570 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. [Vol.35 



length, and width of eggs, and breed characteristics seem to be significant, 

 although not definitely proved. 



It has been shown that ostriches are similar to poultry in that hens begin- 

 ning to lay early in the season are usually the best layers. The four hens that 

 began to lay in January averaged 36 eggs during the season, and produced 72 

 per cent of the eggs laid during the year, while only 28 per cent came from the 

 other five hens. The average number of eggs laid by hens beginning to lay in 

 February was 21, in March, 11, and in April, 8. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Influence of environment and breeding in increasing dairy production, 

 H. H. KiLDEE and A. C. McCandlish {Iowa Sta. Bui. 165 {1916), pp. S83-402, 

 figs. 29). — In this investigation it was attempted to determine the influence of 

 pure-bred dairy sires in increasing the production from a foundation of scrub 

 cows as well as the effect of improved feeding and management. In order that 

 other influencing factors might be brought to a minimum, scrub cows from an 

 isolated region of Arkansas were selected for the basis of this work in 1907. 

 The work is still in progress and the data presented in this publication are in 

 the form of a preliminary report, taking all records completed up to the end 

 of 1915. 



The animals purchased were inferior individuals, being rather small, of very 

 limited abdominal, udder, and vein capacity, and very unprepossessing so far as 

 quality and top lines were concerned. The scrub cows and their calves were 

 given the same care, feed, and shelter as the pure-bred dairy cattle in the herd. 

 This environment has remained fairly constant during the eight years' work. 

 Pure-bred sires of the Guernsey, Holstein, and .Jersey breeds were used on these 

 scrub cows and all heifer calves grown under the same conditions as the pure- 

 bred calves on the farm. Heifers by pure-bred sires wei-e bred to other pure- 

 bred sires of the same breed and the heifer calves resulting from this union were 

 also kept for dairy purposes. 



The results of the eight years' work as given are summarized as follows: 

 The scrub cows that came to the station when young (four years old) increased 

 in production rapidly and steadily up to the fourth lactation period after reach- 

 ing the station, when they produced 59 per cent more milk and 54 per cent more 

 fat than during the first period. The scrub cows that came to the station 

 advanced in age did not increase in production after the first year. However, 

 it can not be said that their production was not greater than it had been under 

 their original environment. 



The scrub heifers developed at the station averaged 13 per cent more milk 

 and 12 per cent more fat than did the scrub cows that came to the station when 

 four years old or over. The daughters of all except one pure-bred bull have 

 proved to be much better producers, as 2- and 3-year-olds, than their dams as 

 mature cows. The average of all the records made by first generation heifers 

 by a pure-bred Holstein sire show an increase of 2,314.5 lbs., or 71 per cent, in 

 milk and 67.15 lbs., or 42 per cent, in fat. at an average age of three and a half 

 years, over the records of their scrub dams at an average age of six years. The 

 average record of the one first generation Jersey grade that has freshened was 

 205.6 lbs., or 6 per cent, more milk and 32.9 lbs., or 20 per cent, more fat, at an 

 average age of two and a half years, than the record of her scrub dam at an 

 average age of seven years. 



The greatest increase shown by any of the first generation grades was by the 

 second Guernsey bull used. This heifer as a 2-year-oId produced 3,451 lbs., or 

 131 per cent, more milk and 179.22 lbs., or 136 per cent, more fat than the 



