516 Report of the First Assistant. 



weight at eight cents per pound, — amounts to 143.7 cents, which 

 exceeds the total cost by 48. *2 per cent. 



The average cost per Cochin chick when hatched was 3.56 cents. 

 The total cost, including hatching, for a pullet and cockerel was 

 46.54 cents, and the average wholesale market value of the cockerel 

 when the sexes were separated was 54.24 cents. The average total 

 net cost per pullet November 23d was 12.9 cents. The cost of food 

 for the year made the average net outlay per hen 117.96 cents. 

 The market value of the eggs added to the poultry value per hen 

 (six and three-hfths pounds average live weight at eight cents per 

 pound), amounted to 177.4 cents, an excess over the total cost of 

 50.4 per cent. This makes the showing somewhat the more favor- 

 able to the larger fowls. In practice the cost of keeping through 

 the few last months, including the molting season, would be saved 

 and the final poultry value of the hens probably greater, for they 

 would be sold earlier in the season. 



SUMMAKY. 



1. Two lots of laying hens, of large and small breeds respectively, 

 having their grain food only dry and whole, ate more food at 

 greater cost per fowl and for the live weight than did two similar 

 lots having about 37 per cent, of their grain ground and moistened. 



2. A pen of Leghorns, which had for the year 37 per cent of 

 ther food ground and moistened grain, produced eggs at a greater 

 profit than did an exactly similar pen fed whole grain. 



3. Of two like pens of Cochins, the one fed whole grain produced eggs 

 at much less cost than did the pens having ground grain, which result 

 is attributed partly to the exercise assured in feeding whole grain. 



4. With the kinds of whole grain ordinarily available it' is not 

 possible to feed a largely grain ration having as narrow a nutritive 

 ratio, that is — containing as large a proportion of the nitrogeneous 

 food constituents, as is perhaps necessary for best results from lay- 

 ing hens. 



5. By using some of the highly nitrogenous by-products with 

 ground grain it is possible to feed a somewhat narrow ration with- 

 out feeding an excessive amount of meat. 



fi. With hens fed similar rations, when the hens of smaller breeds 



ivft only the same egg yield aa the hens of larger breeds, the eggs 



are more cheaply produced by the smaller hens ; but taking into 



consideration the cost of raising and the ultimate poultry value of the 



hens, the profits will be equal or more favorable for the larger hens. 



