358 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTUNAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1802. 
borne in mind—the flock should only be increased as experience increases. 
Many think that they can make 1,000 birds equally as profitable as 100; 
but in most cases this is a mistake. The question of feeding does not receive 
the attention it should. Fowls are naturally eaters of both grain and insects, 
so that to secure the best results they should receive a variety of foods. 
On large farms, and where the available land permits, a plot of lucerne or kale 
should be grown, and the fowls allowed free run on it. It makes excellent 
summer feed for the fowls, besides being also a good hunting ground for 
insects. The hon. secretary considered there were great possibilities in 
the improvement of poultry.’ There were too many fowls on many farms 
compared with the feeding received and the land they have to run on. The 
result was disease of all kinds affected the birds. Under such conditions it 
was no wonder that the farmer came to the conclusion that poultry did not pay. 
RUSSIA’S POULTRY TRADE. 
Russia is decidedly energetic in raising poultry, and although the fowls 
kept are not of any general breed, nor of great size, yet the small farmers seem 
to-be able to make them pay. Of course, one secret is that a Russian farmer 
does not require a great amount of capital. The Russian does not seem to 
scientifically study the habits and manners of the different breeds to any great 
extent, or if he did without a doubt the profits that he gets now, which are 
considerable, would be in a short time doubled. The principal local varieties of 
fowls found in Russia are divided into three sections, called locally the Orloffs 
or Gilians, which are found principally in the Moscow districts. These are the 
largest in size, with red-coloured plumage, and muffs under the lower beak. 
The Pavlovsks are another variety generally found in the central districts, and 
smaller in size than the former, with large combs. The feathers are dark, and 
speckled with either gold or silver, and feather legs. The third variety, the 
Oushankis, are rather peculiar looking, with ear-like feathers on the head, and 
are found principally in Little Russia. They are hardy fowls, and good layers, 
although they do not come up to some of our breeds in Australia, either in size 
or number of eggs laid in the year. It is stated that the average laying 
capacity of the Russian fowl is seventy-five eggs per annum, the usual weight 
going from 1% oz. to 1? oz. each. Russia also cultivates outside breeds, and 
crosses them with the above local varieties, resulting in better returns. Several 
of the breeds thus imported are Brahmas, Cochins, Plymouth Rocks, Houdans, 
Wyandottes, Orpingtons, and La Fleche. The farmers in their primitive ways 
are greatly encouraged by the various societies which exist in different parts 
for holding shows, and distributing knowledge by means of journals, he 
poultry-breeding goes on principally in the Baltic regions, where the best 
results seem to arise—no doubt on account of better breeds being kept, and 
more attention being paid to their general economy. It is stated that the 
annual sum from the poultry industry which Russia receives is about four — 
millions of money, being much in excess of the amounts received from the 
- exportation of horses, cattle, pigs, &e. The poultry trade, combined with which 
is the output of eggs, has grown in twenty years from £296,300 to £4,445,000, 
and is derived as follows :—Hygs exported, 75 per cent.; live geese, 12 per 
cent.; dead poultry, feathers, and down, 18 per cent. 
Russra’s Eee Marker. 
Russia is making great strides in eg production, and is fully alive to the 
latest ideas in the way of marketing to the best advantage, and uses the most 
up-to-date methods of collecting, grading, and preserving. Some little idea of 
the number of eggs exported can be gathered when it is known that last year’s 
shipments amounted to no less a sum than £3,300,J00. In Russia the eggs 
are collected by an elaborate system of “higgling’” chiefly between the months 
of April and October, and the prices being very low compared with the 
