156 POULTRY BREEDING 
had adopted because it has given him satisfactory results. 
Apart from a few whose experiments and experience do 
not carry the weight of very much authority, our investi- 
gators say that promoting egg production by any system 
of feeding is a matter on which they do not feel like 
speaking positively. We have thought it best to give 
several methods on the authority of a number of poultry 
investigators, with full particulars as to the breeds used 
and the conditions surrounding the work. 
It is quite definitely determined that some breeds pro- 
duce eggs at considerably lower feed-cost than others, 
but when we begin to discuss the profits derived from 
keeping one breed or another several factors appear in 
the problem which involve it in difficulties that leave the 
whole question open to discussion with good arguments 
on each side. On the authority of \W.S. Thompson, after 
he had conducted five great egg-laying competitions in 
Australia, each one extending through an entire year, we 
have reason for saying that Leghorns produce eggs at a 
much lower feed-cost than the largcr breeds. However, 
Mr. Thompson does not base his opinion on anything 
more tangible than daily observations, although being a 
close observer there is no doubt that his opinion should 
carry much weight. At the Maine station, where Barred 
Plymouth Rocks are kept, the method of feeding fol- 
lowed has been found very satisfactory, inasmuch as it 
secures immunity from overfatness to which this breed 
is very liable, after reaching maturity. Further than 
that this method has given good results nothing is 
claimed for it, nor does it need any other claim to estab- 
lish it as a good one. It should be remembered that 
while a full-fed hen can lay to the limit of her capacity it 
is equally true that the full-feeding of Plymouth Rock 
