78 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the others, and the loss from sickness aud death affected the results adversely 

 in most of the lots. 



At two of the above stations 4,704 hens were fed from 5 to 11 days. The 

 lots were fed various mixtures of the above grains with buttermilk. In many 

 cases diarrhea developed, which was apparently helped by the addition of low- 

 grade flour and the scalding of the milk, and in some of the batteries by the 

 sprinkling of ground bone in the feed. The highest average gain, 28 per cent, 

 was made by a lot of 340 hens fed 7 days. The lowest, 0.8 per cent, was made 

 by a lot of 340 hens fed for 8 days. 



The birds were dressed and put into cold storage. The loss of weight or 

 shrinkage in dressing (without drawing) for the different classes of birds 

 varied as follows: Hens, 13.4 to 14.9 per cent, average 14.4 per cent; roasters, 

 13.7 to 16 per cent, average 14.7 per cent ; springs, 9 to 14. .5 per cent, average 

 12.1 per cent; and broilers, 14 to 14.7 per cent, average 14.3 per cent. 



Suggestions are given for cleaning and spraying the batteries, and for dis- 

 posing of the manure, which amounted to about half a- ton daily for 10,000 

 chickens on feed. Appendixes are included in which are detailed tabular data 

 of experiments A and B. 



The im.provem.ent of the farm egg-, H. M. Lamon and C. L. Oppeeman ( U. 8. 

 Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Bui. 1^1, pp. IfS, pis. }, figs. 2). — This is a contin- 

 uation of the study of the factors surrounding the production and marketing 

 of eggs (E. S. R., 20, p. 1070). 



It is stated that practically all the loss due to improper handling of eggs 

 is borne by the farmers and other egg producers, and is to a large extent easily 

 preventable. During July, August, and September, 1910, out of 706,569 doz. 

 eggs received by three buyers in Kansas 78.3 per cent were firsts, 10.3 per cent 

 seconds, 1.9 checks, and 9.4 per cent rots. Accurate figures show that the 

 total loss amounts to from 5 to 25 per cent of the whole egg crop, depending 

 largely on weather conditions. It is thought that a large percentage of this 

 loss can be prevented by replacing the " case-count " system of buying with the 

 " loss-off " system. 



For the purpose of encouraging the loss-off system of buying, and to inau- 

 gurate a closer and more careful examination of conditions surrounding the 

 marketing of eggs, work was undertaken in 1910 in cooperation with buyers, 

 the state board of health, and the Kansas Station. The buyers entered into 

 an agreement to buy eggs on a strictly loss-off basis after July 1, 1910. 



In investigating conditions the authors visited more than 100 farms during 

 the summer. The information secured was assembled on cards, the backs of 

 which contain a score card of the farm poultry flock, and the data obtained are 

 tabulated and discussed in detail. In a similar manner the conditions sur- 

 rounding the eggs after they leave the farmers were studietl. These studies 

 included the country store, the cash buyer, the huckster, the cooperative cream- 

 ery, the handling of eggs by local freight, and the car-lot shipper. 



As a result of this study suggestions are offered for the farmer, country 

 merchant, railroad oflicial, and car-lot shipper which, if heeded, would prob- 

 ably improve the quality of the egg that reaches the consumer and also dimin- 

 ish the loss which now falls on the farmer, merchant, and consumer. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Dairy cattle and milk production, C. H. Eckles {'Neio York, 1911, pp. 

 XII+342, pis. 30, figs. 2Jt). — This treatise on dairy husbandry, which has been 

 prepared for the use of agricultural college students and dairy farmers, repre- 

 sents material gathered for presentation to classes of students and dairymen. 



