io()cr.. 191--] Secdiid Victorian Egg-layiiig C ompcthiDu. 645 



SErOND VICTOHIAN EGG-LAYING rOMPETITION, 1912-13. 



//. T'. Hawkins, Poultry Expert. 

 Report i-uR Month ending \ yiw September, 1912. 



The month ending 14th Septeml»t-r iias been decidedlv cold and gusty, 

 with a fair rainfall. However, as the birds are well protected from wind 

 and draughts, and provided with ample litter scattered in the pens, they 

 have Wen. kept busy, and the production of eggs has l>een well maintained. 

 There has been no case of sickness. 



Mr. S. Brown's White Leghorns still maintain pride of place, with 

 -a score of 621 for the five months; followed bv W. McLister's White 

 Leghorns, with 594. 



A feature of the Competition during the past few weeks is that of a 

 pen of Black Orpingtons, owned bv Mr. Jas. Ogden. Their w^eekly record 

 since 26th July is as follows :— 33, 36. 35, 7,^, $2,. 37. 37, and 39 respec- 

 tively — making a total of 286 eggs in eight weeks. The total number of 

 ■eggs laid is 30.018 — an average of 435 per pen. 



The feeding during the period under review has been on similar lines 

 to that mentioned in my former report ; and there is no reason for any 

 diminution of the meat or maize (heating foods) whilst the present cold 

 conditions continue. Possibly next month we shall dispense with a part 

 of the jnesent grain ration, and reduce slightly the amount now used of 

 animal food. 



ORCHARD AND GARDEN NOTES. 



E. E. Pescott. Principal. School of Horticulture, Burnley. 



The Orchard. 



Cultivation. 



Orchard ploughing should now be finished, and the main work for the 

 Tiext few months will be an endeavour to keep the soil surface loose, friable, 

 and well opened. The consolidation of the surfaces must be avoided; as a 

 hard, compact surface means the loss of much soil moisture by means of 

 capilliary attraction. So that after rains, heavy dews, spray pump and other 

 traffic, it will be advisable to run the harrows through the orchard, to keep 

 the surface well broken, so as to maintain a good earth mulch. If after 

 ploughing it be found that the surface is cloddy, and that the harrows will 

 not break the clods down, the soil must be well rolled with a spike or an 

 ■ordinarv round roller, and then afterwards harrowed. 



Green manure crops should now be ploughed under; if these crops are 



at all aluindant in growth, thev should be well rolled or dragged down 



with a chain, or thev should be run oxer with a disc. Any of these means 



will assist in getting the whole of the crop underground, which is a 



-desideratum. 



