POULTRY WORK. 



211 



ment. This is shown in the following table which gives the 

 annual egg production for the years 1899 to 1907. 



It will be seen from the last column of this table that the 

 annual average production increased during the first three years 

 of the experiment. A second maximum was reached in 1905- 

 1906. The general trend of the figures, however, can best be 

 appreciated if they are shown graphically as in the following 

 figure. 



160 



3 150 



140 



i 130 



120 





Showing change in average annual egg production. 



The zigzag line in this figure is the plotting of the last column 

 of the table. The straight line is the line which best fits this 

 zigzag line as determined by accurate mathematical methods. 

 The downward slope of the lines is apparent. 



It should be said that in the later years of the experiment 

 (from 1902 on) there occurs in all but one year some accident 

 which may be held to have diminished the egg production below 

 what it should normally have been. In the detailed discussion 

 of these figures in the complete report the most liberal allow- 



