74. TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY Report. 
proportions of protein. Neither ration fed was extreme, the aver- 
age nutritive ratio for most of the time being about 1:4.3 for one 
ration and about 1:5.8 for the other. On the average for all hens 
fed the effect on egg production was not greatly different for the 
two rations, but when the type of hen was considered the difference 
Was more apparent, hens of smaller and more active breeds laying 
better thoughout under the wider ration and those of heavier breeds 
better under the narrower ration. During the more productive 
months about 26 per ct. more eggs were obtained from the smaller 
hens under the wider ration, and from the larger hens about 21 
per ct. more were obtained under the narrower ration. 
Analyses made of the eggs showed, as in 1888, little difference 
in the general composition as influenced by the breed or by the 
two rations fed. 
FEEDING TABLE FOWLS.® 
During the winter months another feeding trial was made with 
cockerels and capons, for the earlier two months of which little 
difference was found in the rate of growth or in the amount of 
food required for it. Later in the season, after February, increase 
in weight was not obtained at a profit (the cockerels making some- 
what the poorer showing) though it was considered that feeding at 
this stage might often be justified as carrying the fowls to a time 
of better market price. 
POULTRY MANURE. 
Account © was kept of the manure collected from pens of laying 
hens under different rations and from pens of fattening fowls. 
Analyses were made of a number of samples and also of some col- 
lected the preceding year. 
Manure from fattening fowls had a higher fertilizing value than 
from laying hens with similar food. Manure from hens fed a nitrog- 
enous ration was of greater value than from hens fed a more 
carbonaceous ration. It was found that over 40 per ct. of the nitro- 
gen originally in the dung was lost in drying, though it was rapidly 
dried. Suggestion was made in the report that freshly collected 
poultry manure be at once mixed with some dry absorbent. 
"Rpts. 8:63, 64 (1889); 9:136 (1890). 
* Rpt. 8:62, 64 (1889). 
