72 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 



This is a serious proposition, if we look at it from the 

 viewpoint of the hens' capacity for factory production in the 

 output of eggs. If we were running a factory, with men as 

 the producers, we would at once equalize these conditions 

 by artificial light, so as to make a uniform or nearly uniform 

 day throughout the year. 



With human factors, however, actual production ceases 

 at the business hours, but, with the hens production goes on 

 after business hours, but is not delivered, except in rare cases 

 when they lay on the roost, until the following day. 



In the short days of winter the fuel boxes get empty and 

 the steam runs down. It takes more steam to keep going in 

 December than in June ; but, up to the present time, we have 

 not taken means to provide this extra steam. The business 

 day is restricted, the fuel boxes get empty, steam runs down, 

 and we have to start new fires every morning; whereas, we 

 should bank the fires ready for an early steam pressure the 

 following day. 



This is about how the author of this little work figured 

 out the proposition, and decided that sometime, in the unde- 

 termined future he would try artificial light, to make a 

 longer day, as a solution of the problem of satisfactory egg 

 production. 



The days in the winter 1913-1914 proved so dark and 

 dreary that he decided to make an immediate start; and on 

 January 21st, 1914, electric lights were installed in the poultry 

 houses. We decided to "Ask the birds, their judgment is 

 good." 



