276 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



To compare the relative merits of a lime and salt solution and a solution of water 

 glass for preserving eggs, some 30 doz. eggs were preserved bj' the 2 methods for 

 about 6 months. According to the author, "when examined the water glass was 

 found to be the best pickle, although the lime and salt served its purpose very well; 

 still the whites of the eggs preserved in this mixture were much more watery than 

 the whites of those preserved in the water glass. These were difficult to distinguish 

 from fresh eggs since the white was quite firm and the yolk stood up upon it just as 

 though fresh. Another advantage in the water glass is that it does not seem to affect 

 the shell of the egg as the lime mixture does, eggs from the lime and salt mixture 

 being much more liable to crack either in cooking or handling." 



The comparative value of a rather varied ration (meat, vegetables, and grain), a 

 meat ration (meat, meal, and grain), a vegetable ration (vegetables, meal, and grain), 

 and a ration of grain alone, was tested with 4 lots each containing 15 hens and 1 

 cock. In 3 months the total number of eggs laid by the 4 lots was 431, 407, 366, and 

 342, respectively. The fertility of the eggs from different pens was tested with an 

 incubator. Of the eggs laid by the 4 lots, 232, 229, 223, and 239, respectively, were 

 fertile. Definite conclusions are not drawn, but the author believes that "the per- 

 centage of fertility and strength of germ depends to considerable extent upon the 

 conditions and feed of breeding birds." 



Analyses are reported of the eggs from the different pens, but no marked differ- 

 ences in composition were observed. Other deductions follow: 



"Variety rations give best results in feeding for eggs. Poultry feeding is very 

 profitable under present market conditions in Montana. Special care should be 

 given to number of hens placed with cock in securing best results from breeding 

 birds. Feeding breeding birds should be carefully studied, with special care not to 

 overfeed." 



Poultry experiments, J. H. Stewart and H. Atwood [West Virginia Sta. Bui. 71, 

 pp. 385-402, figs. i?). — The poultry houses recently built at the station are described 

 and several feeding tests reported. The influence of warm houses upon the produc- 

 tion of eggs was tested with 2 lots, each containing 12 Rhode Island Red pullets and I 

 cock. The lots were fed on a mixed grain ration for 150 days beginning Nov. 24, 

 under similar conditions except that lot 1 was kept in a poultry house in which spe- 

 cial precautions were taken to insure warmth. The total number of eggs produced 

 per fowl in warm houses was 52.39; in cold houses, 41.36. 



Meat meal was compared with ground fresh meat and bone with 2 lots each con- 

 taining 17 Plymouth Rock hens and 1 cock. Lot 1 was fed the meat meal and lot 2 

 the green bone. In this and the other tests reported they were also fed mixed 

 grains. At the beginning of the test all the fowls weighed on an average 4.72 lbs. each; 

 at the close, the 2 lots averaged 5.75 and 5.91 lbs. per fowl, respectively. In 120 days 

 of the test, the hens in the 2 lots laid on an average 38. 24 and 32.60 eggs, respectively. 

 The former weighed on an average 12.75 lbs. per hundred eggs; the latter, 11.94 lbs. 



In raising broilers, the object is to force them as rapidly as possible. The com- 

 parative value for this purpose of rations with wide and narrow nutritive ratios, was 

 tested with 2 lots of 25 chicks each, the breeds represented being White Wyandottes 

 and White Leghorns. Lot 1 was fed the nitrogenous ration and lot 2, the carbona- 

 ceous ration, the former being made up of grain, whole and ground, with green bone, 

 and the latter of vegetable foods only, namely, whole and ground grain, including 

 corn, wheat, and oats. The average weight of the chicks in the 2 lots at the begin- 

 ning of the test was 0.92 and 0.98 lb., respectively. The total gain in 120 days of the 

 test was 3.08 and 1.92 lbs. per chick, the cost of a pound of gain being 6.1 and 6.2 

 cents, respectively. "Neither ration had the proper composition for economical 

 gains, one being too wide and the other too narrow. The influence of the food upon 

 the health and development of the fowls was, however, very marked. The nitro- 

 genous chickens were vigorous and hearty at all times, while the carbonaceous ones 



