26 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jaw., 1900. 
learn to do it, and, when expert at it, he might arrange with the poultry peopl 
to do their birds, say, at 3d. per head. I don’t think anyone would grudge that - 
sum per head, once they understood the matter. It is a practice that should — 
become universal in our poultry-yards for many reasons. 1 have heard it said 
that the birds do not grow any larger after caponising than they would if isolated | 
from the pullets while still young. So far as my own experience goes, this 18 
not true, for I have had capons nearly as large and as heavy as turkeys, while 
cockerels of the same age were not nearly as big. But much depends on the” 
breed, and, if caponising became general, poultry-keepers would soon learn which — 
were the best crosses for the purpose, a keep only those for caponising. 
The birds I had done were Brahma Dorkings and Malay Brahmas, but 
there are even better crosses nowadays. 
CAPONISING—HOW IT IS DONE. 
[ From the Queenslander. ] 
Caponising has not been much practised in Australia, but those who have 
performed the operation for experimental purposes have been impressed with its 
importance. Whether caponising has the effect of improving the value of the 
birds for the market is a question that is much disputed; but the balance of — 
opinion is in favour of the operation. Its opponents allege that if the cockerels | 
are separated from the Srlleje as soon as the sexes are distinguishable, and 
always kept apart afterwards, they grow just as large as capons, and of finer 
flavour. ‘However that may be, it is certain that those who habitually caponise 
all their young stock intended for the table realise a higher average price than 
breeders who trust to the method of isolation alone. In Queensland of late 
years much attention has been directed towards caponising, and many poultry-— 
keepers are anxious to test it. 
CAPONISING INSTRUMENTS. 
A, Knife and Forceps combined. B, Whalebone spreader. ©, Cords for fastening birds 
most scts but not used by us. D, Hook for tearing the thin skin. E, Spoon or Elevator, a Canute ie 
Tube, showing, horse hair loop which is passed over the testicle projecting from the point and the parte 
grasped by the fingers projecting from the square top or butt, by which the tube is held. i q 
