THE CALL OF THE HEN. 125 



system from a financial point of view. The profit or loss on 

 the nine hens, figuring the cost of feeding at $1.20 per hen 

 for the six months is as follows: 



Profit over 

 cost of feeding. Loss. 



RIO $2.48 



G3 $2.47 



G7 $1.72 



R8 $1.41 



Gil $1.53 



G8 $ .57 



R4 $ .50 



R6 $0.64 



G9 $0.70 



"The writer wishes to urge the importance of absolute 

 accuracy in taking measurements and in taking them at the 

 right time when hens are laying well. This is illustrated 

 in the case of R7 which just before going into moult measured 

 4 finger capacity, 2 fingers out of condition and Vs pelvic 

 bones. This indicated the 265 egg type. But her measure- 

 ments after moulting were 6 fingers capacity, condition per- 

 fect, pelvic bones 7 /i6> indicating 190 egg type. The writer 

 has found that the condition of a hen has considerable in- 

 fluence upon the size of the pelvic bones. 



"In conclusion the writer does not claim that a six months 

 test of a system either proves or disproves the merits of that 

 system. He merely gives the results of his experiment for 

 the interest or value that may be attached to them. It is 

 his intention to continue this test until the year is finished, 

 when he hopes to be able to offer something more definite 

 and reliable about a system which at least seems worthy of 

 greater recognition among poultrymen." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



"How CAN I TELL A LAYING HEN?" 



I am asked this question very often, and in reply would say 

 that from a scientific point of view it is impossible to tell the 

 laying hen except with the X-ray. When I say this I do not 

 mean that you cannot tell in the vast majority of cases, but 



