266 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



in the feed, or there was something wanting in the stock ; 

 •unless the illustration furnished by the gentleman of his 

 neighbor who allowed his hens to run out and work in the 

 leaves, and he secured from the eggs of those hens a much 

 larger per cent of chickens than from his own, where the 

 hens were confined, is the solution of the problem. If so, 

 then it would seem that just as soon as our hens get to work 

 upon the land in April, the eggs begin to hatch and the 

 chickens are strong and healthy. Now, if we can imitate 

 Nature more, and keep our hens at work, it is the best thing 

 we can do for them. Work is good for us, — it is a good 

 deal easier to preach than to practice, I grant, but it is good 

 for us, and it is good for hens. If we can keep them at 

 work constantly, we shall have less trouble about the eggs 

 hatching. Keep both the males and the females at work, 

 and feed them to prevent the accumulation of fat ; feed them 

 on albuminous food, with a percentage of fat sufficient to 

 maintain animal heat. The trouble with us all is, that we 

 like to see our birds in fine condition, with glossy feathers. 

 That comes, we know, from oil, and so we feed substances 

 that will produce fat. Experience is a pretty expensive 

 teacher, but it gives us some very good lessons before we 

 ijet through. 



To turn back to the other question. If your hens com- 

 mence laying about the first of November, and you do not 

 use the eggs for hatching until January or February, I 

 should not expect the eggs would be as vigorous, because 

 you have been taxing the reproductive organs in produc- 

 tion. I would try to keep them down below the egg-pro- 

 ducing point until about the time when you want to use the 

 eggs for hatching. If, when you go home from this meeting, 

 you find that your hens are fat and are not laying eggs, 

 change your system of feeding to one that will reduce fiesh, 

 and the e<i:crs will be^in to come. 



Mr. HiNES. I have had a little experience in dressing 

 Plymouth Rocks that were from one to two years old. I 

 have heard it remarked that hens were fat because they did 

 not lay eggs ; but I have often dressed Plymouth Rocks 

 which were very fat, and I would find them full of eggs. 

 They had been laying every day, and yet the fat would be 



