FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 581 



of corn per pound of gain. The amounts of lettuce, green bone, etc., 

 consumed are recorded and were quite considerable. 



In the author's opinion there was no great difference in the feeding 

 value of the wheat and corn. "The gains made were satisfactory and 

 again point to the advantage, if not the necessity, of variety in the 

 ration of growing fowls.' 7 



The feeding of the 2 lots was continued to see if more food was 

 required for a pound of gain as the chickens grew heavier. Both lots 

 were fed oyster shells, green bone, sunflower seed, and turnip tops in 

 addition to the grains. In 3 weeks lot 1 gained 21.8 lbs., consuming 

 6.50 lbs. of grain per pound of gain. Lot 2 gained 23.5, consuming 5.8 

 lbs. of corn per pound of gain. "These figures are significant and go 

 far to show that one of the most common mistakes in poultry fattening 

 is holding the chickens too long iu the fall." 



Relative gains of young duels and chickens. — A lot of 39 ducks 2 weeks 

 old at the beginning of the test was compared with an equal number 

 of chickens of the same age iu order to learn which could be more 

 profitably fattened. The ducks were given middlings, corn meal, and 

 bran, together with necessary grit and green food. They had the run 

 of a small yard. The chickens were fed bran and relatively more corn 

 meal than the ducks, but had no middlings. They were allowed the 

 run of a small grass plat and were also given lettuce. At the begin- 

 ning of the test the ducks weighed 13.25 lbs. and the chickens 7.5 lbs. 

 In 5 weeks the ducks were nearly ready for the early market and had 

 gained 108.75 lbs. They had eaten 41.3 lbs. of corn, 93.1 lbs. of 

 middlings, 13.4 lbs. of bran, 59 lbs. of lettuce, and 88 lbs. of skim milk. 

 The total cost of a pound of gain was 1.9 cts. In the same period the 

 chickens had gained 30 lbs. and had consumed 52.2 lbs. of corn, 25.9 

 lbs. of bran, 46 lbs. of lettuce, and 44.3 lbs. of skim milk. The total 

 cost of a pound of gain was 4.84 cts. The financial statement is based 

 on corn and bran at $14, and middlings at $15 per ton, milk at 20 

 cents per hundred, and lettuce at 1 cent per pound. The ducks gained 

 much more rapidly than the chickens and the gains were more econom- 

 ically made. The chickens were not large enough for market at the close 

 of the test and the feeding was continued for some time before they 

 were sold. The gains made and the cost of gain are briefly reported. 



Feeding laying liens. — Three lots of hens, each made up of 4 Minorcas, 

 4 White Plymouth Rocks, 9 Barred Plymouth Rocks, 5 Light Brahmas, 

 8 grade Plymouth Rocks, and 5 crossbred Buff Wyandotte-Light 

 Brahmas, were fed 6 months under the same conditions. Lot 1 laid 

 2,228 eggs; lot 2, 2,362, and lot 3, 2,288. 



"While this difference is not large, had a change in condition, whether of feeding 

 or some other item involved in the cure been made between these pens, the difference 

 would have been large enough to be considered somewhat significant. The fact that 

 it occurred when all known conditions were alike teaches again the danger of 

 drawing conclusions from the results of one experiment." 



