222 



The results aimed at in feeding this ration were : — 



1. Greater economy by the omission of cornmeal. 



2. By supplying lime regularly in soft feed to prevent the laying of eggs with 

 soft shells. 



3. By avoiding too generous diet to prevent the hens from becoming so fat as 

 to lay eggs with soft shells. 



4. To avoid, by the omission of cayenne pepper or other condiments, a highly 

 stimulating ration, often the cause of eggs being laid with soft shells, or without any 

 shells. 



5. To prevent egg-eating, which follows the laying of eggs with soft shells. 



6. By the regular feeding of meat and keeping the fowls in active exercise to 

 prevent feather eating, generally caused by the omission of both. 



7. To prevent the acquiring of the bad j)i'actices named, the cure being very 

 difficult. 



8. To furnish tbe hens, as nearly as possible, with what they can pick up for 

 themselves when running at large outside, such as: insects, in the shape of ground 

 meat; grit (to aid digestion), in the shape of gravel and broken oyster shells; lime, 

 in the shape of ground oyster shells; green stuff, in the shape of clover hay 

 (steamed), cut short and mixed in soft feed, carrots, cabbage, turnips, &c. 



At noon, when grain was given, oats were fed in small quantity. 



For the afternoon ration wheat was given, with barley (occasionally), mixed in 

 equal quantity. Vegetables, such as carrots, mangels and turnips, were kept 

 always on the floor of the pens. Yery little cabbage was fed during the winter. 



The rations, as aforementioned, were fed to the following stock in the main 

 building: — 



Plymouth Eocks 



Bi-ahmas 



Langshans 



Buff Cochins 



White Leghorns 



Wyandottes 9 



Andalusians . 



Among this stock will be noticed numerous hens, some of them old hens, so- 

 called because they were over two years, and kept for breeders and sitters during 

 the coming season. As there was no alternative, they were placed with the pullets, 

 a practice to be avoided when possible, for the reason given in report of last year, 

 " that the ration which would go to eggs in the pullets would likely make the hens 

 too fat to lay." 



The effect in eggs of the rations on the pullets and hens is given as follows : — 



It may be said that the showing is not a good one for the number of stock, but 

 it must be borne in mind that the feeding was only experimental. The result, how- 



