New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 75 
THE EFFECT OF A RATION WITH MUCH CORN AS MODIFIED BY TYPE 
OF HEN, 
Continuing the study of effects of rations varying in composition 
a feeding experiment’ was made in 1890 with four lots of hens. 
The rations were contrasted as to protein content, influenced chiefly 
by the free use of corn in one ration. Neither ration was con- 
sidered an extreme, the average nutritive ratio of one being about 
1:3.9 and of the other about 1:5.2. To a certain extent the cumu- 
lative effect of the rations was involved, for these hens had been 
during the year preceding under rations similarly contrasted. 
With hens of the larger breeds the two rations seemed about 
equally efficient, for while there was for the whole season a 
slightly larger production of eggs under the wider ration, there was 
during the six months of heaviest production a margin in favor of 
the hens having the narrower ration. With the hens of smaller 
breeds the wider ration containing the corn meal proved more 
emetent 101 those. under ‘it~ laid’. about 50° per -ct. more 
eggs than similar hens under the more nitrogenous ration. 
The consumption of food was about alike under both rations. 
Better average health was maintained under the more nitrogenous 
ration. ‘The smaller hens, though using less food per fowl, required 
much more per pound of live weight. 
Handling and weighing during the feeding trial indicated that the 
fowls under the more carbonaceous corn meal ration continued 
fatter, but when- fed freely for several weeks after the laying 
and molting seasons were over, the hens having the narrower ration 
became somewhat fatter and carried less lean meat, as dissection 
of nineteen typical individuals showed. It was found also that the 
bones were slightly heavier in the hens that had: been fed the wider 
ration. While this did not signify much in a positive way it showed 
that the continuous feeding for two years, commencing before 
maturity, on a ration about 60 per ct. of which was corn and corn 
meal did not result in more excessive development of fat or lack of 
bone than the use of considerably narrower rations. 
Perhaps the chief interest in this result lies in the fact that at that 
time prominent writers, probably influenced by unfavorable results 
from the excessive or unvaried feeding of corn to certain animals, 
especially the young, were advising against any use of this grain, 
urging with little qualification that Indian corn was less efficient 
‘Bul. 29; also in Rpt. 9:123-135 (1890). 
