9 Sept., 1907.] 



Poultry for Ex-port. 



545 



Now that the reductions have been made it behoves the farming com 

 munity to show its appreciation by placing poultry raising on a proper basis. 

 Many things should be done, viz., renovating old houses, replacing perches, 

 new ones to be 3 inches wide and 18 inches high, repairing fences, getting 

 rid of the old crossbreds and starting anew on good sound lines. By these 

 means the farmer will increase his returns and the export trade will be 

 developed. There is no need to fear a glut in the market as Great Britain 

 will take all we can supply. So far we have only touched the fringe of 

 the poultry trade. The Department of Agriculture by lectures, demon- 

 strations and articles has left no' stone unturned to disseminate information 

 relative to the requirements of the trade, and the producer has, therefore, 

 no ground for excuse. 



A LIGHT AND SERVICEABLE CRATE. 



The aoccimpanying illustration is that of a crate weighing 46 lbs., which 

 has been approved by the Railway Department and will be found very 

 convenient and serviceable. The size over all is: — length 4 feet, width 

 2 ft. 7 in., height i ft. 3 in. The frame consists of 3 x i and 2x1 deal 

 battens, with ribs of i| x | deal to protect the wire {\\ in. mesh), whilst 

 the floor is made of 9 x | deal. The door is 12 x 9. Crates at present 

 in general use weigh at least 65 lbs. each, sO' it will be seen that a large 

 reduction in weight has been secured ; at the same time there will not be 

 any increase in cost. 



Requirements of the Trade. 



Farmers generally know by this time that the consuming public requires 

 eatable poultry — not feathers and legs but white meat. I would again 

 remind my readers l:hat the breeds which will meet the requirements, and 

 bring top prices in Melbourne and London, are those having length of 

 body and short legs, the latter to be white, with no feathers thereon, and 

 free from scales. The order of merit in which, in my opinion, the breeds 



989S. s 



