51 



The fact thus brought out is of much interest. It furnishes conclu- 

 sive evidence that the digestive process in the case of a soft food 

 like a mash is very rapid. The fact that digestion among birds is 

 relatively much more rapid than with most classes -of animals has 

 been frequently pointed out. Forbush in his paper in the report of 

 the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture for 1899 gives valua- 

 ble data bearing upon this subject concerning a number of smaller 

 birds and crows. Our experiments indicate that the ordinary domes- 

 tic fowl digests soft foods with great rapidity. There has long been 

 a general impression that it is better to give the more solid food at 

 night, especially during the winter, since it will " stay by " the fowls 

 better. Our experiments indicate that this impression is well 

 founded and that the usual practice is correct, but they cannot be 

 considered to prove these points because, of course, it may be that 

 a period of comparative rest for the digestive organs during the 

 night is better than the condition of more continuous work for these 

 organs which would follow the use of solid food at night. 



We have not obtained a sufficient difference in egg production to 

 be considered significant, but it is believed that the experiment so 

 far as it goes indicates that it is better that the mash should be fed 

 in the morning. If given in too large quantities the fowls become 

 inactive and remain comparatively inactive during a considerable 

 part of the forenoon, whereas if they be given whole grain for which 

 they are required to scratch, they are of necessity more active. The 

 results obtained in our experiments cannot be regarded as decisive, 

 and Stewart and Atwood of the West Virginia Experiment Station*, 

 report similar results, the egg production under the two systems be- 

 ing practically the same. The writer's preference, however, is to give 

 the mash in the morning. 



VII. WIDE vs. NARROW R.'^TION FOR EGG PRODUCTION. 



During the past ten years 36 different experiments have been 

 carried out allowing a comparison of results on combinations of feeds 

 with relatively wide and narrow nutritive ratios. The leading idea 

 in these experiments has been to throw light upon the general ques- 

 tion as to the extent to which corn may wisely and safely be used as 

 the principal grain for laying hens. The rations into which corn has 

 ■ entered largely have had a relatively wide nutritive ratio. The 

 grain most largely used in comparison with the corn has been wheat 



*\Vest Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin S3. 



