ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 569 



duction, rearing of pullets, and egg production, are summarized by the author, 

 as follows : 



Protein from a vegetable source, even when accompanied by a high phos- 

 phoric acid content in the ration, is not an eflScient method of providing pro- 

 tein when feeding growing chickens or laying flocks. The addition of animal 

 protein in the form of meat scrap, materially increases the efliciency of a ration 

 relatively high in vegetable protein, both for egg production and for flesh 

 growth. An increased consumption of nitrogen, occasioned by the addition of 

 meat scrap, does not cause increased loss of nitrogen in the droppings, the 

 reverse, however, being true. 



Phosphoric acid from an organic source (animal bone) is much more eflicient 

 than phosphoric acid from an inorganic source, as phosphate rock. Lime in 

 itself has little or no effect upon increasing assimilation of nitrogen. Lime 

 from bone is not as easily assimilated as lime from phosphate rock. This was 

 verified in every Instance, and the difference was very pronounced. From 

 the standpoint of broiler production, from the standpoint of maturity, and from 

 the standpoint of egg production, meat scrap is a necessary adjunct to any 

 ration. Dry granulated bone was found to be a cheaper source of phosphoric 

 acid and protein than a prepared commercial product, and was more eflicient 

 in poultry feeding. 



Laying hens fed a ration deficient in protein not only give a low production 

 but the eggs which are produced are small and undersized. A dry mash con- 

 taining considerable variety and having 20 per cent by weight of beef scrap, 

 is an eflicient foundation for a laying ration. For growing chicks a dry mash, 

 having for its base wheat bi'an and containing by weight at least 10 per cent 

 of meat scrap and 10 per cent of granulated bone, is an efficient ration. 



Analyses of the foods used are reported, and a number of practical working 

 rations are appended. 



The breeding' of egg-laying poultry, J. Wilson (Dept. Agr. and Tech. 

 Instr. Ireland Jour., 14 {19U), No. 2, pp. 231-2^0) .—The author reviews the 

 studies of Pearl on the inheritance of egg laying in poultry (E. S. R., 28, 

 p. 576). 



In addition, data are given on the results of an egg-laying competition at 

 the ]Munster Institute, Cork, 1912-1.3, when it was found that a hen's total 

 yield for the year could be predicted approximately from her yield a few weeks 

 after she had begun to lay. The record of 24 hens is given, 8 very good, 8 

 medium, and 8 poor layers. It is pointed out that the good layers have 

 blanks of only 1 day at a time, as a rule, and that this rate is kept up for 8 

 or 10 weeks at least ; that the medium layers have blanks of several days at a 

 time, or if not, lay for a few weeks only; and that poor layers lay no eggs at 

 all, or only a very few. It is stated that "the great value of the observation 

 lies in this, that the breeder knows before the setting season begins the grades 

 to which his pullets belong and he can infer therefrom the parents' grades in 

 some cases." 



Factors influencing the size, shape, and physical constitution of the egg 

 of the domestic fowl, Maynie R. Curtis (Maine Sta. Bui. 228 {IdlJt), pp. 

 105-136). — This paper is an analysis of the normal variations in the size, 

 shape, and physical constitution of the eggs of the domestic fowl as determined 

 by observations made of all of the eggs laid by 22 Barred Plymouth Rock birds 

 during their first two laying years. 



With regard to the individuality of the eggs of the same bird it was found 

 that the " individuality of a bird is expressed in each physical character of 

 her eggs. This individuality is more pronounced in respect to the size than the 

 62.591°— No. 6—14 



