SERICULTURE I323 



II. In the I year competition ended on the 31st IVIarch igi6 there 

 took part : a) 19 groups of 6 hens in their ist laying year ; b) 22 groups of 

 hens in their 2nd laying year which had already competed in the previous 

 year. The breeds represented were : White lyCghorn, Brown Leghorn, 

 Black Orpington and Silver Wyandotte. 



The year was remarkable for an exceptional drought, and the green 

 food had to be reduced. The hens were given in the morning a hash of 

 sharps, bran and flour with a little salt ; in the evening a mixture of wheat 

 and maize ; liver once a week ; crushed shells to any amount ; and often 

 epsomite (natural magnesium sulphate) dissolved in water. 



The results were not so good as those of the preceding year. The 

 general average obtained was 168 eggs per hen against 182 in the preceding 

 year. The ist two groups of hens respectively produced during the ist 

 productive year 1265 eggs, weighing 680 grms per dozen, and 1227 eggs 

 weighing 708 grms per dozen. During the 2nd year of production, the 

 ist 2 groups of hens respectively have 2144 eggs weighing 680 grms per 

 dozen, and 2055 eggs with the same average weight. In Table II a compa- 

 rison has been made of the results of the last 3 competitions, indicating 

 the average number of eggs per hen in the different months. 



Table III— The Results of three Egg-laving Competitions held at the Grafton 

 Experiment Farm. — Average number of Eggs laid per month. 



1913-1914 1914-1915 1915 1916 



April 6.0 <j-'> 8-^ 



May 14.3 15.8 7.1 



June II. o 10.4 10.2 



July 16.4 15.8 13.8 



August 21.3 20.8 16.2 



September 21.3 21.0 18.1 



October 21.3 21.7 21.9 



November 19.2 20.7 16. g 



December 17.2 16.9 15.6 



January 17.0 11. 2 18.3 



I-'cbruary 13.2 10.7 13.6 



March 10.6 6.6 8.2 



looi - Experiments in Breeding different Races of Silkworms, at the Silkworm Station .^sericulture 

 of Puerto de Santa Maria (Seville, Spain). — Boktin de infvrmacidn do la EsUuion 



aericicola, IVth year, Xo. 6, p. 3. Puerto de Santa Maria, June 30, 1916. 



The Tabk- a])]K'n'lcd sums \\\) ihu ])rinc!])al results of these cx])erinients. 



