366 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



advantage would be gained by substituting in a grain ration some 

 highly nitrogenous food, like oil meal, meat scrap, etc. ? The 

 experiment mentioned was carried on in October and Novem- 

 ber, 188G, twent\'-lbur pure bred Ply mouth Rock cockerels being 

 used. Tliese were divided into two lots of twelve each, the birds 

 in each lot being as nearly alike in age and size as possible, and 

 were confined in two roomy pens. In addition to the experimental 

 food, the cockerels were given a small, equal amount of pota- 

 toes each day or two, and the}- had access to ground clam shells, 

 gravel, and fresh water. Equal weights of food were fed to each 

 lot throughout the experiment, consisting in one case of cracked corn 

 alone, in the other case being a mixture of cracked corn and some 

 highl}' nitrogenous food. An attempt was made at first to feed for 

 the latter ration a mixture of corn and cotton-seed meal, but this was 

 given up as a failure after several days' trial, even a small quantity 

 of this mixture being eaten with reluctance. Beef scrap was then 

 substituted for the cotton-seed meal, with good results. 



The quantities fed at first, beginning October 8th, were as follows : 



Lot 1. G40 grams* cracked corn, daily, or at the rate of one quart 

 by weight, to fifteen birds. 



Lot 2. 540 grams cracked corn, dailj^, 100 grams beef scrap, 

 daih'. Total, 640 grams. 



On October 19th, the rations were increased : 



Lot 1. 800 grams cracked corn, daily, or at the rate of one quart 

 b}' weight, to twelve birds. 



Lot 2. 600 grams cracked corn, daily, 200 grams beef scrap, 

 dail}'. Total, 800 grams. 



On Oct. 1 Ith, the two lots were weighed, and again on Oct. 28th. 

 The weights at the two dates are given below : 



I Oct. 11th. 



Lot 1 

 Lot 2. 



35^ lbs. 

 35 «« 



Oct. 28th. 



Gain. 



39^ lbs. 

 43| " 



4 lbs. 

 8| " 



It seems, then, that in seventeen (17) days the twelve birds which 

 were fed pure cracked corn gained four (4) pounds, and that those which 



*One pound— 454 grams. 



