PRACTICAL LAYING CONTESTS 297 



of these same " Systems " in which the birds are car- 

 ried, according to the testimony, in floclcs of many 

 hundreds. In the latter case, profits more than four 

 times as great as those gained in the Australian tests 

 are claimed ! Prices of eggs average higher here 

 recently, so that this may account for one half of the 

 discrepancy. Where the rest may come in, is, I think, 

 a good problem for the Beginner to study ! 



The Beginner would do well, also, to consider, briefly, 

 a single sentence in the reports from Australia as to 

 losses in the flock : "The general mortality of the tests 

 is practically all caused by ovarian weakness." This 

 can mean only one thing, viz., that, in the effort to 

 stimulate, through scores of generations, the laying 

 capacity of our domestic birds, we have put such a 

 strain upon the organs of reproduction that weakness in 

 the female often shows there first, even in such lots as 

 have been especially selected for testing, and are pre- 

 sumably above average in vigor of constitution. 



But what is the conclusion .'' Man, in general, keeps 

 hens primarily, not for pleasure, but for profit from their 

 product. If he cannot get the profit, he does not want 

 the birds, except as a matter of convenience. We can- 

 not, then, reverse our treatment, so as not to require 

 large production. And if this be the case, we must 

 make every effort to grow lusty stock, to give the 

 maximum of fresh air and exercise which make for 

 vigorous health, and to show at least some reasonable- 

 ness of mind in our requirements as to production. 



In one of our State Bulletins, not long ago, a report of 

 above nineteen per cent of losses during about fifteen 

 months was given out. If any practical handler of fowls 



