Breeding for Table and Export. 
61 
same diet as that recommended for ducklings, and if allowed a free range where plenty of grass is procurable 
will do well. At 4 rnonths old the young geese should weigh about 81bs., at 5 months lolbs., at 6 months i2lbs. 
They must not be over-fed, as this retards early growth, and is very injurious. 
To breed turkeys for export, if careful and systematic attention is given them when hatched, they will do 
as well as ducks or geese. The American bronze-wing turkey cock should be used to cross with ordinary 
hens — 3 or 4 may be allowed; this cross will impart stamina and size to the progeny. The turkey hen should 
be allowed to hatch the eggs, making the nest on the ground, placing 12 to 15 eggs under her. The young 
ones when hatched must be carefully attended to and fed with bread crumbs, hard-boiled eggs, finely-chopped 
onions and boiled rice in the early stages, and afterwards with pollard, bran and oatmeal, with plenty of soft 
vegetables chopped up small and scalded with boiling water or milk ; the food must be given in a crumbling 
state, sloppy or wet food being injurious. They should be kept perfectly dry and given good shelter, and 
a little meat given now and again will be found to benefit them considerably ; after the birds are 2 months 
old, wheat, barley, or a little maize may be given. 
The approximate charges in connection with the export of poultry are: Ducks and fowls, is. 3d. each; 
turkeys and geese, 2s. 66. each — this includes killing, dressing, freezing, packing, freight, and London 
salesmen's charges — so there is great encouragement held out to those who are sufficiently interested, and 
who will give the breeding and rearing of table poultry for export the necessary attention required ; and we 
feel certain that the inducements now held out are so great that in a short time^ within a few years at most, 
Australian poultry farmers will bestir themselves and participate in the benefits that would accrue from a share 
of the export trade in poultry with Great Britain. 
In connection with the breeding of poultry suitable for export, the (Government expert of the Agricultural 
Department, N.S.W.. Mr. G. Bradshaw, in his official report on the exhibits in this section at the late Bathurst A. 
H. and I. Associatiori, speaks of the Australian Game chickens, which he selected as the prize winners. He 
states: "The Australian Game had long breasts, with great depth, carrying a wealth of flesh rarely seen in 
any other variety, and of the much desired white or pale primrose colour, with an entire absence of the 
objectionable orange-red so often observed in this breed." Again, in his report on the 27 exhibits in the 
section at the late N.S.A\'. P. P. CD. Society's Show f there being no Anstralian Game or cross-breeds of the 
variety competing)^ he states : " For the pure-bred Cockerel prize, Orpingtons, .Scotch Greys and Spanish 
competed. The Orpingtons were too old, all the others being too thin of flesh ; no award made. In pure- 
bred pullets, first went to short-legged, fine-boned, well-fatted Orpingtons ; small, but plump Spanish getting 
second. The first prize winners in the cross-bred Cockerel class were well grown, meaty, Indian Game- 
Orpingtons, the Malay-Dorkings which gained second place being close up. The pullet class contained 
half-a-dozen really excellent specimens, all with good, square bodies, carrying a beautiful quality of meat, and 
plenty of it ; Indian Game-Orpingtons were first, a trio described as Malay Dorkings scored second, a slight 
difference in age only separating the two exhibits." Mr. Bradshaw adds that the cross-breds had almost 
every quality desirable for the export trade, and that the breeders evidently realise the importance and 
understand the system of putting on flesh. incline to the opinion, tliat for an ideal tabic bird^ the 
Australian Game-Dorking would be an easy first, using in all cases the Australian Game cock with Dorking 
hens. In this cross we combine the highest quality and quantity of meat, especially on the breast, wings and 
thighs, with great size, quick-growing, and of the hardiest constitution. 
Poultry Farming in Queensland. 
To Mrs. Lance Rawson, of " Rocklands," Rockhampton, Queensland, we are indebted for the following 
notes on Poultry Farming in that colony. Mrs. Rawson's experience extends over a wide field, and we are 
certain that our esteemed contributor's notes will be read with great interest. Mrs. Rawson writes : '' Poultry 
Farming in Queensland as a profession, or means of livelihood, is very much in its infancy up to the present 
time (1897). The fingers on one hand would, I am convinced, be sufficient to enumerate all the farms in 
this colony where a specialty is made of Poultry, or where the birds are bred with a view to money-making. 
