Hatch as usual " still holds good. In most 

 cases, even where stock lias' to be reduced, it will still be advisable, so far as 

 ■one can see at present, to go on with the hatching. Only a small amount of 

 food is consumed by chicken^ during the first two or three mouths, and by 

 that time it will have bsconie apparent what kind of a harvest may he 

 expected. In any case it is more profitable to feed pullets than old hens. 

 Moreover, seeing that the profitable life of the farm flock is only two laying 

 .seasons, if a poultry farmer fails to hatch for one season half his profit- 

 earning stock is lost. 



Hardwood as a Well Casing. 



^' I AM in a position where I can sink a well through alluvial soil and get 

 water at a depth of 36 feet. Bricks are unprocurable locally. Is it possible 

 to get drain pipes 4 to 5 feet in diameter, and is it probable ihat they would 

 be suitable for well casing with a few feet of bricks at the bottom to let the 

 water in freely ? " The question came from a central-western farmer. 



Concrete pipes are procurable, the writer was informed, but his location 

 would make their pui-chase from Sydney very costly. Under the circum- 

 stances, the well might be lined with 6 inch by 2 inch split or sawn hardwood, 

 laid horizontally, halved together at the ends, and secured with another 

 3 inch l)y 2 inch fixed in eacli corner vertically. If a storage tank of 5,000 

 gallons would be sufficient for the purpose, a windmill, say 10 feet, on a 

 30-feet tower, with a 3-inch pump, would be sufficient to supply water for a 

 small ii'i-igation area or for watering stock. 



