REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 237 



COST OF DAILY RATIONS. 



The cost of the daily rations fed to the laying stock, numbering 204, wati estimated 

 at 41 cts., as follows : — 



18 lbs. of cut green bone at 1 ct. per lb 18 



20 " wheat, buckwheat, &c., at 1 ct. per lb 20 



Grit and vegetables 3 



41 cts. 



To this should be added the time of the man in cutting up the bones by the 

 machine, sometimes half or three quarters of an hour. It should also be stated that 

 buckwheat was mostly used for cut rations during the winter months. To offset this is 

 to be considered the worth of the manure, which a bulletin from the Raleigh, North 

 Carolina, Experimental Station values at half the cost of the feed of the hen for the 

 year, but which we allow to go for the trouble of the farmer in looking after and feed- 

 ing his fowls. 



When mash was fed it was composed of ground grains, in such quantity as not to 

 exceed the value of 18 cts. 



The allowance of 1 cent per lb. for the whole grain is liberal, for buckwheat sold in 

 the fall and early part of the winter at 22 and 25 cts. per bushel. 



EGGS SOLD AT THE HIGHEST PRICES. 



Having obtained the new-laid eggs in the season of highest prices, the aim was to 

 dispose of them to the besb possible advantage. With a little effort the best results 

 were obtained. The following is an instance : — 



On the 30th of December, as shown in the above table, the greatest number of eggs 

 laid on any day, in that month, was collected, viz.: five dozen and eight (68). These 

 eggs were disposed of at the following prices : — 



5 doz. and 8 eggs at 35 cts. per doz $1 97 



Deduct cost of rations 41 



Proceeds of that day $1 56 



But as that was the day of the greatest production, it is but fair to give the aver- 

 age of the month, which was 48, or four dozen per day. 



4 doz. eggs at average price of 33 cts. per doz $1 32 



Deduct cost of rations 41 



$0 91 



The eggs were strictly fresh and were sold in the city of Ottawa. In the same 

 month eggs of the same description were worth in Montreal from ten to fifteen cents 

 more per dozen. Had the eggs been sent to a leading grocer of that city they would 

 probably have made the larger figure, less express charges. 



LESSONS FROM THE ABOVE. 



The lesson to the farmer is to obtain the new laid eggs in the winter season of high 

 prices and having got the eggs to sell them — while they are strictly new laid — to leading 

 grocers, dairymen, &c., or choice customers, who will always pay the high price for a 

 reliable article. It may be said that the high figures named are not received by the 

 majority of farmers. Perhaps not by farmers, who, are a distance from a high price 

 market and who have to sell to a middleman. Certainly not by those who do not bring 

 in a strictly new laid article. But the high figures are certainly received by far- 

 mers who cater to the requirements of a high price market, with strictly fresh eggs 

 and a superior quality of poultry. 



