140 Cost of Rearing. 



I put down 3000 eggs, and put 2000 birds into covert, and accounted 

 in killed and stock for aviaries 1500. I invite comments on these figures. 

 I left about the same stock outside in coverts aa previously. 



Owing to the prolonged drought, great difficulty was experienced 

 ivith the birds in the early stages, and necessitated carting water at a 

 •considerable cost, as shown above. 



The game given away was entirely to the farm tenants on the beat. 

 All game taken by guns was charged at the market price of the day. 

 As will be seen by the number of days, the shooting was spread over the 

 season as far as possible, the biggest day being about 250 birds ; the object 

 being to get as many sporting days as possible. 



I may add, I ran this shoot as a small syndicate, which explains the 

 idea of Christmas-boxes given in lieu of tips. 



I am situated in the heart of a fox- preserving country, and always 

 had a good show of foxes, with the result that some record gallops were 

 ■enjoyed by the hunt. 



In comparing my figures with those you publish in your issue of the 

 4th inat. given by Mr. Appleyard, I find in season 1921-22 he turns 350 

 hirds into covert, and killed to date 332, presumably by end of season 

 100~per cent. of_birds turned down. 



My figures compare badly. I turn into covert 2000 birds, kill to end 

 of season 1340, and take up in aviaries 160 — total 1500 birds accounted 

 for, or only 75 per cent, against Mr. Appleyard's 100 per cent. 



As regards feeding, Mr. Appleyard's bill for rearing foods for 

 350 birds amounted to £38 15s. : His hard corn bill for covert feeding, 

 £90 12s. ed.— £129 7s. 6d. My bill for rearing foods for 2000 birds, including 

 286 rabbits caught and charged at Is. each, also expense of drawing water, 

 £7 — £98 ; my hard corn bill for covert feeding for same quantity of birds 

 to end of season, £184 lOs.— £282 10s. 



Finally, in a letter which is applicable to pheasant rearing 

 in any part of the country, a correspondent writes as follows : 



Don't you think the cost of rearing a few pheasants can be just what 

 the maater and man choose to make it ? I bred 203 last year to turn in 

 where there was a shortage, and fed regularly but sparsely until Jan. 10,. 

 •once a day from Xov. 1st. There were a lot of wild birds about which 

 shared the feed and the bag was 540, leaving a nice lot of hens. The food 

 bill for the lot, from the cradle to the grave, was £12 13s. The point I 

 wish to make is that if the stock of birds in any case is far less than the 

 ground will naturally support, as was my case, all that is necessary to 

 insure finding jour birds when you want them is to feed very sparingly 

 but with absolute regularity as to time. I bought my feed from the 

 farmers, principally wheat, at from 50s. to 44s. a quarter of 5041b. The 

 young birds had three dozen eggs only, but the keeper killed a few rabbits 

 for them, which being a home product have not been charged against 

 them. The £12 13s. is the amount paid for eggs (hen), biscuit meal, 

 ■oatmeal, wheat, maize, and barley rakings. 



The birds did well aU along and were carefully looked after, but 

 •encouraged to do for themselves. Anyway, there it is, the sum mentioned 



