New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 57 



There was practically no difference in the relation of food to 

 increase in weight for the two lots. By both a pound gain was 

 made for every 3.9 pounds of dry matter in the food. The aver- 

 age growth was greater for the lot having Florida rock and the 

 food cost of net gain was less, being about 5.1 cents and 4.8 

 respectively. 



GROUP G. 



Practically the same basal ration fed to the chicks of this group 

 that was fed to the former group supplied ash constituents to the 

 extent of 4 per ct. of the dry matter. The amount of mineral matter 

 was raised to 12. i per ct. by the addition of oyster shell for lot XVII 

 and to 12.2 per ct. of the total dry matter for lot XVIII by the addi- 

 tion of Florida rock, and to the same proportion for lot XIX by 

 bone ash and oyster shell. 



The most rapid growth was made by the lot having bone ash 

 and shell mixed with the food and less food was required per 

 pound gain. The lot having Florida rock made a better growth 

 than those having sand and a slightly better use of the food, 

 although there was not great difference between these two lots. 

 Poorer results accompanied the use of oyster shell in the food. 

 More food was required by this lot per pound gain, and more 

 chicks died. The equally large loss in pen XIX was not in so 

 large part from disease. The dry matter in the food, exclusive of 

 added mineral matter, for each pound gain was 5.3 pounds for 

 lot XVII, 4.7 pounds for lot XVI, 4.6 pounds for lot XVIII and 

 4.2 pounds for lot XIX. The total food cost per pound gain was 

 6.8 cents for lot XVII, 5.8 cents for lot XIX and 5.6 cents for lots 

 XVI and XVIII. 



IN CONCLUSION. 



In earlier feeding experiments with chicks, the addition of bone 

 ash to rations not rich in mineral matter proved beneficial. By 

 supplying the lack of mineral matter in this way, rations wholly 

 of vegetable origin, arranged with due regard to palatability, 



