442 AGRICULTURE 



eggs. The number of eggs produced by a flock depends 

 (1) on the breed, whether of the laying, or meat, type; (2) 

 on the feed, whether it consists of a balanced ration con- 

 taining the elements required by the egg; and (3) the 

 housing and care. 



Profitable layers. There is a great difference in the 

 laying qualities not only of different breeds, but also of 

 individual hens. An average grade or scrub hen will lay 

 about seventy-five eggs in a year ; a high-class hen of a lay- 

 ing breed, more than two hundred. These two hens eat the 

 same amount of food, take the same amount of room, and 

 require the same amount of care. The one hardly pays for 

 her keep, the other makes possible a handsome profit. It 

 will pay every farmer to weed out the poor layers from 

 his flock, and fill their places with productive hens. 



Age and egg production. Young hens are the best 

 layers. Only in the case of exceptional layers should hens 

 be kept after they are two years old. Hens that have 

 passed their second year will continue laying and produce 

 a fair number of eggs, but younger hens will produce more 

 eggs, and should therefore take the place of the older ones. 



Pullets should begin laying in the fall of their first year. 

 In order that they may do this, it is necessary to have them 

 hatched out early in the preceding spring, preferably not 

 later than March or April, and about two months earlier in 

 the South. They should then lay throughout the winter, 

 and be at their best the following summer. 



The quality of eggs. Eggs are rated commercially 

 according to size as extras when the weight is from twenty- 

 six to twenty-eight ounces to the dozen ; as firsts when they 

 weigh from twenty-four to twenty-six ounces to the dozen ; 

 and as seconds when they weigh less than twenty-four 

 ounces. In some places eggs are now sold by weight. For 

 these reasons the size is of great importance. 



