1904.] Potato Weighing at Railway Stations. 409 



of England would prove equally beneficial in the corn counties 

 where larger farms prevail. 



Assuming that this dual system of poultry-keeping, as it may be 

 termed, is satisfactory to the farmer, and yields him good returns, 

 it is certain that it is likely to be satisfactory to the poultry- 

 breeder, who has the advantage of a large area of land without 

 the responsibility of cultivating it, and at a small rent. Some 

 of those who are taking up aviculture have had no practical 

 experience in the cultivation or cropping of land, and for a time 

 at least are unlikely to be able to turn it to the best account 

 or to obtain therefrom the largest returns, as it is important to 

 remember that unless the manure given to the soil is utilised 

 it becomes a danger as well as a loss. With a comparatively 

 small acreage, chiefly used for keeping the breeding stock and 

 for chickens during their earliest stages of growth, operations 

 under the system described above can be conducted upon 

 a more extensive scale, especially where the laying hens and 

 older chicks can be scattered about in the way described. 

 The care of the fields will be no part of the poultry-keeper's 

 work, nor will rent bulk largely in his balance sheets, and he 

 can more fully devote himself to the industry, with a greater 

 amount of success. He will not meet with the temptation, 

 which has led to the failure of so many, to overstock his own land, 

 as it is to his interest and profit to utilise to the fullest extent 

 the land thus placed at his disposal. 



E. Brown. 



The attention of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has 

 recently been drawn by one of their agricultural correspondents 

 to the manner in which the weight of con- 

 Potato Weighing s jg nments Q f potatoes for conveyance by rail 

 Railway Stations. ls determined at certain stations in Perth- 

 shire, and in this connection enquiry has 

 been made as to the practice obtaining in some of the chief, 

 potato-growing districts. 



The methods followed in the districts in which enquiries were 

 made have been found to vary considerably. 



