298 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
“Now for summary. Pen 1 scored the most points for number 
of eggs, evenness of size and colour, and consistency in laying. 
Pen 4 came second in number and size of eggs. Pen 5 third for 
number and size of eggs; weight for weight I think they would 
have beaten No. 1, which won on numbers, tint and value by 
laying in the winter months. Pen 2 were not consistent layers, 
although they laid well when eggs were dear, which brought up 
their value and placed them fourth on the list. Pen 3 were fifth, 
partly owing to broodiness. Pen 6 came in sixth, and were a bad 
lot. 
“The results of my experiment proved that there was very little 
to be gained by crossing and a lot to risk. The one great advan- 
tage was hardiness and low death rate amongst the chickens, 
which was remarkable as compared with pure stock, and this is 
what commends it to novices and farmers. As for myself, I shall 
stick to pure stock as before. 
‘IT need hardly remark that the chickens were all reared in foster- 
mothers, and the laying tests carried out on the semi-intensive 
plan, in houses 8 feet by 4 feet by 4 feet high, with open run 
8 feet by 4 feet on grass, and moved every week to fresh ground. 
No trap-nests were used. The four birds were judged together. 
«They were fed on wet mash composed of half Sussex ground 
oats, quarter bran, quarter fish and meat meal, dried off with 
sharps, alternated each morning; oats midday, wheat evenings, 
and plenty of green and root foods all the time.” 
We are all indebted to Mr Whitelocke for giving us the results 
of his varied experiment, even if one cannot quite subscribe to 
his conclusions. Personally I should have been amply satisfied 
with the results of his first three pens of first crosses which yielded 
232, 204 and 199 eggs per bird per annum. How many of those 
who advocate nothing but pure breeds could take a half-dozen 
birds at random and guarantee the figures given by Mr White- 
locke ? Not many. 
My experience leads me to expect much better results with 
the Leghorn-Orpington, especially if it be the Buff Orpington. 
It is rather strange, too, that in this mating most of the progeny 
