Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950), Saturday 10 May 1902, page 7


A Model Poultry Farm.

The Home off Mr. L. L. Ramsay.

Mr. L. L. Ramsay, tho well-known secretary of the Poultry Olub, has just entered into rosidenoe at ' Highlands,' his now Carlingford bomo, and by his courtaous invitation, a representative of The Ahqtjs was recently permitted to inapoot hia foathered and other

stookand admire the perfection ol the arrangements for their aooommodntion. The site ?which .Mr. Ramsay seleotod after long and patient investigation, and the examination of many other looalitios in different parts of the country, is admirably suited for its owner's purposes. Tho dwelling, a charming abode of latest dcBign, exquisitely furnished and replete with every up-to-date convenience, stands in a pretty gardon, in whioh the chrysanthemums and other ilowors are just now looking remarkably fresh and woll after tho rain. This delightful home is situated on an eminenao on the right of the Pennant Hills-road, about lialf-a-milo distant from the Carlingford terminus of the new Clyde-Carlingford line, and a littlo over a rnilo from the Epping station, on ihe northern line. Coaches f com' Parramatta mn daily to tho Carlingford Post-Office, whioh 5s only a fow minutes' walk from Mr. Ramsay's promises, so that the latter are very acces

sible. . Mr. Ramsay, it may be mentioned, invites inspeotion of his poultry farm where he is to he found every Saturday. On other, days he will .be pleased - to receive visitors by appointmont. The telephone number is ' 42 .Epping.' Tho ontire property at ' Highlands' oonsists of 20 aores of land, which afford b any amount of ground for tho birds to stray ovor. Mr. Rnmsoy is a -great believer in the wisdom of giving fowls plonty of room. '1 am oonvinoed,' ho says, ' that one of iho : Bcorots of obtaining fertile eggs lies in ? having ? big pens.' Puoplo who have only limited spaoo At command are advised to koep. only a fow fowls if they would have them healthy and productive. But other desiderata have boen carefully considered 1)osidos the very important one of epnoo. The ground slopes gontly downwards Iroxn tho residence1 towards tho north-enst, and bonoo its conditions as to drainage and fresh air are nil that oould bo wished, while the grcatost possible, amount of sunshine is secured. In the construction and arrangement of tho pens and fowl houses, every improvement that exDorienoe or soionoo aould suaeest has beon

adoptod, and for eduontional purposes alone tho establishment is woll worthy of a visit. It is, in fact, an idoal poultry farm. Tho pens are 34 , in number, throe immense ones measuring 150 by ISO feet. Into caoh of those three smallor pens open, tho latter being 150ft. x SOft. The doors of communication can bo opened or dosed at ?will, and thus Mr. Ramsay is enablod to give tho occupants of any of the nine smallor pens an enlarged run whenever ho dooms it desirable. Twelve pens measuro 50 feet by 50 ,feot, and It) are 10 feot by SO foet. In every pen is a comfortablo looking house, so situated as to oast u grateful shado in whioh tho birds may shelter from tho heat ol tho afternoon Bun. These houses are oonstruotod with tho most intelligent consideration for the comfort of thoir inmates. Tho eavas overhung so far that rain drippiuga must full well away, and dryness is assured. Ventilation is obtained by means of a novol shuttor of Mr. Ramsay's own invention, and the roosts aro moveablo so that the interiors may bo readily oleanod and keroseno introducod to koep away lico. Tho first puns which our representative was Bhown contained a large number of young birds, botwoon 400 and 500, consisting of tho beautiful Golden and Silver Wyandpttos, White Wyandottes, Black and Buff Orpingtons and Diamond

Jubileos— a fine healthy lot of youngstors, amongst whioh many good birds oould be piokod but, tho Black Orpingtons being all of tho notod Partington strain. Tho sexos are carefully separated ; indeed this is done as soon they can bo distinguished. Passing on, wo came to a splendid pen of White Wyandotte oookerols, shapely and beautiful birda which would fill a connoissour with onvy. Thon wo ndmirod a iikoly lot of ' Buffs,' a ?variety whioh for Its oxcullont qualities scorns to bo rapidly gaining favor. Leaving the largor pens wo approached the 50 by 50 foot breeding pens, which form, as it wore, anothor Bido of a square, having ,a roomy open green space in tho midst, and find that tho business of mating is on tho way. flavins boon introducod to a handsome

black Orpington cookorol and his companions, all imported hens, and passed throo sturdy ,' Buffs,' wo folt disposed to stand baro-boaded and speak with bated breath, for wo woro in tho presonoo of a champion of his kind, the famous Whito Wyandotto oookorel that took tho first ftnd ohampion priaeB at ' Tho Royal,' and a select oirole of tho ohoiooBt hens, rnoBt of them prizo-winnors. Recovering ourselves, wo proooodod to admiro n grand pon of Diamond Jubilee Orpingtons, largo, well-markod and low-sot birds of tho now and'intoroating variety which have proved thomsolves such adrnirablo layerB and table birdR. Furthor on wo stoppod to oontemplato ft mngnifioont Buff Orpington oookerol the winnor of about live first prizes last year. Next ?wo woro filled -with wonder and admiration on beholding two pons of tho protty elato-colorod Andalusiana, undoubtedly tho beat lot of the Itind in Now South Wules. These birds aro principally of the Hamilton strain, mnny of thorn prize-winners, and amongst thoir number is tho hen that won tho ohampionBhip at last year's Poultry Club Show. Still further on wo enme to a number of golden nnd silver WyandotteB, especially admiring tbreo splendid imported silvor hens, ' of tho Sponoor brood, ' and an' imported cook, first prize taker nt thn ' Rovul ' last winter. Thon

came a numbor of white Wyandotto pullots, silvor and golden hens— -all of tip-top quality— and then tho grand white Wyandotte cockerel, awarded first and championship prizes at the Easter Royal show. A glance at tho portable boiler lor food preparation, tho two ' Cypher,' hot-air, Bell-registering inoubatora— whioh Mr. Ramsay considers tho boat result produoors— -the wire exhibition training-pensT (a olover dovioe for aoouatoming tho birds to display thomselvos to tho utmost advantages whon confronted by the judgoB at uhows), tho foster-mothers and othor contrivances, and thon we followod bur kindly guido in order tondmiro his wonderful pigB. These aro of pure Berkshire blood, and the first wo oamo to, tho groat stud boar ' Wellington '—truly a magnificent follow— hnB exo'ited the admiration of ovory beholder, and, notwithstanding his Bhort sojourn In Carlingford, is already tho talk of

the distriot. Near him is tho ohampion sow, 'Prinooss Callista,' parohaaod by Mr. Ramsay nt a coat of 40 guineas, and winner of first prizo and ohampionship at tho Molbourno Agricultural Show iu 1900, boating GO bowb on that oooasion.- Anothor fair (or rathor brunotto) lady of the poroino family is ' Ruby,' winuor of a sooond prize at tho Molbourne Bhow, and iho proud mother of a fine litter of eight. Tho sow, 'Pretty Trafford,' evidently in an intoresting condition, won first prizo at tho Bydnoy show in 1896. There aro several other first-olaes stud sows, and a groat number of promising youngsters, aged from throe to lour months, and ready for disposal. In conclusion, wo may any that anyone desirous of studying the' perfections of fitst-olaBB poultry, under tho moat favourable conditions, and of seeing and learning nil that is to bo soen and learnt as to thoir roaring, houaing and treatment, oannot do hotter than pay an oarly inapootion to 'Highlands,' whoro he will bo ouro of a courteous reoeption, and- a mass of inBtruotivo information, from tho onorgeklo proprietor, Mr. Ramsay.