Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Feb., 1909. 



lessening the cost of transit and bringing in a regular return right through- 

 out the year. The poultry manure can also be reckoned as of consider- 

 able value. It can be used with advantage either as top dressing or xoot 

 fertilizing for root, vegetable, or other crops. 



Dairying is almost always carried on in connexion with farming, and 

 the three industries will work well together. Fruit-growing is not, as 

 a rule, associated with farming or dairying to any great extent. But 

 where space is available, and the situation and surroundings are suitable, 

 the combined industries of farming, dairying, fruit-growing and poultry 

 keeping should make a \'ery valuable combination. 



Does Egg Production Pay? 



This question may be answered in the affirmative, especially sO' when 

 worked in conjunction with other industries. The results of the Govern- 

 ment egg-laying competition in the States of New South Wales, South 

 Australia, and Queensland for 12 months are here given in tabulated 

 form and fully support the answer given to the foregoing query : — 



Competition. 



Now South Wales 

 Queensland 

 South Australia. . 



Totals 



Number of 

 Birds that 

 competed. 



360 

 168 

 450 



Number 



of Eggs 



laid. 



62,318 

 30,543 

 80,959 



Cost of 

 Food. 



£ s. d. 



126 10 



39 9 1 



120 18 5 



286 17 6 



£ s. (I. 

 182 14 1 



85 2 5 

 112 10 



410 6 6 



Net Profit 



for 

 eacli Hen. 



The average price realized for the eggs laid by the 978 birds was lid. per doz. 



Nine hundred and seventy-eight pullets, in pens containing six birds 

 each, took part in these tests. The whole of them averaged 177 eggs 

 each for the 12 months. The cost of the food was jQ2%6 17s. 6d., and 

 the net profit made up a total of ;^4io 6s. 6d., being about 8s. lod. 

 per bird. This result was affected by the fact that the eggs from the 

 South Australian test were put down at a lower estimate in comparison 

 with the prices ruling in this State and in New South Wales,- the egg 

 market being always lower in the first-named 'State. Of course these 

 results are from selected birds. But it must be remembered that many 

 of the competing pens put up a very poor performance and were very 

 low down on the list. The breeds included in these tests were Leghorns, 

 Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Minorcas, Andalusians, Langshans, and Ham- 

 burgs. These figures must be regarded as very satisfactory, and, although 

 the poultry-keeper would have to reckon the cost of attendance, there 

 would still be a good margin of profit. 



Starting. 



As with any other industry, the main point towards success is to start 

 right. There are many points in this re-spect that have to be considered, 

 and, although they may not appear of great importance to the amateur, 

 these details demand strict observance if profitable poultry -keeping is the 

 aim. The first point is that the attendant should take a keen interest 

 in the stock he is looking after. Experience is another element that is 

 wanted. This has to be acquired, and, although studying poultry books 

 may furnish plenty of theory, practice is worth more, and a combination 



