394 



EXPEBIMENTAL FARMS 



4-5 EDWARD VII., A. 1905 



In tlie following tables the meal has been estimated at Y5 cents per hnndred 

 pounds. The fattening period covered 21 days. 



WyandoUes (White). 



INCUBATOR? FOR HATCHING. 



Owing to the late spring liere it is difficult to obtain sitting hens early in the sea- 

 son. On this account chickens are often too late for early autumn killing, when prices 

 are the highest. An effort has ben made to overcome this difficulty by using an in- 

 cubatoi*. 



The incubator was filled for the first time last spring, on April 19, with 120 Ply- 

 mouth Eock and Wyandotte eggs. Only 60 proved fertile, and 30 of these hatched. It 

 was found impossible to obtain broody hens for a comparison in April. 



On May 20 another lot of 120 eggs from the same fowls were started in the in- 

 cubator, at the same time two broody hens were set on eggs from the same fowls. In 

 each cas2 two-thirds of the fertile eggs hatched. 



All the chickens were raised in outside brooders and were equally strong, the loss 

 after hatching being only four per cent. 



CONCLUSIOX. 



1st. The percentage of chickens from fertile eggs was the same, whether setting 

 hens or incubator was used. 



2nd. It is possible to secure earlier chickens by using an incubator. 

 3rd. A large proportion of the eggs laid in early spring before the fowls have an 

 opportunity to take exercise are not fertile. 



BEES. 



Of the thirteen colonies of bees placed in the cellar in the fall of 1903, three late 

 and weak colonies died during the winter. 



All were removed from the cellar to their summer stands on April 5, as they ap- 

 peared quite restless. The first pollen was gathered on April 28 from Anemone patens, 

 commonly known as Wild Crocus ; this was closely followed by Early Willow pollen. 



The months of May and June were not favourable for gathering nectar, but a.? 

 soon as July set in the bees worked very freely on wild flowers. Perhaps the largest 

 'supply was obtained from the Mint family of plants, which were unusually abundant 

 this year, the honey from these plants was very thick, quite aromatic and agreeable 

 to the taste. 



