28o AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



periods of depression is physiologically comparable with the 

 fact that a person when ill is usually pale. This means that the 

 supply of blood to the skin is smaller than in condition of full 

 health and vigor. 



A large comb does not necessarily indicate strong constitu- 

 tion. In the first place it must be recognized that comb size in 

 part depends upon the breed. The most vigorous specimens 

 of some breeds have by nature and inheritance relativel)'' small 

 combs as compared with other birds. While it is practically 

 always true that a bird with a comb relatively small in propor- 

 tion to the size normal for its breed is a weak and worthless 

 bird, the converse is not always true. That is to say, some 

 weak, poor specimens will have large combs. The size and 

 condition of the comb should be taken as only one indication 

 along with a whole series of others in judging the constitutional 

 vigor of a bird. Simply selecting large-combed birds regardless 

 of everything else would not result in a strong vigorous .strain. 



Poultry Management. 



At all times efiforts are being made to improve the methods 

 of management of poultry on the Station plant. During the 

 past year a new concrete shed for the storage and proper con- 

 servation of poultry manure has been built on the plant. A full 

 description of this with directions for the care and use of this 

 valuable fertilizing material will be issued as a bulletin during 

 the coming year. 



Green Food for Poultry. 



During recent years an increasing amount of attention has 

 been paid by poultrymen everywhere to the furnishing of green 

 food to their fowls during the winter months, when it is im- 

 posible in northern parts of the country, at least, for the birds 

 to get fresh succulent pasturage out of doors. It has been 

 the universal experience that an addition of green succulent 

 food to the ration of laying hens tends to keep them in better 

 physical condition and helps towards a better egg production, 

 with consequently increased profits to the poultryman. On the 

 poultry plant of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station 



