A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 47 



sary according to the nature of the soil. Clay soils or soils of 

 a close texture soon become foul, and trampled down, so as 

 to make them impermeable to water ; whereas open, sandy, or 

 gravelly soils allow the impurities to sink down into the sub- 

 soil with every heavy rainfall. 



In its effect on egg production, runs which are very large 

 may cut down this production by excess of exercise. Under 

 certain circumstances, the food picked up may be mostly used 

 up in muscular effort. 



A flock in good laying condition, and producing heavily, 

 which had been confined in moderate sized yards, and then 

 allowed to run over a wide stretch of ground all day, would 

 almost surely drop of? in egg yield in a day or two. The same 

 flock if allowed only an hour or so, at or near dusk, so that 

 they will return of their own accord, over the same ground, 

 would very likely increase their tgg yield by reason of this 

 liberty. 



The records given by the writer were made in yards with- 

 out a blade of green stuff growing therein, and the fowls were 

 not outside of these yards over thirty minutes in three hundred 

 and sixty-five days. 



Too much exercise reduces flesh and makes muscle — so 

 much so that some butchers object to, and will refuse to pur- 

 chase, Leghorn hens for marketing. Butchers have a basis for 

 this objection in many cases. Fowls of the variety in ques- 

 tion when half fed, or when forced to work hard for every 

 bit of food they procure, will be tough eating. 



A Leghorn hen at the age of three years, that has been 

 properly fed for egg production will, if in good condition for 

 marketing, prove as good eating and as tender as any other 

 variety of matured fowls at any age. We have eaten Leghorn 

 hens from our yards when over four years old, which would 

 be boiled tender in an hour and a quarter, and would separate 

 from the bones when boiled for an hour and a half. 



Breeds like the Leghorns will make opportunities for 

 themselves to take plenty of exercise, without providing large 

 yards. 



Leghorn roosters will very likely be tough at any age 

 after six or seven months, unless confined in a small coup or 

 pen to reduce exercise, and fed liberally for a week or two 



