50 THE CALL OF THE HEN. 



damp heavy soil. And they will mature much sooner in a 

 good corn country where it is warm in the shade and w^irin 

 at night than they will in a poor corn country where it is cool 

 at night and cool in the day time in the shade. I have raised 

 Leghorn pullets that were fully developed in size and form 

 and laid a full sized egg when they were four months old. 



It can be done in Massachusetts, New York, New Hamp- 

 shire and Minnesota, and in parts of California where the 

 nights are so warm that one can sleep comfortably under a 

 sheet only. But not where you have to cuddle under a lot of 

 blankets on a summer night to keep warm. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

 THE SELECTION OF TYPES. 



If the reader has practiced handling a hen as in Figures 5- 

 6-7-8-9-10 and 11, we will proceed with a lesson in judging 

 hens as to the number of eggs they will lay their first laying 

 year. 



We will look for a small hen to commence with, as 

 she will be easier to handle. Having our hen, we will hold 



CHART 1. 

 One Finger Abdomen 



1-16 pelvic bone 36 eggs 



1-8 pelvic bone 32 eggs 



3-16 pelvic bone 28 eggs 



1-4 pelvic bone 24 eggs 



5-16 pelvic bone 20 eggs 



3-8 pelvic bone 16 eggs 



7-16 pelvic bone 12 eggs 



1-2 pelvic bone 8 eggs 



9-16 pelvic bone .... 4 eggs 



5-8 pelvic bone eggs 



her as nearly as we can as in Fig. 5, and try to have her head as 

 in Fig. 6 so she can see nothing. She will then be easier to 

 handle. Place hand across her abdomen as in Fig. 7. She may 



