Journal of Agriculture. 



[lo Jan., 1910. 



What has broiight about Denmark's 

 secondly, the Government creating 



It will be seen that in fifteen years the number of fowls increased 150 per 

 cent. (7,962,132); turkeys by 80 per cent. (25,045); ducks 38 per cent. 

 (245,513); and gee.se decreased 13 per cent. (25,571). A reasonable 

 estimate is that the total poultry crop is valued about ^3.000,000 per 

 annum, which is equal to ^i 4s. per head of the population. Not onlv 



have the numbers increased, but the egg has advanced in value : — 



Year. 



1890 

 1892 

 109+ 

 1^96 

 1898 



The question naturallv arises : 

 success?" Firstly, co-operation 

 centres for breeding purposes, of which there are 25. Before a farmer 

 can receive the distinction of his farm being created a breeding centre he 

 must show that his yearly income from poultry products is satisfactory. 

 Although the subsidy is small (about ^^ per annum), the Government pro- 

 vides him with stud stock free, and he is then under the supervision of the 

 Poultry Expert, who is employed to visit and advi.se. This scheme has 

 worked remarkably well, so much so that a spirit of healthy rivalry has 

 sprung up amongst the farmers, who are privileged to select birds at 5s. 

 each from these centres, which all have the trap nest in use. 



The egg exporters offer prizes each year for the l>est kept centres, which 

 is a further inducement. 



The writer is firmly convinced that some such systtm would add a 

 stimulus to the industry, and it would not be long before Victoria stood 

 out prominently as a large exporter of eggs. 



Egg Circles. 



Should the Government ac- 

 cept the wi'iters recommenda- 

 tion. I.e., that the time is ripe 

 for the adoption of a system of 

 forming egg-collecting circles, 

 as is done in Denmark and 

 quite recently in South Aus- 

 tralia, the egg trade will be- 

 come gigantic. In addition to 

 supplying our own markets, we 

 should, I feel confident, share 

 in the Home market, which 

 pays to foreign nations close 

 upon £8,000,000 per annum 

 for eggs. A photograph of one 

 of the South Australian egg-circle cases is here reproduced. 



Buying Eggs by Weight. 



Much has been said of buying and disposing of eggs by Aveight. As 

 far as selling to the consumer is concerned, the present method is far from 

 satisfactory. No incentive is given the breeder tO' build up a flock of 

 layers averaging 2J-0Z. eggs. At the time of writing, if-oz. eggs are 

 fetching equal prices with tho.se J of an ounce heavier. 



