ITS Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



Question. — Do hens need condition powders to make them lay? 



Mr. Van Dreser. — We never use them. 



Question. — Does it pay to feed the so-called "animal meals "? 



Dr. Smead. — As a rule, it does. Nearly all the hen foods are 

 compounded for egg production. The hen, to produce eggs, must 

 have foods that contain a good percentage of protein. These 

 foods usnallv contain this element. But, if one can buv moat 

 scraps and hones from the butcher shops, and cut them up, it may 

 be cheaper to buy them than the animal meals. 



Question.- — What kind of meat meal does Mr. Eice recom- 

 mend '. 



Answer. — There is more than 15 per cent, difference in the 

 feeding value of animal meals, all sold at nearly the same price. 

 Write to each of the manufacturers, get guaranteed analyses and 

 prices, then buy from the one who makes lowest prices. 



Question. — What will take the place of meat for my hens? 



Mr. Smith. — Any of the prepared animal meals will do. They 

 may be bought of any dealers in cattle foods. All poultry grow- 

 ers, nearly, buy and feed these meals. 



Question. — Do you think it profitable to lime eggs when cheap 

 in price and sell them for fresh eggs when the prices are high? 



Mr. Rice. — Limed eggs are better than none, but not as good 

 as fresh ones, and the man who will sell limed eggs for freshly 

 laid ones ought to have a whole crate of them smashed in his 

 face. There is no moral honesty in any such contemptible 

 transaction. 



Question. — How much will it cost to keep a hen one year? 

 Should she be confined ? 



Mr. Lillie. — We keep our hens for 50 cents a year.. We have 

 500. Probably the cost is from 50 to 75 cents per hen. They 

 are kept in the houses a part of the time and are out for exercise 

 a part. 



Question. — Will the same quantity of food raise and maintain 

 a Brahma or Plymouth Rock or Wyandotte, as a Leghorn? 



.Mr. Rice. — Oh, no. There are fully six to eight pounds of 

 Plymouth Rock or Wyandotte to maintain as against four pounds 

 of Leghorn. But the per cent, of cost of meat will be less in the 

 former than in the latter. On the contrary, as a ride, the cost 

 of eggs will be less for the Leghorns. 



