236 FARM MANAGEMENT 



meat at 40 cents apiece, they would bring $35.20. On 

 pullets worth 50 cents apiece, this would give a loss of 

 $14.80, or 30 per cent. 



If the same pullets were kept two years, we would 

 expect to have 77 left to sell for $30.80. This would be a 

 loss of $19.20 for the two years, or 20 per cent a year. 



If kept three years, we would expect to have 68 still 

 living to sell for $27.20. This would make a loss of $22.80 

 for the three years, or 15 per cent a year. 



The table on page 237 shows similar calculations for 

 pullets worth $1 and $2. 



If $2 pullets are sold at the end of one year, the depre- 

 ciation would be $1.65 per hen, or 82 per cent. This would 

 be equal to 7.5 dozen eggs at the average price in Ohio 

 (page 576) . Evidently, one could not use such pullets for 

 producing eggs to sell at wholesale prices, unless they are 

 kept more than one year. If such pullets were kept until 

 3 years old, the depreciation would be 58 cents a year, equal 

 to 2.6 dozen eggs a year. 



It is evident that common stock may be sold young, but 

 that high-priced poultry should be kept until it is older. 

 If the meat value is 40 cents, and pullets are worth 50 

 cents, it would not pay to keep old hens unless they laid 

 within 10 cents' worth of as many eggs as a pullet. No 

 old hens are likely to do this well. 



If pullets are worth $1, it would pay to keep a hen as 

 long as her eggs are worth within 60 cents of those laid by 

 a pullet. This is a difference of two or three dozen. Hens 

 two or three years old will usually do so well. 



If pullets are worth $2, it will pay to keep a hen as long 

 as her eggs are worth within $1.60 of those laid by a pul- 

 let. This would be a difference of 7 dozen at the prices in 

 Ohio. If any pullet is really worth $2 for producing mar- 



