ANIMAL PKODUCTION. 771 



with Leghorns 10 eggs were laid by the 20 birds, of which 7 were fertile. 

 Fifty per cent of the eggs laid on the third day (less than 54 hours after the 

 male had been put in) were fertile. In the next test, using tlie same birds, 

 13 eggs were laid on the fourth day, of which 10 w^ere fertile. In the next 

 test, using 18 Rhode Island Red pullets and 1 White Plymouth Rock cockerel. 

 4 eggs wei'e laid on the" seventh day and all were fertile, 6 were laid on the 

 eighth day, 3 being fertile. In the next test, using another pen of the same 

 breeds, 8 eggs were laid on the eighth day. all being fertile. In the next test, 

 using still another pen of the same breeds, 5 eggs weve laid on the eighth day, 

 4 of which were fertile. The next day, however, 4 infertile eggs were laid 

 ■•md from then on the fertility was not as high as in the other tests. ... In 

 the case of the pen of 20 Leghorns an egg was found to be fertile that was 

 laid after the male had been removed 20 days. In this pen the fertility held 

 up well for 11 days. The fertility of the eggs from the Plymouth Rock pen 

 held up well until after the tenth day. One egg was found to be fertile which 

 was laid 16 days after the male had been removed." 



From a study of the effect of feeding corn on the color of the yolk of eggs 

 the following conclusions were draw'u : " Yellow corn, when fed to hens in the 

 proportion of 9 parts corn to 12 parts mash, gives a very deep yellow color to the 

 yolk of the resulting eggs. Yellow corn, when fed to hens in the proportion 

 of 4i parts corn to 16i parts of other feeds, gives a noticeably yellow tint to 

 the resulting eggs. Wheat, when fed ui the same proportions as above, does 

 not give any yellow color to tlie eggs. White corn is no better than wheat so 

 far as furnishing a tint to the yolk of the resulting eggs is concerned.' 



A cooperative investigation on the profitableness of poultry wlien kept 

 under farm conditions, W. A. Lloyd and W. L. Elser (Ohio 8ta. Circ. J 18, 

 pp. 69-00, figs. 7). — A cooperative investigation on the cost of keeping poultry 

 under the usual conditions for a period of 1 year. No advice was given to 

 the cooperators as to the feeding and care of the flocks. About one-half of the 

 flocks were of mixed breeds, but there were pure-bred flocks of Barred Rocks, 

 Rhode Island Reds, Brown Leghorns, and other breeds. 



The average figures given for 18 flocks kept on farms were as follows : 

 Number of fowls 121, eggs per hen 71, labor cost per fowl 28 cts., feed cost per 

 fowl 61 cts., total value of eggs sold $121.14, value of ix)ultry sold $45.67, value 

 of eggs used $18.41, value of poultry used $13.76, and profit per fowl 87 cts. 

 The corresponding figures for 12 town flocks w^ere: Number of fowls 46, eggs 

 per hen 70, labor cost per fowl 60 cts., feed cost per fowl 97 cts., total value 

 of eggs sold $41.36, value of poultry sold $29.28, value of eggs used $16.77, value 

 of poultry used $9.95, profit per fowl 36 cts. 



The largest number of fowls kept in the town flocks was 97, and the fewest 

 18. Four of the town flocks showed a loss, the greatest averaging a loss of 93 

 cts. per fowl. The greatest profit of the town flocks was from a flock of 26, 

 averaging a profit of $1.64 iier fowl. The profit on the farm flocks ranged from 

 14.5 cts.. from a flock of 149 fowls, to .$2.47, from a flock of 9() fowls. None of 

 the farm flocks showed a loss. Three flocks exceeded 300 fow^ls, from which the 

 average profit was 86 cts. per fowl. The average cost of equipment of the 18 

 farm flocks was $65.61, of the 12 town flocks $88.54, and of 1 commei'cial 

 iwultryman $401.50. 



The following figures are given relative to the cost of poultry used in fami- 

 lies: The average per individual in town was 229 eggs, valued at $4.19, and 5 

 fowls valued at $2.48. The figures per individual in the country were 264 

 eggs, valued at $4.60, and 7 fowls at a value of $3.44. 



Other conclusions reached are : " Both in town and country small flocks have 

 given greater profits per fowl than large flocks. Flocks with unlimited range 

 42049°— No. 8—12 6 



