EGG TYPE IN HENS 253 



first two years. This one has the wedge shape, is medium 

 long in body, rather long in neck, with small head. She 

 laid a small egg. 



"In view of the great variation in layers, the question 

 as to whether there is an egg type becomes very impor- 

 tant. If the good layers can be picked out of a flock by 

 reason of some characteristic shape or form, the question 

 of improvement becomes a simple matter. With a view to 

 testing the theory held by many that there is such an egg 

 type, Prof. Dryden sent a number of photographs of good 

 and poor layers to poultry breeders and judges, whom he 

 asked to pick out good and poor layers in a certain group, 

 and give their reasons for the selection. Some of these 

 gentlemen had expressed publicly their belief in the egg 

 type theory. It may be, as some of the gentlemen pro- 

 tested, hard to decide the question from photographs, but 

 a side-view photograph should show if the hen has a long 

 body and a wedge shape, the two points most relied upon 

 by those who say they can pick out the good layers. It 

 must be conceded, however, that the photograph does not 

 offer the same opportunity for a critical study as the hen 

 herself would. The replies received did not seem to offer 

 much support to the theory. They showed a varied col- 

 lection of guesses." 



Common-sense management means success and liberal 

 cash returns ; indifferent methods of work result in fail- 

 ure. Fowls must be kept healthy ; feed bills must not be 

 allowed to equal the income, and there should be a con- 

 stant weeding out of old and poor stock. Every summer 

 and fall it is necessary to select the most vigorous and 

 promising pullets for winter egg production, and these 

 fowls need to be fed and managed with that end in view. 

 They are not to have the same feeding and housing as 

 birds that are being fitted for the poultry market. Unless 

 owners are able and willing to give thorough attention to 



