191 1.] Selection of Fowls for Egg Production. 66 i 



figures in the years stated above to have been abnormal by 

 adding allowances to the actual figures so as to give the 

 highest probable yield in these years. 



Year. 



Birds completing 

 the year. 



Eggs laid. 



Actual average 

 production. 



Corrected average 

 production. 



1899-190O 



70 



9.545 



136-36 



136-36 



1900- 1901 



85 



12, I92 



i 43*44 



H3 *44 



1901-1902 



48 



7,468 



I55-58 



155*58 



I 902- I 903 



147 



19,906 



135*42 



■f59'l5 



I 903-1904 



254 



. 29,947 



^17-90 



129-14 



1 904- 1 905 



283 



37>943 



I34"07 



134*07 



I 905- I 906 



178 



24,827 



140-14 



I54*09 



I 906- I 907 



187 



2i,i75 



113-24 



142-07 



The percentage of extremely high layers (producing more 

 than 195 eggs in the first year of production) in the flock 

 decreased during the period from 1899 to 1907. The per- 

 centage of exceptionally poor layers (producing less than 45 

 eggs in the first year of production) in the flock increased 

 during the period. The general characteristics of variation in 

 annual egg production in White Wyandottes were found to 

 be essentially similar in the years during which they were 

 tested to those of variation in Barred Plymouth Rocks. 



Variation in Monthly Egg Production. — The question of 

 the variation in egg production at different times of the year 

 is extremely important both from a practical as well as a 

 theoretical point of view. The differences in the production 

 of eggs at different seasons cause corresponding differences 

 in the prices of eggs, so that the value of a hen depends upon 

 the time of production of eggs in addition to the total amount 

 produced annually. A bird with a large egg production may 

 bring in less money in a year than a bird laying very con- 

 siderably fewer eggs, but producing them at a time when 

 prices are high. The aim of the practical poultry keeper is, 

 therelore, to increase as much as possible his winter egg 

 production. 



The table on p. 662 shows the average egg production per 

 hen per month at the Maine Experiment Station, both in 

 absolute figures and as a percentage of the annual production. 



It will be seen that of the total annual production of 128*86 

 eggs, 28*02 per cent, (or 36*12 eggs) were produced in the 



