48 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I903. 



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year. Those that yielded in the vicinity of lOO the first year 

 have yielded very lightly the second year. 



The left hand column of egg yields, in the table on page 47, 

 shows the numbers of eggs yielded by each hen during the first 

 full year after she commenced laying, and in most cases it is 

 greater than when the year is reckoned forward from Novem- 

 ber I St. 



We have generally found it necessary to have the pullets of 

 the breeds we have used, hatched by the last of April in order to 

 have them laying regularly by the first of November. They 

 then have a full year for work before they are removed the fol- 

 lowing fall, to make room for the new pullets that must be in 

 winter quarters early, if they are to do satisfactory work. If 

 the pullet does not commence laying until January, she does not 

 have a full year before she has to give way to the young stock, 

 by the last of October, or the first of November. 



This feature of poultry management counts for a great deal 

 and has much to do with determining the incomes of flocks. 

 The column recording the yearly yields of the first and second 

 year's laying are worthy of careful study. 



