THE CALL OF THE HEN. 109 



'tis true, but we are evidently all at sea in the matter of rrating 

 for egg production. 



Can it be possible that Mendel's law obtains in egg produc- 

 tion, just as it does in leathers and form?. Do we elim':;ite, 

 according to Mendel, tlio. lacror governing certain things in o^j; 

 production, just as we dc m the attempt to control coloring 1 > 

 birds, fcv\ls, animals a,id flowers? If a son of a heavy-laying 

 female is mated to a non-layer and this son does not carry the 

 excess of laying proclivity, do we get poor layers or good lay- 

 ers? If a 100 per cent producing hen (200 eggs or more) is 

 mated to the son of a 100 per cent producing female, it does not 

 follow, if Mendel's law applies, that the mate to the second 100 

 per cent female inherited egg-laying proclivities; therefore, 

 why should the offspring of the second mating be prolific egg 

 producers? And how far back must we go to get the excess of 

 female inclination to reproduction ? 



Predominance of inclination exists somewhere in some 

 tangible form, but we do not seem to be able to find it under 

 our present system. That we will is conclusive, but we must 

 do so quickly, in order to offset the growing increase of food- 

 stuffs. 



The trap nest identifies and gives you the number of eggs 

 a hen lays, and is absolutely necessary if we wish to line breed 

 or raise pedigreed stock. The writer has studied Mendelism 

 since the spring of 1910, as he has, numerous other scientific 

 works in the endeavor to find something that would be of aid! 

 in getting out this work. I must confess that the title, "The 1 

 Call of the Hen," was suggested while on a visit with Comrade 

 Jack London, and that is all I have been able to find that has 

 aided me in this case. Mendelism may be found an aid along 

 the line of feathers, but I doubt if there is anything in it that 

 will aid the poultryman in the selection of breeders for type, 

 stamina, and the production of eggs, or meat. It may be that, 

 having eyes I fail to see it. Even if there should be anything 

 of value in Mendelism, it would take two or more years to get 

 it out, while the Hogan Test indicates the value of a bird in a 

 few minutes, at most. It looks to me as if the poultrymen will 

 have to look to the trap nest, and the Hogan Test to develop 

 and maintain the high scoring meat and egg producing hen. 



