May , 1, 1907 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
PURE 
LOLLIES. 
Send your Order to 
JOHN 
WALTON, 
Whole:ale Manutacturer of every Kind of Choice Sweets, 
OS EON SE... Adelaide, 
(sci WICTORIA 
DYE WORKS 
f= (EH. L. RAY ) 
172 Rundle Street 
(Opposite York Hotel) and 
Stephen’s Place, 
(Side of Marshall’s) 
Gentlemen’s Clothes Cleaned or Dyed 
equal to new. _ 
Feathers Dyed and Curled 
Gloves Cleaned on Shortest Notice. 
The Wise Gobbler. 
Of all the flock the turkey cock was 
was roosting on the lowest limb ; 
The females fat above him sat, and tremb 
ling listened unto him. 
“ Dear girls,” said he, “I think I see a 
hawk above ua in the sky, 
You come below, and I will go above to 
guard you or to die,” 
With flapping wings the silly things flew 
down upon the limbs below, 
While he, the knave, in accents brave, 
declared that he the first should go. 
With good-night peep they fell asleep, but 
soon woke with a frightful screech 
As one by one the farmer's son wrung 
every neck within his reach, 
Of all the flock the turkey cock, aperch 
upon the highest limb, 
Alone was spared, who thus had snared 
the silly hens to swap with him. 
—Exchange. 
Farm—Poultry 
Orsercts 
In poultry-raising, as in any othe? 
branch of stock-raising or agriculture, the 
grower must have a definite object in 
view if success is expected ; 
The object of this paper is not to advo- 
cate the raising of poultry as the sole aim 
of the grower, but to show how it can be 
profitably run as 4 side line to the various 
methods of farming, suchas general farm- 
ing, dairying, fruit- growing, etc 
In any of the above cases, the syste- 
matic raising of poultry can- be made to 
fit in with the ordinary methods adopted 
The first thing necessary is for the 
farmer to make up his mind which branch 
of the industry he intends following—i.e 
whether egg-growing or the production of 
table poultry 
To arrive at a determination in this 
matter, location must be considered By 
location I mean the position with refer. 
ance to markets 
If handy to railway, either branch or 
both can be run Ifthe farm is situated 
at a greater distance, egg-farming would, 
I believe, prove the better side to follow 
In fact, taking itallround Iam of opinion 
that egg-farming will always prove the 
more profitable side of the industry 
Haa-PRopuCcTION 
In view of the certainty in the near 
future of the establishment of a good 
trade in the export of eggs to the home 
market during our egg harvest, egg-pro- 
duction will become one of our main 
industries 
We possess an ideal climate for this 
branch of the industry. There is hardly a 
month in the year that a hen, if given free 
range on an average farm, cannot earn 
her own living and add to the profit of 
farm. This was proved during the dry 
spell in Queensland. When.a shrinkage 
was shown all round on the products, the 
humble hen came out of the trial with 
good results. 
It has been said by pessimistic writers 
that our climate was far too hot for suc- 
cessful poultry farming. The absurdity 
of this contention may be seen by anyone 
turning to the market reports: they will 
find that during our worst months, so far 
as heat is concerned, our birds are turning 
out their highest averages. A glance at 
results of laying competitions will prove 
this to those interested; and, if the 
grower cares to go even further afield for 
proof of the suitability of our State for 
egg-production, a camparison of results of 
the several competitions being held all 
over the Commonwealth. - 
TaBLE on Export Pountry. 
The success of our trial shipments to 
London shows that poultry can be ex- 
ported profitably. y 
Though not caring to recommend the 
growing of poultry for table or export 
soley, L am sure that the poultry farmer 
should not neglect this side of the business 
Tn the case of the egg-farmer, he must of 
necessity raise a large number of cockerels 
which, if of a suitable kind, will tnd a 
ready market in England, at very good 
prices. 
The adveut of the “ general purpose 
hen” hag donea great deal to improve 
the table qualities, as birds of a real good 
la: ing strain can also produce good table 
birds. he suitable breed will be men- 
tioned at a later date, together with their 
qualities, as laying or table fowls. 
SITUATION. 
. Having decided on embarking on either 
or both sides of the business, the situa- 
tion of the poultry yards is the first 
considetation, It has to be decided whether: 
the birds are to be given— 
lst.—Free range—i.e,, the free run of 
the farm 
2nd.—Partial—kept in runs partly, and 
allowed free range occasionally 
3rd.—Kept in runs—kept in enclosures. 
constantly. 
I must again refer the reader to any or 
all of the laying competition results. 
It will pay the grower for the little extra. 
cost of yardiny his fowls 
‘Lhe argument in favour of free range 
is, that the birds can do for them- 
selves, ‘That is, of course, true. If. the 
grower cannot give his birds everyday at- 
tention, then free range will suit him best. 
but he cannot expect the same results as 
from birds that are given every attention 
and kept in small lots. 
The breeder must figure it out for him- 
self, and decide which of the systems will 
suit his particular case. 
Having decided, the next question is 
the housing of the birds. This can be of 
the simplest style; I prefer the movable 
house, open-fronted. 
Here, again, local conditions play a part 
as in some districts vermin, such as native 
cats, etc.. make havoc if the house is not 
securely wired in and floored. . 
“Sort. 
Tho general situation should, if possible 
be facing east or north-east, the ideal 
position being a gentle easterly slope. — 
Still, they will get along where these con- 
ditions are not possible. I have found 
poultry doing well on heavy blacksoil 
plains. In the latter case, growers should 
if possible, select a small spot a little 
higher than the surrounding ground, 
even if only large enough for the fowl- 
house. Poultry can be run on very poor 
country, a sandy soil being best. There 
isa wide range of choice between the 
sandy and the heavy black soils, but a 
happy medium is more often met with. 
How vo Srart. 
The question is often asked, How much 
capital is necessary to start poultry farm- 
ing? It depends exactly on the extent 
to which it is intended. A beginner can 
start on practically nothing, if engaged in 
other branches of farm work, while the 
young stock is growing. 
