July, 1910.] 



43 



Live Stocfe. 



at different periods, the soaking of the 

 bran referred to, and the additional 

 quantity of lucerne chaff used, as this 

 has been given in addition to the usual 

 quantity of green feed at midday. These 

 slight alterations were undertaken with 

 a desire to uote firstly, any rise or fall in 

 the production of eggs; secondly, to 

 note any difference in the number of 

 broodies which might occur through 

 change in connection with the moult. 

 Critics have pointed out in the past 

 various reasons affecting each of the 

 above matters which have made them of 

 interest to me, and I propose to deal 

 with each briefly. Firstly, there has not 

 been any distinctive rise or fall in the 

 production of the eggs, which, given the 

 same number of pens to work on, would 

 have been about on a level with the 

 average obtained last year, but if any 

 difference could be recorded accurately, 

 I think it is in favor of the present test. 

 Secondly, the same proportion of pollard 

 has been used, with the extra green feed 

 and meat meal, and shows a much 

 lower percentage of broodies. This, 

 I think, will help to dispel the notion 

 that the quantity of pollard used was 

 responsible for the pronounced broody 

 instinct of last year. Thirdly, the 

 lowest percentage on record of replace- 

 ments through death or sickness, and 

 the very healthy manner in which the 

 birds have either gone, or are going, 

 through their moult, which has been a 

 quick and strong process all through so 

 far, will help to show the use of the 

 extra meat has had a beneficial effect. I 

 think a still greater quantity of green 

 feed may be used, especially during the 

 warmer weather, without any ill effects 

 upon the birds ; and while the soaked 

 bran may not be responsible for any 

 increase in the supply of eggs, it 

 certainly must have a less irritating 

 effect upon the birds, and be much more 

 easily digested, and its value as a food 

 made available to a greater extent. The 

 cost of feed and the quantities used will 

 be found as under— 678 birds for 12 

 months :— 



£ s, d. 



Wheat— 446 bush., from 3s. 5£d. to 4s, 

 lid. per bush ... ... 97 a %i 



Pollard— 790 bush., at Is. per bush, 

 average ... ... ... 39 10 



Meat-meal— 25cwts.,atl8. percwt.... 22 10 



Bran— 276 bush., at Is. average for 

 year ... ... .... 13 16 



Grit ... ... ... 2 10 



Maize and peas ... ... 9 



Lucernechaff— 8 cwts., at6s. percwt. 2 8 



... £187 8* 



with a reduction of 3 83d. per bird on 

 the cost last year. The cost of each of 

 the tests to date is as follows : — 



First test 

 Second 

 Third „ 

 Fourth ,, 

 Fifth „ 

 Sixth 



*. d. 



7 9 



3 1 



4 11 



5 4£ 



5 9-85 



5 62 



per bird per year 



The following average quantities of 

 each variety of feed were consumed by 

 each bird during the year : — Wheat, 

 39-16 lbs.; pollard, 23'30 lb.; bran, 8*14 lbs.; 

 meat meal, 4*12 lbs.; chaffed lucerne, 

 1'32 lbs. during five months ; grit, maize, 

 and peas. Cost per bird per week, l'26d. 



The above details in connection with 

 the 1909-10 egg-laying competition in- 

 clude the following satisfactory features 

 in connection with the year's work : — 

 The fair general average obtained in 

 egg production, reduction in expen- 

 diture, lower percentage of deaths and 

 sickuess, smaller percentage of broodies, 

 and the general good health of all the 

 birds at time of leaving. 



I have, &c, 



W. R. Day. 

 Poultry Superintendent. 



Total 



The above expenditure shows the cost 

 for the year to be 5a. 6-2d, per bird, 



A NEW SINGAPORE ENTERPRISE. 



Scientific Poultry Raising. 



(Prom the Indian Agriculturist, Vol. 

 XXXV., No. 4. April, 1910.) 

 The promoters of the Singapore poultry 

 farm, a new enterprise started in com- 

 modious premises off Chancery Lane, 

 are to be congiatulated on their initi- 

 ative in founding a new industry here 

 for which there is a great need, and 

 an industry in which there are the 

 elements of success. It is extraordinary 

 that in these days, when the rearing of 

 fancy poultry and the scientific treat- 

 ment of fowls of every description so 

 as to derive from them the best pos- 

 sible results, have proved an exceedingly 

 lucrative as well as a fascinating occu- 

 pation in most of the countries of 

 Europe and in America, Singapore 

 should have had to wait till the year 

 of our Lord 1910 before seeing an up- 

 to-date poultry establishment like the 

 one just started in Chancery Lane. 

 That there is a great local demand for 

 fancy poultry has been amply proved 

 by the fact that eager purchasers are 

 visiting the farm and buying off the 

 fine specimens of various varieties newly 

 imported from England, as rapidly as 



