330 POULTRY PRODUCTION 



XXX, was 1 to 8.6 on the basis of the nutrients consumed, 

 but was 1 to 9 on the basis of the nutrients digested. It is 

 the latter ratio in which the feeder is interested: 



Table XXX. — A Comparison of the Ndtbients Consumed on an 

 Exclusive Diet of Corn, and the Nutrients Digested Per Hen 

 FOB Birds -Weighing Between Three and Fode Pounds, on the Basis 

 of One Hundred Pounds Live Weight. 



Nutritive ratios are referred to as wide, medium, or narrow, 

 when the difference between the first and second factors 

 of the ratio is great, medium, or sUght, respectively. 



Just what the exact limits of a wide or narrow ration are 

 is not fixed with definiteness. For convenience in this 

 work, any ratio less than 1 to 5 will be referred to as narrow 

 and any ratio having a greater proportion of protein than 

 1 to 7 will be called wide. A ratio lying between 1 to 5 and 

 1 to 7 will be called medium. 



An illustration of the close relation between a proper 

 nutritive ratio and production is given by W. P. Wheeler,' 

 who reports that a nutritive ratio of 1 to 4.3 gave 21 per cent, 

 more eggs during the more productive months, with the 

 heavier breeds, than did a ratio of 1 to 5.8. Hens of the 

 lighter breeds gave 26 per cent, more eggs where the latter 

 ratio was used. 



' Twenty-sixth Annual Report, New York Experiment Station 



