54 



throughout the continuance of these experiments that the ration with 

 large proportion of corn must be handled with greater care not to 

 over-feed than was necessary with the other ration. Corn is the 

 heavier and heartier feed and the fowls receiving the rations with a 

 large amount of corn more frequently suffered from temporary loss 

 of appetite than the others. 



In the great majority of experiments, the fowls 



Effect of the Ra- receiving the rations rich in corn weighed more 



tions on the Weight throughout the entire period of the experiments 



of the Fowls. and at the close than those receiving the rations 



richer in wheat. This excess in weight usually 

 amounted to from about ^ to ^ pound per fowl. In a number of 

 instances, the fowls were dressed at the conclusion of the experiment 

 and the judgment of an expert obtained. The fowls receiving the 

 corn were as a rule pronounced to be superior to the others. They 

 were not only fatter, but had better color. 



In a considerable number of our experiments, 

 Molt. careful observations were taken on the molt. 



In the majority of instances, where such observa- 

 tions were made, it was found that the fowls receiving more corn 

 molted somewhat earlier than the others. This difference would of 

 course be important only in those cases where the fowls were to be 

 kept a second year. It has not been our policy to follow that course. 



It is by no means clear why the results in these 

 Amount of Fat in experiments have not been more uniformly 

 the Ration Appar- favorable either to the wide or to the narrow 

 ently Influences the nutritive ratio, but these results make it appar- 

 Results. ent that the proportion of fat in the combina- 



tion of foods used exercises a considerable 

 influence on the results. While there are exceptions, it has usually 

 been found that if the proportion of fat in the ration was relatively 

 high and equalized for the two under comparison, the wide nutritive 

 ratio has given the greater number of eggs. 



It cannot be claimed that these experiments 

 Summary. demonstrate superiority either of the wide (^corn) 



or the narrow nutritive ratio (wheat).* The 

 rations containing the more corn, however, surpass those containing 

 the more wheat in each of the following particulars : 



*Dr. J. B. Lindsey, to whom the writer is under obUgations for a number o/ vahiable 

 suggestions and criticisms, expresses the belief that tiie results would have been more 

 decisive had the differences in the nutritive ratios compared been made greater. 



