6 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 441 



contrasted with 300 hens; (b) Diversification within the poultry business — more 

 sales of hatching eggs and chicks instead of market eggs; (c) Higher egg produc- 

 tion—one to four dozen more eggs per hen; (d) Lower cost of feed — two to six 

 cents less per dozen; (e) More favorable feed-egg ratio— one dozen less eggs 

 needed to pay for 100 pounds of feed; (f) More efficient labor — 85 more produc- 

 tive work units per man; (g) Higher price received for eggs — -one to seven cents 

 more per dozen. 



The type of poultry business was an important factor in obtaining high returns 

 as illustrated by the market egg-hatching egg combination. These flocks were of 

 larger size in order to supply a sufficient volume of hatching eggs, egg production 

 was high because of superior breeding and extra care, average egg prices were 

 high because of the premium for hatching eggs, feeding efficiency was high be- 

 cause of high egg production, and labor efficiency was high because these farms 

 were large one-man units and labor-saving practices and equipment were used 

 to advantage. 



Many of the family-type poultry farms were started on a part-time basis with 

 a small flock as a minor farm enterprise or while the operator was engaged in a 

 non-farm occupation. Eggs and poultry were sold at retail prices to overcome the 

 disadvantages of small size, low production, high feed costs, and low labor utiliza- 

 tion. As experience was gained, the flock was expanded and the type of business 

 developed through the market egg to the hatching egg-market egg combination 

 for greatest profits and most efficient operation. Another adjustment in farm 

 organization was the short-time change to broiler production in 1942 and 1943 

 in combination with market egg production. Many market egg farms that were 

 operated efficiently showed average returns over a period of years, but were 

 likely to show low returns if one or two measures of the farm business were un- 

 favorable in any one year. • 



More Efficient Labor Practices on Vegetable Farms. (C. R. Creek.) Varia- 

 tions in organization of the packing crew and the use of a packing table accounted 

 for a range of four to twelve man-minutes of labor per sack to unload, grade, 

 and pack cabbage. Use of a convej'or belt made the packing operation easier 

 with less mechanical damage to heads but about six man-minutes of labor were 

 required per sack. 



Various methods of harvesting and packing iceberg lettuce were observed to 

 determine a combination of practices and equipment for efficient, labor-saving, 

 and low-cost harvesting. Preliminary results indicate that bulk hauling of field- 

 harvested heads which are trimmed and packed from a conveyor belt in the pack- 

 ing shed is preferable to field packing of market crates. More specialization and 

 skill is possible with the packing shed system and lettuce can be graded to obtain 

 more uniform packages. Other advantages are cleanliness, less fatigue, and less 

 wilting of heads after packing. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRONOMY 



Walter vS. Eisenmenger in Charge 



Evaluation of Additions of Sodium Nitrate and Ammonium Sulfate when 

 Applied to the Soil during the Late Summer Preceding the Spring when Tobacco 

 Is Planted. (Walter S. Eisenmenger and Karol J. Kucinski.) It is known that 

 tobacco when planted after such crops as corn, clover, or timothy will not thrive 

 w-ell and will show mild or malignant symptoms of brown rootrot. These plants 

 — corn, clover, and grasses — are comparatively high in lignin at maturity. Many 

 other plants besides tobacco do not thrive well if lignin is present in large amounts. 



