CHANGES IN EGG PRODUCTION. 109 



December it should not be hard to improve production in other months, 

 where necessary. Hence, emphasis is laid on winter production, so 

 called, as at this season eggs bring two to two and one-half times the price 

 paid in April. The producer who can secure a 50 per cent jaeld in those 

 months will reap the reward due to his ability, at least in the immediate 

 future, while if the methods by which such a yield is obtained become 

 common practice, the consumer will benefit through lower prices and 

 steady supply. While the producer may not continue to reap the harvest 

 due to pioneer methods, his business will be on a firm basis, with the 

 period of all outgo and no income eliminated. 



The desirability of increased fall and winter production is made clearer 

 by a comparison of the station flocks with certain farm contest flocks in 

 Missouri as reported by Townsley (1920). The latter's average Novem- 

 ber production for the last four years ranges from 2.0 to 2.5 per hen, being 

 2.3 eggs each for nearly 25,000 birds in 1920. The best flock of 124 birds 

 averaged 8.1 eggs each. On the other hand, a flock of high-line birds of 

 similar size at this station averaged 18 eggs each. If all the flocks of the 

 country were as good layers as this particular flock, — and there is no 

 biological reason why they should not be, — • it is apparent that both 

 consumer and producer would benefit. 



EGGS 

 OCTl 80 



DEC. I 40 



''^^■' '\i--\2 -la-M '"-'^ "-'^ '"'-■'^ "'"'^ "'^''^ ''^''^° '^°''^' 



Fia. 5. — Winter Production and Date of First Egg for Flocks of 1912-20. 



Solid line represents mean winter production. Up to but not including 1917-18, the mean 

 for the entire flock is given. From 1917-18 on, it is for the high line only. L-L', low 

 line. B-B', original high line. H, mean of several high families in 1916-17. ] NB, 

 mean of low-broody flock. 4128cf and 3003 cf, mean of daughters of the respective 

 males. 



Dotted line represents mean date of first egg for set of birds making winter records shown 

 in continuous line. 



Results secueed. 



Data on mean winter production, mean annual production, and mean 

 age at first egg are presented for each year of the experiment. Data on 

 broodiness have been recently published and need not be repeated here. 



