THE CALL OF THE HEN. 107 



"According to the measurements given in the above table RIO and 

 G3 were the best hens and would lay, if properly fed, in six months 

 about 100 eggs. On the other hand R6 and G9 were not worth keeping. 

 Following is the actual number of eggs laid during the six months of 

 the test from August 24 to February 23rd, compared with the forecast 

 made according to the Hogan System. 



Hen No. Hogan forecast. Actual trap-nest record. 



RIO 100 104 



G3 100 102 



G7 83 83 



R8 83 82 



Gil 83 77 



G8 73 60 



R4 60 51 



R6 48 21 



G9 35 19 



"It will be seen from the above table that the relative egg-laying 

 value of the nine hens was not altered in a single instance. In the case 

 of the first five hens it is remarkably accurate. The next three hens 

 went into partial moult during the test while G9 was sick for a while. 



"These figures speak so eloquently for themselves that no comment 

 is necessary except to emphasize the value of the system from a financial 

 point of view. The profit or loss on the nine hens, figuring the cost 

 of feeding at $1.20 per hen for the six months is as follows: 



Profit over 

 Hen No. cost of feeding. Loss. 



RIO $2.48 



G3 



G7 



R8 



Gil 



G8 



R4 



,2.47 

 51.72 

 51.41 

 U.53 



; .57 

 ; .so 



R6 $0.64 



G9 $0.70 



"The writer wishes to urge the importance of absolute accuracy in 

 taking measurements and in taking them at the right time when 

 hens are laying well. This is illustrated in the case of R7 which just 

 before going into moult measured 4-finger capacity, 2 fingers out of 

 condition and l / 6 pelvic bones. This indicated 265-egg type. But 

 her measurements after moulting were 6 fingers capacity, condition 

 perfect, pelvic bones 7 /ie, indicating 190-egg type. The writer has found 

 that the condition of a hen has considerable influence upon the size of 

 the pelvic bones. 



"In conclusion the writer does not claim that a six months' test of 

 a system either proves or disproves the merits of that system. He 

 merely gives the results of his experiments for the interest or value that 

 may be attached to them. It is his intention to continue this test 

 until the year is finished, when he hopes to be able to offer something 

 more definite and reliable about a system which at least seems worthy 

 of greater recognition among poultry men." 



