98 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



fault of the stock, the average was 131^ eggs. It must be 

 borne in mind that 1902 was the first year we had pullets from 

 the 200 egg stock to collect eggs from. In the records, only the 

 eggs laid in the nests are accounted for. Had those found on 

 the floor been reckoned in, the average per bird would have been 

 slightly increased. 



As the housing, treatment and food, have been as nearly alike 

 as we could make them during the last five years, there seems 

 to be reason for assuming that the flock yields of 1902, 1903 and 

 1904 over those of previous years are the results of the breeding 

 practiced. 



Sufficient time has not yet ela'psed since beginning these breed- 

 ing tests to establish claims of increased productiveness, but 

 the outlook is certainly very encouraging. 



The plans on which we are working are based on every-day 

 common sense. We are rejecting the drones and breeding 

 producers together to secure producers. It is known that the 

 laws of inheritance and transmission are as true with birds as 

 with cattle, sheep and horses, and when we consider the wonder- 

 ful changes that have been made in the form, feather and egg 

 production of hens since their domestication commenced, there 

 is ample reason for assuming that a higher average egg produc- 

 tion than the present can be secured, by breeding only from 

 those birds that are themselves great producers. 



The purposes of this work should not be misunderstood ;^we 

 are not trying to breed stock that shall average to yield 200 eggs 

 per year. If the average yield of the hens of the breed should 

 be increased to the extent of a dozen eggs per bird, the value of 

 the work would be many times its cost. 



'■ OTHER METHODS OE SELECTING BREEDING STOCK. 



During last August we found 29 of the pullets that were 

 hatched the first of April, were laying in the brooder houses out 

 on the range. They were carried into the laying houses, banded 

 and given access to trap nests. They were given our usual 

 treatment and feed and we commenced keeping records with 

 them September first and will continue doing so through the 

 year. 



