472 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. 



export animals had been issued, as follows : Canada, 629 ; United States, 37 ; 

 South Africa, 51 ; SvA'eden, 15 ; Germany. 1 ; Russia, 55 ; South America, 20 ; 

 New Zealand, 19; and Australia, 10. 



It is stated that a keen demand has existed for weighty young geldings of the 

 Shire breed. The demand for the Suffolk from America, Canada, South Africa, 

 and Australasia has been greater than ever. Hackneys have stood still, while 

 there has been some trade in polo ponies and hunters. 



Experiments with poultry, R. M. Sherwood and W. J. Buss {Ohio Sta. Bui. 

 262 {1913), pp. 515-5^2, figs. 8). — In order to secure data relative to the cost of 

 egg production and to the variation in rate and economy of production that may 

 be expected when different lots of fowls are treated alike, four lots of about 50 

 White Leghorn pullets were fed the same ration for one year and the amount 

 of feed consumed recorded. The average grain and mash consumed per pullet 

 ranged between 67.95 and 70.75 lbs. ; the average cost of feed per pullet per year 

 94.6 and 98.5 cts. ; the average gain in weight per pullet 0.177 and 0.376 lb. ; 

 the average number of eggs per pullet 117.1 and 125.5 ; and the cost per dozen 

 of eggs produced 0.17 and 10.09 cts. In another experiment, 5 lots of pullets 

 ranged in average egg production between 104.8 and 141.6 jier pullet at an 

 average cost per dozen between 7.62 and 10.77 cts. 



Four lots of caponized Barred Plymouth Rocks were fed as follows: Lots 1 

 and 3 corn, wheat, oats, ground corn, bran, and beef scrap; lots 2 and 4 corn, 

 ground corn, and beef scrap. There was a wide variation in the amount of feed 

 consumed and in the gains made, and hence in the cost of feed per pound of 

 gain, this being respectively 10.95, 9.67, 14.02, and 10.71 cts. The greater cost 

 of lots 1 and 3 was attributed to the variety of feeds in the rations fed these 

 lots. The lots which received corn, ground corn, and beef scrap had n- yellower 

 skin than that of the other lots. 



A study of the fertility of eggs of 230 fowls shows that the number of fertile 

 eggs began to decrease from 8 to 12 days after mating. In exi)eriments in 

 individual mating the shortest time after mating in which fertile eggs were 

 produced was about 42 hours. The length of time after mating through which 

 fertile eggs were produced varied with different individuals from a little less 

 than a week up to nearly 18 days. 



Plans of the poultry buildings at the station are included. 



Twelve months' poultry-laying competition, 1912—13, at Harper Adam.s 

 Agricultural College, Newport, Salop, F. W. Rhodes {Field Expts. Harper 

 Ailams Agr. Col. und Statfordshire, Rpt. 1913, pp. 49, pis. 2, figs. 6).— One 

 hundred i>ens of six birds each, comprising seventeen hreetls of poultry, were 

 represented in this competition, pens of White Wyandottes winning first, third, 

 fourth, fifth, and sixth iK)sitiou; White Leghoi-ns, seventh, eighth, and ninth; 

 and Buff PljTuouth Rocks, second. The greatest number of eggs laid by any 

 pen during the entire year was 1,389. and the greatest number by any one 

 hen, 275. 



The grain feed used consisted of a mixture mnde up of dari, buckwheat, 

 hemp, millet, ground peas, ground beans, and com meal 5 (b.v measure) :5:1: 

 1 : 2* : 2J : 5. With this mixture was fed an equal quantity of cracked wheat, 

 cracked wheat and whole oats. A warm mash consisting of biscuit meal, bran, 

 fish or meat meal, middlings, and ground oats 6:6:3:3:2, scalded and soaked, 

 was also fed. Vegetables were given in the form of swedes, carrots, and raw 

 chopped onions during the winter, and lettuce, alfalfa, and cabbage during the 

 summer. Green bone, bone meal, and oyster shell were fed as required. 



It is estimated that the total weight of eggs laid during the entire year was 

 9.576 lbs. and the total weight of feed consumeil 51,728 lbs., or approximately 

 5.4 lbs. of dry feed per pound of eggs. 



