lo April. 191 i.] Burnley Egg-laving Competition. 285 



at the Burnley Horticultural Gardens. Burnley is so conveniently .situated 

 that farmers visiting the metropolis will be al>le to make an insjjection with- 

 out loss of time. By some, the location was thought to be unsuitable, but 

 the Hon. the Minister, who was desirous of maintaining Burnley as an 

 educational centre for training students in fruit-growing and poultry rais- 

 ing, gave authority for the erection of 70 pens of 30 feet by 12 feet each. 



The clearing, draining, and building have been carried out under the 

 supervision of the Public Works Department from designs supplied by the 

 writer. A good idea of the extent of the buildings will be obtained fr<^)m 

 the accompanying photographs, which were taken on the loth March. The 

 greatest difficulty overcome during the progress of the work was that of 

 providing adequate drainage. During that time, less than seven weeks, 

 10 inches of rain fell. Although it retarded the workmen, no better test 

 could have been arranged. The result will be a valuable object lesson to 

 new .settlers and others who intend farming yjoultry on their holdings. 



Shelter. 

 . The Victorian Competition will be the first at which sheltered pens 

 have been introduced. The pens are divided by 3 feet of plain sheet iron, 

 surmounted by 4 feet of 2^ mesh wire-netting, without a top rail. An 

 ideal break-wind is thus provided. It also prevents the birds from quarrel- 

 ling, as is usually the case when the division consists of wire netting alone. 

 The iron is tarred and insect-proof. 



The houses are made of 14 .sheets of narrow gauge galvani.sed iron — 4 

 sheets on roof, 4 at back, 2 at each end, with 2 covering half the front. 

 The frame work, which is on the outside, consists of 3 inch x i^ inch 

 jarrah ; the only timber seen inside each house is two pieces of jarrah. 

 15 inches high, and a 14 feet long perch of 3 inch x 2 inch jarrah. The 

 latter is dropped into a slot, .so that it may be removed at will, and cleaned 

 when necessary. This perch, in the writer's opinion, is practically proof 

 against vermin. The floors of the hou.ses are covered with sand to the 

 depth of 6 inches, which is kept in position by a piece of jarrali. The sand 

 will make the birds snug during the winter months and also be a safeguard 

 against flirty and broken eggs. 



Dust Hex, Water, etc. 



Outside each house a triangular dust box of pure sand is provided. .\ 

 water main has been laid down each corridor, with four taps for each 300 

 feet. The hose for filling the water tins will also be available for damp- 

 ing the dust bath during the summer months. Vessels for charcoal, shell, 

 and earthenware grit are suspended above ground within easy reach of the 

 birds. Oaten hay is placed in each pen and feed is scattered amongst the 

 hay. thereby inducing healthy exerci.se. 



It is inteiidfd to plant lUiddlea shrubs, which grow rapidly and are ever- 

 green, in the centre of each pen. Without some natural shade the heat 

 thrown off from the iron buildings would be harmful. 



Although couch grass was .sown three months ago. ami germinated well, 

 much of it was destroyed during the building oi)erations. It is not in- 

 tenderl to r<*ly upon the grass in the pens- at least 2 o/s. of gre<'n teed are 

 given them daily. The (|uestion of feeding will be dealt with in a sub- 

 .sequent issue. 



Broouv Hens. 



A portable screen, made of wire netting on a light frame, will lie placed 

 in a sheltered corner of any pen where a broody hen pnay l>e. This is to 

 avoid removing birds to a distant pen. It will obvi.ite the knocking alxiut 

 whit h broodies receive from strange birds, and also when they are returned 



