ANIMAL PHODUCTION. 903 



gained nor lost in wei^lit. Tlie chickens in the otlier lots gained on an average from 

 0.02 lb. in the case of lot 4 to 0.16 lb. in the case of lot 1. Tlie total feed eaten by lot 

 2 was 216 lbs. and by the other lots 215 lbs. each. The eggs laid ranged from 472 with 

 lot 4 (fed whole grain) to 549 eggs with lot 2 (fed whole grain in the morning and 

 mash at night). The cost of feed per dozen eggs ranged from 5.2 cts. with lot 2 to 

 6.1 cts. with lot 4. Son:ie of the authors' conclusions follow: 



"In this experiment the egg production was practically the same when the mash 

 was fed in the morning as when fed at night. With both young and old fowls better 

 results were obtained when about one-third of the grain ration was fed ground and 

 moistened than when all of the grain was fed whole and scattered in the litter. 

 During the test the average food-cost of the eggs laid by the young fowls was 5.8 

 cts. per dozen, while with the older hens the cost was 6.3 cts. In this connection 

 it should be remembered, however, that these fowls had a very restricted range, 

 and that all of the food that they received was charged to them at full market rates." 



In continuation of previous work (E. S. R., 13, p. 276) 2 tests were undertaken 

 to determine the importance of keeping hens warm at night by means of curtains 

 surrounding their perches, 2 lots, each containing 20 White Leghorn pullets and 

 2 cockerels, being used. Both lots w'ere given a mash of ground feed each morning 

 to which was added a small quantity of beef scraps, and at night were fed whole 

 grain scattered in the litter which covered the floors. During the coldest nights of 

 the test, when the temperature of the houses would fall nearly to the freezing point, 

 lot 1 was protected at night with curtains. The average weight at the beginning of 

 the trial was 2.72 Ujs. At the close of the trial, which covered 120 days, the average 

 weight was 3.2 lbs. Similar values for lot 2 were 2.66 lbs. and 3.14 lbs. The total 

 egg production for the 2 lots was 334 and 358 eggs, respectively. The cost of feed 

 per dozen eggs was 16.8 cts. and 15.6 cts. Practically the same amount of feed was 

 eaten by the 2 lots, namely, 120 lbs. of corn, 125 lbs. of wheat, 83 lbs. of oats, 23 

 lbs. of beef scraps, and 28 lbs. each of corn meal, brown middlings, and ground oats. 



The second test was made with 2 lots each containing 15 Barred Plymouth Rock 

 pullets and 1 cock. The space shut in by curtains was larger than before, being 90 

 cu. ft., or about 5.5 cu. ft. per fowl. The test began November 1 and covered 120 

 days, during which lot 1 (protected at night) laid 244 eggs and lot 2 laid 247 eggs. 

 According to the authors, "during 18 days, beginning January 4, the temperature 

 of the roosting places w'as taken at night by means of maximum and minimum 

 thermometers. The average of the lowest temperatures for the cold house was 35.5° 

 and within the curtains 41.5°. The results of both of these tests are unfavorable to 

 the use of curtains in this climate." 



The Van Dreser method of producing an early and uniform molting was also studied. 

 In brief, this method consists in withholding feed wholly or in part for a few <lays to 

 stop egg production and reduce the weight of the fowls, and then feeding heavily a 

 ration suitable for the formation of feathers and the general uplniilding of the system. 

 Four lots of 20 hens and 2 cocks each about 2 years old were included in the trial, 2 of 

 the lots being Rhode Island Reds and 2 White Leghorns. One lot of Rhode Island 

 Reds (lot 1 ) and 1 lot of White Leghorns (lot 3) were fed throughout the test an ordinary 

 ration of grain mash, beef scraps, corn, wheat, and oats. The remaining lots received no 

 feed for 13 days, except what they could pick up in their runs, which had been sown 

 with oats in the spring. The runs were 100 feet long and 15 feet wide, and it is stated 

 that nearly all the oats had been picked from the heads before the beginning of the 

 test. Beginning with the third week these lots were fed a full ration similar to that 

 of lots 1 and 3. During the first 30 days after the beginning of the trial lots 1 and 3 

 (fed continuously) laid 75 and 172 eggs, respectively. The other two lots laid, 

 respectively, 17 and 25 eggs, ceasing to lay entirely on the seventh day. The authors 

 state that 30 days after the test began the lot of Rhode Island Reds (given no feed 

 for 13 days) " had practically a complete coat of new feathers, had begun to lay, and 



