350 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1919. 



instance that it is a source of profit, I may mention that a poultry 

 farmer Avithin the suburban area, whose gross income from his poultry 

 farm last year was nearly £1,000. He has only about 2 acres of land, 

 and nearly one-half of that is taken up by the dwelling house, lawns, and 

 garden. The amount mentioned does not include eggs sold for setting, 

 or birds disposed of for stud purposes. This breeder left a permanentt 

 position to take up poultry farming on utility lines, and keeps only 

 white leghorns of the very best strains. What can be done by one man 

 can be done by others; and the great majority of failures in poultry 

 keeping cannot be ascribed to the poultry, the man at the head of the 

 business being generally responsible for the want of success. Many other 

 cases could be cited where poultry keeping, both on utility as well as 

 exhibition lines, has been carried on successfully for many years, and 

 these facts must be accepted as a certain proof that poultry farming 

 pays. 



Undoubtedly the price obtainable for eggs in our Melbourne markets 

 are not as high all through the year as they should be. But poultry 

 keepers are themselves to some extent blameworthy for this state of 

 affairs. Cool storage is available, yet very few poultry farmers avail 

 themselves of this method of storing eggs when they are very plentiful, 

 and prices consequently low. Until full advantage is taken of the oppor- 

 tunity that exists for placing surplus eggs in storage, prices will inevit- 

 ably fall in that season of the year when eggs are abundant. Of 

 course, it is argued that the trouble and expense involved in the transport 

 of eggs to and from the cool store is such as to prevent poultry farmers 

 from storing eggs, but if there were some co-operation among those 

 in tlie same districts, this difficulty could be largely obviated. 



The formation of a Co-operative Poultry Farmers Society has been 

 suggested many times, and, notwithstanding all that would militate 

 against such an organization in the very wide area over which it would 

 operate, its establishment must come if our poultry industry is to be 

 the success it should be. 



At present a great many discharged soldiers are entering into the 

 business of poultry rearing. This must further tend to bring about a 

 glut of eggs at certain times. But there is an outlet for our prospective 

 over-supply. England imports millions of pounds' worth of eggs every 

 year, and imports them mostly at the time when prices here are low. 

 Can we not secure a market there? Yes, but no individual poultry 

 farmer can do so alone. Small ])arcels of eggs cannot be exported, for 

 eggs need a separate chamber. To arrange for the shipment of eggs over- 

 seas, united action is essential, in order that the necessary space may be 

 obtained and then filled. Therefore, the establishment of a co-operative 

 society is an urgent question, for its formation would mean the salvation 

 of a growing and what should be a thriving industry. 



The competitions are still under the capable supervision of Mr. J. T. 

 Macaulay, and he deserves every commendation for the manner in which 

 he has carried out the many and arduous duties Avliich pertain to the posi- 

 tion he holds. His knowledge and experience have been useful on many 



