20 The Hen at Work 



duce a full quota of eggs from about three fourths 

 the food required by the American breed. A flock 

 of thirty Leghorns will do well on the food called 

 for by two dozen Plymouth Rocks. When food is 

 high, this is important. 



The Leghorn breed lays white eggs, and the best 

 strains of White Leghorns lay beautiful specimens 

 which will average twenty-four ounces to the 

 dozen, about the average of the American breeds. 



In the northern States there has been a preju- 

 dice against white eggs. The Boston market to- 

 day places a discount on white eggs, while^the 

 people in New York will pay a premium for them. 

 Years ago the hens in the north all laid brown eggs, 

 being the heavy breeds, while almost all those 

 around the New York market were of the Leghorn 

 type. Of course the people knew that white eggs 

 in the Boston market were shipped from a distance, 

 and the New York City people had reason to sus- 

 pect that brown eggs were not laid nearby. 



This custom, like all other customs, had a real 

 cause, and was not based on a mere whim ; but con- 

 ditions have greatly changed, and the age or con- 

 dition of eggs can no longer be told by their color. 



Some people pretend that they can detect a 



