IN THE POULTRY YARD. 175 
Earln Chickens and High-Priced Eggs. 
May, is one of the oldest problems in the “ Chicken 
Business.” If we could only get the hens to accom- 
modate us in this respect, the making of a fortune would be an 
easy thing. But out of every 1,000 eggs that are produced during 
the year by an ordinary flock, it will be found that 
45 are produced in January. 
56 ‘ “February, 
132 os “March. 
TYG: ge 1H “April. 
150 “May. 
96“ s “June. 
87 ee «July. 
54 ou “August. 
83 OS Be “September. 
84 et “ October. 
26 es “November. 
in. * me “December. 
Consequently, while eggs bring 50 cents per dozen in Decem- 
ber, they fall in price to 18 to 20 cents in May. What can be done 
to effect a change in this respect ? 
At first sight, it would seem that the advent of cold weather is the 
chief cause of the stoppage in the production of eggs, and to test 
this, Reaumur kept his hens in artificially warmed houses and tried 
in this way to get eggs in winter. But he failed. We might have 
expected this when we observe that one of the coldest months, 
March, is also one of the most prolific. Others have hoped by 
stimulating food to make the hens keep up egg-laying. We lave 
