470 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



or about July 25, the starved pen allowed di.stiuctly by the appearance of the 

 birds and the number of molted feathers in the pen and runs, that the method 

 of forcing the molt by reduced ration and starvation had been successful. It 

 was also noted that about two weeks after the starved pen had returned to 

 a full ration the hens were still ravenous for their feed, and cleaned it up 

 quicker than those in fed pen. This was no doubt due to the fact that they 

 were ahead of the fed pen in the process of molting and growing new feathers. 

 By August 29, 50 per cent of the hens in the starved pen were again laying, 

 whereas only 14.4 per cent in the fed pen were laying. 



In a comparison of the fattening capacity of cockerels and capons, it was 

 found that the latter in a period of 70 days gained approximately 50 per cent 

 more than the former. 



IJnie water as an egg preservative is discussed, and trials reported in which 

 it was superior to a comniereial ])reservative. 



How to tell the age of hens and pigeons, V. Fortier (Canada Dcpt. Agr. 

 Bui. 16, 2. set: (1913), pp. 19, figs. 21). — This bulletin describes methods of 

 determining the age of hens by the condition of the spur, the color, scales, and 

 general appearance of the leg, the character of the down and epidermis, and 

 the appearance of the wing as affected by the molt. It appears that "the 

 number of short secondaries that are found in the wing indicates the number 

 of molts that the bird has gone through, or, in other words, tells its age. These 

 feathers are shorter than the rest, more rounded at the extremity, with a 

 nearly central quill, and they end in a short straight point, slightly projecting." 



Likewise the age of pigeons may be determined by the appearance of the 

 wings as affected by the molts. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



[Dairy husbandry], J. H. Grisdale, E. S. Archibald, H. T. Gussow, et al. 

 {Canada Evpt. Farms Rpts. 1913, pp. 34-37, 478-480, 543-577, pis. ii).— From 

 experiments conducted to determine the feeding value for dairy cattle of black- 

 strap molasses, it was found that when molasses I'eplaces a meal (composed of 

 bran, gluten meal, cotton-seed meal, and dried brewers' grains 6:3:2:2) pound 

 for pound to the extent of 10 per cent of total meal fed, it proves quite satis- 

 factory ; this is due probably in large measure to the increasing of the palata- 

 bility of the feed. When molasses replaced the meal to the extent of 20 per cent, 

 the cows dropped in their milk flow and milk cost, to produce, more per hun- 

 dred pounds; it is worthy of note that on the 20-per cent molasses (li to 2 lbs. 

 per day) the cows gained in weight and condition. When molasses replaced 

 meal to the extent of 30 per cent, the cows dropped heavily in milk flow and 

 milk cost more per hundred pounds. This quantity of molasses slightly scoured 

 the cows and caused loss in body weight. 



Estimates of returns from four herds show that the profits over feed between 

 calvings (labor, manure, and calf not included) ranged between $52.98 and 

 $96.69 per head for the year. 



Comparisons made of the bacterial content of machine and hand-milked 

 samples of milk showed a considerably greater number of bacteria in the 

 former than in the latter. In dairy records taken of one herd it was found 

 that the cost of food for the five most profitabe cows, whose average pi'oduction 

 of milk was 9.637.2 lbs., and of fat 344.2 lbs., was $54.27, while the profit per 

 cow was $117.83. With the five least profitable cows, whose average yield was 

 6.136.2 lbs. of milk and 208.6 lbs. of fat, the cost was $36.62 and the profit $67.68. 



Plans of several dairy barns are included. 



