74 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



that they had tried the same thing, with the same result, we 

 might be able to come to some correct conclusion. Perhaps 

 a single experiment is not sufficient. 



Now, if other people have tried the experiment of in-and- 

 in breeding, and failed, — if they have really tried it, and 

 not guessed at it, — of course that must count against the 

 experiment which I have made. But I hope that, if this 

 Board shall meet in this or any other hall ten years from this 

 time, there will be many individuals who will be able to rise 

 up and say, "I know from practical tests what the result is of 

 breeding in and in." 



Mr. Felch. The gentleman who has just taken his seat 

 says that the introduction of blood was by eggs, saving the 

 females. That does not meet the case, for he put half a 

 dozen new elements into his stock every time he introduced 

 the eggs, which might have helped him out. I do not see 

 that his case touches the point which I advanced, for one 

 introduction of six pullets would have carried him through 

 the whole twenty years. 



In regard to the question of the time that an egg is impreg- 

 nated, I have tried some experiments to determine that 

 question. I took three hens, after they had set and raised 

 their chickens, and put them with a cock for three hours. 

 Then I kept them by themselves until they had laid their 

 litters out. I found that it took forty-eight hours for them to 

 become impregnated ; that the eggs laid during the first forty- 

 eight hours did not hatch ; that seven-eighths of the eggs laid 

 during the next ten days thereafter did hatch ; and that all the 

 eggs laid after that time did not. That is a fact which it may 

 be of advantage to gentlemen to know, in mating their birds 

 for breeding the coming season. If they pen them ten days 

 before saving the eggs, they will secure purity of blood. 



Mr. F. J. Kinney of Worcester. I have had a' little 

 experience in breeding poultry, and I will give the result of 

 my experience, and ask a few questions. 



It is quite important to know what kind of soil you have. 

 I was very successful in raising poultry in Vermont, where 

 I came from, and never had a case of disease, or any trouble. 

 When I came to Massachusetts, my fowls were sick all the 

 time, and they died constantly, and it took me a year or two 



