1920.] 



Instruction in Poultry Kekpini;. 



107 



combined with some form of agriculture or horticulture ; 

 culling of stock. 



For the first few years lectures by itinerant Instructors will 

 probably serve the area or district adequately, but after this 

 system has been well established and poultry keepers have 

 obtained a firm grasp of general principles, it would be well to 

 institute specialised courses of itinerant classes for limited 

 numbers of pupils. These classes will afford more detailed 

 instruction than can be given in short courses of pubhc lectures. 

 Classes should be held for at least two hours daily at each 

 selected centre for not less than a fortnight or for more than a 

 month. The time chosen can be either the evening or daytime, 

 as may be most convenient. Should the attendance prove 

 unsatisfactory, the class should be closed ; but it will be part 

 of the duty of the Instructor to carry out recruiting by personal 

 visits to poultry farmers near the centre for which the classes 

 are proposed. These personal visits would stimulate interest 

 and bring in pupils. The Instructor should be consulted by 

 the Committee regarding the selection of centres and arrange- 

 ment of classes, but all matters connected with advertising, 

 the provision of local accommodation, fire, hght and attendance, 

 should invariably be undertaken by the Committee themselves. 



In these itinerant classes practical work will play a prominent 

 part. Pupils should take a personal share in such details of 

 poultry keeping as egg- testing and grading ; packing eggs and 

 poultry for transit ; killing, plucking and trussing poultry ; 

 management of the incubator ; selection of birds by handling ; 

 and account keeping. Lecturers are also advised to give in- 

 struction in easy carpentry, such as the making of simple 

 appliances, chicken coops, feeding troughs, small poultry houses, 

 egg boxes, crates and all the minor accessories of the poultry 

 run. The Instructor should be equipped with an outfit in- 

 cluding folding tables, trussing boards, egg boxes, coops, a 

 small incubator and a small brooder, plucking baskets, dis- 

 secting instruments, simple carpentry tools and similar 

 appliances, together with a supply of timber. During tlie 

 course, should opportunities arise for the Instructor to 

 conduct his pupils over neighbouring poultry farms, full 

 advantage should be taken of this invaluable means of 

 practical demonstration. Such visits will also lead to an 

 instructive exchange of views. Bet^innevs will thus be enabled 

 to observe the methods of experienced poultr\' keepers, and 

 will have before them practical illustrations of the subjects 

 learnt in the classroom. 



