24 



true here, no doubt, as they are in New York State, the whole- 

 sale price being 45 cents for January, 34 cents for February, 

 23 cents for March, 23 cents for April, 23 cents for May, 25 

 cents for June, 29 cents for July, 34 cents for August, etc. 

 The values of the eggs of those early layers were $4.08; those 

 that were hatched between six and seven months, $4.12; those 

 that laid at seven to eight months, $4.29; those that laid 

 between eight and nine months, $2.49; and the 19 birds that 

 did not lay until after nine months, $1.93. Now coming clear 

 over to the three-year record you will find that the birds that 

 began early laid 145 eggg; those that began next, 125; then 

 123, 112 and 95, and the values of these eggs were $3.64, $3.34, 

 $2.84, $2.15. 



Now, suppose we make a rule that Leghorns hatched in the 

 middle of April or early May, and which do not lay by the time 

 they are eight months old, shall get a leg band on the left shank, 

 and those that continue to lay after September 1 get a leg band 

 on the right shank. After studying all these birds in all these 

 different combinations we find that this is the one best rule to 

 go by with Leghorns, and if you do that you will not lose very 

 many good birds. Now, by doing that we found that out of 

 166 birds 81 of them fell into the class of having two leg bands, 

 one on each shank; they began to lay before they were eight 

 months old, and they continued to lay after September 1. Now, 

 get their production, — 166 eggs. Eighty-one birds out of 166 

 average 166 eggs per year. Forty-four birds fall into the class 

 of laying before eight months, but ceasing before September 1; 

 they get a leg band only on the left shank. They laid 122 eggs 

 as against 166. Thirteen birds fall into the class of beginning 

 to lay after eight months, but continuing to lay after September 

 1. They get a leg band on the right shank only. See what they 

 laid, — 114 eggs. Then there are 28 birds that get no leg 

 bands; they began after eight m.onths and they ceased before 

 September 1; they had a very short laying period, so they get 

 no leg bands. They averaged 90 eggs. 



A Member. I would like to ask you. Professor, in making 

 this test if there was no mortality among those 166 birds? 

 Professor Rice. The records would naturally be comparable 



