ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 39] 



The earlier work of the station I I'.. S. R., 12, p. 674 i. on the value of exercise for 

 la> ing hens, was continued. ( Considering results extending over a number of years, 

 the average egg yield per hen when the grain was scattered in the straw was 169, 



and when fed in boxes L61. With Leghorn hens g I results have been obtained 



when all the feed was placed in a box, and there was apparentlj qo advantage with 

 this breed in making the hens scratch for their grain. When a Brown Leghorn, a 

 White Plymouth Rock, and a White Wyandotte were kepi in a small pen with 

 board floor withoul straw or Litter, the <"_ r, _:- yield was respectively 52, '; s . and 

 per year. The fowls Bhowed weakness in their legs :ii times, bul the Leghorns 

 Beemed to bear the enforced idleness best. With Barred and White Plymouth 

 Etocks the results were decidedly in ia\ or of scattering the grain in straw litter. 



In a comparison of differenl breeds t'<>r egg production for several years the a.\ erage 

 profil per hen was 51.5 cts. peryearwith Barred Plymouth Rocks, 88 cts. with White 

 Wyandottes, and $1.12 with Rose Comb Brown Leghorns. Marked differences were 

 observed in the size of the eggs laid by hens of differenl breeds and of the same breed, 

 but, in general, the Leghorns showed less variation than Wyandottes or Plymouth 

 Rocks. In the case of II hensof differenl breeds, for which complete records were 

 kepi for 2 years, it was found thai the average egg yield was 178 per fowl the firsl 

 year and 125 the second. "Whether there is a characteristic difference in the dif- 

 ferent breeds in this regard our experiments have not been continued long enough 

 to form a basis for conclusion. The records show, however, that individualism must 

 he taken into account, in a few cases more eggs being laid the second year than the 

 first." 



The relative value of fresh meat scraps, cut green hone, commercial meal meal, and 

 milk albumin (a by-producl ofmilk-sugar factories i wastested. The lot fedcommercial 

 meat meal average L33eggs per fowl peryear, as compared with 201.5 eggs in the case 



Of a similar lot fed fresh meat scraps or CUl green hones, and the lol fed milk albumin 



averaged 101 eggs, as compared with L43.5 in the case of a similar lol fed scraps. In 

 a second test the average number of eggs per fowl per year on meat meal was L19, as 

 compared with 154 on meat scraps and 189 on cut green hones. In the author's 

 opinion the data presented are not sufficient to warrant the definite conclusion that 

 the better egg yield with the fresh meat scrap was due to its higher percentage of fat 

 and ash, but " they appear to indicate that in feeding for eggs the poultryman will be 

 able to accomplish with cheap fat, or cheap foods rich in fat, what he has been vainly 

 striving to accomplish with expensive protein." 



As to the possibility of increasing the yellow color of egg yolk by feeding, it was 

 found that when hens were fed dried alfalfa leaves in winter, the yolks of the «"- r '_ r - 

 laid were normal in color, while those laid by similar lots fed no alfalfa were pale 

 in color, and the same improvement in color was noted when hens had aci 

 green grass, alfalfa, and clover. In another test, a mixture of white and yellow corn 

 eaten in place of wheat did not produce yellow yolks, nor did skim milk fed in place 

 of meat meal. " It was not noted that there was any difference in color of yolk from 

 differenl breeds, nor did there appear to be any difference due to individuality. The 

 color of shell is a question of individuality, hut the proper color of yolk is a question 

 of f 1." 



Incubator experiments (pp. 175-191). — The results of weighings showed thai eggs 

 in incubators lost weight more rapidly than those undersetting hens, and indicated 

 that the ventilation was greater in the incubator. The air from incubators showed a 

 much smaller amount of carbon dioxid than that found under setting hens. 

 these tests it appeared that the theory that the chicks died in the -hell- because of 

 insufficient ventilation or fan excess of] carbonic-acid gas was not well founded; 

 rather, the results indicated that the cause was too much ventilation and too little 

 carbonic-acid gas." 



