70 Size of Egg in Rei<ation to Average Production. [Apr., 



28.2 per cent, second grade eggs, and the two pens which pro- 

 duced 33.2 eggs in first two periods laid 18.2 per cent, of 

 second grade eggs. 



On the other hand, with notable differences, it would seem 

 (Table V) that the number of second grade eggs laid is 

 influenced by the total annual egg-laying capacity; the larger 

 the annual production the greater is the percentage of second 

 grade eggs. 



Further evidence is obtained by a study of the details from 

 records of pens of White Wyandottes given below. 



Four Pens producing an Annual Average of 220 Eggs and over. 



First Period. Percentage of Tflio/e Year. 



Eggs. Last Period. ' Eggs. 



23 17-8 64 1-6 220 80-0 



36 7-5 80 26-0 231 39-5 



45 3-2 89 73-0 235 51-5 



65* 15-3 51 12-0 261 7-5 



* This flock quickly improved, and maiutaiiied a liigher i»ro- 

 portion of 1st grade eggs. 



Five Pens producing an Annual Average of 180 to 190 Eggs. 



42* 



8-83 



18-9 



57-1 



187 



8-9 



46 



3-5 



42-8 



17-2 



183 



23-2 



53t 



0-0 



0-0 



3-1 



185 



12-3 



54 



3-0 



72-2 



40-4 



184 



46-5 



6U ... . 



3-0 



16-7 



21-8 



185 



39-(; 



* Until the last period the percentage of 2nd grade eggs was very low. 

 t 1 1 '76 per cent. 2nd grade eggs in second period. 



i Average of 2nd grade eggs greatly increased, being 64 '4 per cent, in 

 fifth period. 



In only thirteen instances were all the eggs produced 

 within any one period of first grade standard. Of these, 

 one was in the third period, one in the fourth, one in the 

 fifth, two in the seventh, three in the ninth, two in the 

 eleventh, one in the twelfth, and two in the thirteenth period. 

 In the large proportion of cases, where small eggs are laid 

 during the first and second months, the size of the egg is 

 below standard during the remainder of the year. 



The figures submitted, so far as the four breeds dealt with 

 are concerned, would clearly show^ that, while early laying 

 has, in the majority of cases, an influence upon the size of 

 eggs throughout the year, and also on total productivity, yet 

 there are enough exceptions to indicate that size of egg is 

 largely a matter of breed or strain. In order, therefore, to 

 obtain a standard sized egg throughout the year, attention 

 should be devoted to the production of a larger egg during the 

 winter. Size should not be entirelv sacrificed to numbers. 



