10 Feb., 1919.] Poultry Farming for Soldiers. 119 



that the dark ground tints are only visible through the numher of 

 fine punctures in the upper surface. These impressed black pits 

 form patches on the head and thorax, but are thickly and somewhat 

 irregularly scattered all over the slightly crenulated wing covers. 

 Average length, 1 inch, but sometimes a third longer. 



It would be well for growers of passion fruit in Victoria to keep a 

 look-out for the beetles, and, if found on the vines, these should be 

 sprayed with tar-impregnated water in order to prevent the insects 

 depositing eggs there. 



Formula fok Tae-impregnated Water. 



Boil 1 lb. of coal tar in 2 gallons of water, and, while hot, add 

 from 50 to 100 gallons of water. Strain well before using. 



The illustration of the beetle on page 118 is from the Agricultural 

 Gazette of New South Wales for last month. 



POULTRY FARMING FOR RETURNED SOLDIERS. 



A. V. D. Rintoul, Assistant Poultry Expert. 



"What part the poultry industry will play in the repatriation of 

 returned soldiers is a point that admits discussion from several aspects. 

 Firstly, there are the able-bodied men who desire to take up the industry 

 as their sole means of support; secondly, the able-bodied who wish to 

 keep poultry as a profitable side-line ; thirdly, the partially-incapacitated, 

 who require, apart from occupation, some addition to their pension; 

 and, lastly, those who have suffered one of the great tragedies of the war — 

 loss of sight — and who, perhaps, are temperamentally unsuited to the 

 drudgery of purely mechanical work, such as basket-making, &c. 



For those who desire to make a living from poultry farming, the most 

 important point is to secure such training as is absolutely essential for 

 their ultimate success, failing which training, disappointment for the 

 men concerned, and losses to the State, are likely to be considerable. 

 The system of training which was adopted by the Repatriation Depart- 

 ment over a year ago is sound and practical. The prospective poultry- 

 farmer is recommended to take not less than six months, and preferably 

 a year's, training, on a recognised poultry farm, either in such suburban 

 area or country district as may be most congenial to him. 



Whatever pension the man may be entitled to is made up to £2 2s. a 

 week on the following basis : — The poultry-farmer — who has to be ap- 

 proved— ^ays 10s. a week to commence with for the light labour, and 

 the pension is then made up to the remaining 32s. a week; 15s. a week 

 is paid by the soldier for his board and lodging, so that he has 27s. a 

 week clear spending-money during the training period. Should the 

 trainee have reason to be dissatisfied with the conditions, he can, of 

 course, transfer to another poultry farm, or terminate the training alto- 

 gether at his option. Od the issue of a certificate by the poultry-farmer 



