140 REPORT OF THE First ASSISTANT OF THE 
during April aud “May in salt, and which had been eee with — 
cotton-seed oil to which had been added boraciec acid, kept from 
four to five months with a loss of nearly one-third, the quality of 
those saved not being good. Hggs packed after the same 7 
preliminary handling, in bran, were all spoiled after four months. — 
Eggs packed in salt during March and April, after wiping with | 
vaseline to which salicylic acid had been added, kept four and 
five months without loss; the quality after four months was — 
much superior to that of ordinary limed eggs. These packed — 
eges were all kept in a barn cellar, the ordinary temperature 
of which varied from 60° to 70° Fahrenheit, and each — 
box was turned once every two days. Little difference was 
observed in the keeping of the fertile or the infertile eggs, and no 
difference was noticeable in the keeping qualities of eggs from — 
different fowls or from those under different rations. 
CAPONIZING. a 
During our experience in caponizing many “slips” haye | : 
appeared among those birds which were oldest when the operation __ 
was performed. The most favorable age seems to be withinafew 
weeks after the time when the sex can readily be distinguished, 
and with those caponized at that time very few slips have been — 
observed. Some have been operated upon by means of the 
second incision from the left side, but so far little advantage has — 
appeared in this method. None have been lost here this year — 
from the operation, and if care is taken in the fasting of the fowls — \ 
and in selecting a bright day, there is no need of the fatality that 
is so often reported. 
BREEDING EXPERIMENT. 
A breeding experiment has been undertaken which must e. 
continue several years before the desired information can be 
secured. Twenty-four fowls are used at the start, six pullets of 3 
each of four breeds, S. C. W. Leghorn, B. Minorica, W. P. Rock 
and Buff Cochin, an individual record is kept for each fowl. Itis 
expected to breed from individuals of the best and poorest record < 
and experiments in regard to fertitity and vitality of eggs will — 
probably also be made in connection. A house has been erected — 
this year in which to conduct this experiment. 
