78 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



smaller number in a cycle. It was observed tbat hens usually visited a number 

 of nests and spent some time on them before selecting the nest in which they 

 finally laid. 



The average time spent on the nest in laying was found to be 1 hour and 35 

 minutes for each of two tests with White Leghorns. 1 hour and 45 minutes and 



1 hour and 49 minutes, respectively, for two tests with Rhode Island Reds, and 



2 hours and 16 minutes in one test with White Plymouth Rocks. The time the 

 hens spent on nests when not laying brought the average per egg produced up 

 to about two hours. The proportion of the total time spent on the nest before 

 and after the egg was actually delivered varied greatly, but no correlation was 

 apparent between the rate of egg production and the average length of time 

 spent on the nest fn laying. Hens frequently visited the nests and spent con- 

 siderable time there on days when they did not lay. 



Nests appeared much more attractive to the hens when they contained at 

 least one egg, and to become less attractive as the number of eggB was increased 

 to more than three or four. In three tests to determine the value of nest e- 

 the numbers of eggs laid in the first test in nests furnished, respectively, with 

 no nest egg, china egg, and hen's egg were in the ratio 100 : 19S : 2G9 ; in the 

 second test with no nest egg, glass egg, hen's egg, and wooden egg in the ratio 

 was 100: 100: 1 v t : '_'.':.'; ; and in the third test with no nest egg, hen's egg, 

 wooden egg, and plaster of Paris egg, 100 : 194:208: 221 



The relative number of eggs laid in concealed and exposed nests was re- 

 spectlvely, 118 and 100. In one test 91.7 per cent nnd in another ST.G per cent 

 of all eggs produced were laid in concealed nests with nest eggs, compared with 

 exposed nests without nest eggs. Habit did not appear as a strong factor in 

 determining the particular nest in which the hen chose to lay from day to 

 day. It is stated that at least one nest for each four or live hens is required 

 to meet the needs of the average farm flock. 



Seasonable facts of special interest to poultrymen. H. R. LEWIS (X< ir Jer- 



st'ts.. Hints to Poultrymen, 7 (1918), A'o. /, pp. $). — Present conditions of 



the poultry industry, the U'fd, fuel, and poultry supply situation, and recent 



rulings of Interest to the egg trade are briefly noted, and the standard shipping 



boxes adapted by the International Baby Chick Association are described. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Profitable dairy-farm organization in Kentucky. W. P. NlCHOIXS and J. B. 

 Hi rsOH (Kentucky sta. But. 217 (1918), pp. 95 i\i\. figs. 9).— Studies by the 

 farm management survey method were made of 162 dairy farms situated in the 

 district furnishing the bulk of the milk supply of Louisville, and the average 

 results as well as the data pertaining to a number >>f individual farms on which 

 noteworthy results were secured are reported in detail and discussed. On 

 the farms studied 46 per cent of the total receipts were secured from dairy 

 products, 8.2 per cent from dairy cattle, 10 per cent from hogs, 4.6 per Cent 

 from beef cattle. 1.4 per cent from sheep, 8.4 per cent from tobacco, 4.8 per cent 

 from wheat, 4 per cent from feed crops, 2 per cent from poultry, and 11.2 per 

 cent from other sources. 



As based on the average results, the relation to labor incon f the receipts 



per cow, crop yields, the receipts per cow and crop yields combined, size of farm, 

 crop acreage, size of herd, capital, rate of stocking the farm, pasture utilization, 

 amount of live stock kept on crop yield, proportion of farm animals in CO 

 and receipts per cow, receipts from hogs, receipts from crops, and receipts i 



$100 worth of l' 1 is shown in tables. The average fur the most profitable 10 



farms showed a production of milk to the value of $208 per $100 WOTtb of f 



