990 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"The remarks are equally applicable to calf feeding as to hog feeding. Though 

 perhaps it would be more difficult to feed a large number of calves than a large 

 number of hogs. One of the best devices noticed for handling a large number of 

 calves was a row of stanchions along one side of a pasture with a trough on the out- 

 side divided into boxes, one for each calf. At feeding times each calf was fastened 

 in a stanchion, given his share of milk, and left there till he had gotten over his 

 tendency to suck any of his mates. If the calves were divided into lots according 

 to age and the lots fed separately, it would probably simplify matters." 



Experiments with geese, 0. O. Flagg (Rhode Island Sta. h'pt. 

 1897, })p. 181-617, figs. 25). — The earlier work of the station with geese 

 is cited, and experiments made in 1890 are reported in much greater 

 detail tha" 1 in the preceding Annual Report of the station (E. S. R., 

 10, p. 979). In the experiments with geese the eggs of different breeds 

 and crosses were marked and the goslings when hatched were per- 

 manently marked by punching one or more small holes through the 

 membrane of the foot. The majority of the experiments in 1897 were 

 made irith the same breeding stock as in the previous year with the 

 addition of some African and Embden stock. A new mating was made 

 to secure pure Toulouse goslings, and 2 crossings of White and Brown 

 Chinas were made. The weights of the eggs at the beginning of 

 the experimental period in January were recorded as well as the 

 eggs laid by the different breeds and crosses. A table is given sum- 

 marizing the weights of eggs laid by the different breeds in 1890 and 

 1897. 



"African* laid the largest eggs, averaging practically 6.7 oz. each. Embdens rank 

 next in order, averaging 6.567 oz. each. The eggs of Toulouse geese averaged 6.3 

 oz. each; those from White Chinas 5.522 oz. each, and those from Brown Chinas were 

 smallest in size, averaging but 5.445 oz. each. These averages are the result of 

 weighing from 155 to 250 eggs in each instance, and fairly represent the difference in 

 size in the eggs from the different breeds. Eggs from African geese would average 

 to weigh 5.025 lbs. per dozen, which is 3.1 times the average weight of Rhode Island 

 Red and Plymouth Rock hens' eggs as determined by weighing 10 doz. selected for 

 hatching." (Average weight 1.62 lbs.) 



The loss of weight of eggs during incubation was tested. The eggs 

 were weighed and placedin incubators. After 7 days they were weighed 

 and tested; those which were found to be infertile were removed. On 

 the 22d day of the incubation period the eggs were again weighed, 

 removed from the incubator, and placed under hens. The goslings were 

 weighed as soon as hatched. 



"The average weight of the 3 eggs from which goslings were hatched was 6.0053 

 oz. at the beginning of incubation, and the average weight of the goslings when 

 hatched was 3.8913 oz., showing an average loss of 2.114 oz. during incubation. 

 The individual losses were as follows: Egg No. 4 lost in hatching, 1.9827 oz., egg No. 

 6, 2.1719 oz., and egg No. 7, 2.1875 oz. The gosling from egg No. 4 was the only 

 vigorous one, but whether the smaller amount of evaporation from that egg had any 

 relation to the vigor of the gosling we can not say." 



The average loss in weight of 12 fertile eggs was 0.3309 oz., of 9 

 infertile eggs 0.3437 oz., of 3 fertile eggs which hatched out goslings 

 0.3204 oz., and of 9 fertile eggs which did not hatch 0.3425 oz. 



