116 
EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN. 
likely to inherit this disease, but is liable to have a weak constitution 
and thus fall an easy prey to roup or some other malady. Small, lazy, 
worthless individuals in the flock are usually from parent stocks which 
have been affected by disease. One of the first things to do then is to 
discard all fowls that are not strong and healthy. 
o %j 
PROPER FOOD, EXERCISE, ETC. 
In order to have a healthy, vigorous flock they must be provided with 
the proper amount and variety of food, plenty of fresh, clean water, 
good pure air, and exercise when under confinement. It is not our 
purpose to enter into a discussion of feeding here, but merely to say 
that fowls should have a variety of grains, fed regularly, with proper 
care as to quantity. Exclusive rations of corn should not be expected 
to produce eggs that will hatch vigorous, thrifty chicks. But good re¬ 
sults should be secured from a mixture of grains, such as corn, wheat 
and oats, fed in connection with a mash feed composed of such materials 
as bran, middlings, corn meal and beef scrap, to which green food is 
added unless the fowls have access to a grass range. If the range sup¬ 
plies a good many insects the beef scrap need not be fed. Judgment 
must be used, as no absolute rule for feeding can be given. Owing to 
the freedom fowls enjoy in and about the farm yard and the great 
variety of suitable food secured, there is less necessity for the purchase 
of commercial foods on the farm and the formation of highly artificial 
ration, than in the case of the village or town producer. 
SELECT NATURAL AND WELL DEVELOPED PRODUCERS. 
A hen suitable to become the mother of the future laying stock should 
be a good producer herself, and one fed to stimulate production. Among 
all classes of domestic animals we find some that are naturally prolific, 
while others in the same flock or herd possess this quality in greatly 
varying degrees, a few being absolutely sterile; the same is true of 
poultry, some hens are abundant layers, while others equally well fed 
and cared for are almost worthless. The prolific layer is the one that 
should be saved for the parent and fed to lay, as we believe that a hen 
which has been fed and stimulated to lay a large number of eggs is 
more likely to produce offspring possessed of the same quality, than 
one equally well fitted by nature to produce, but which, owing to poor 
care or neglect has not laid many eggs. 
EARLY LAYERS. 
Frequently a pullet starts laying before the others and continues to 
lay well all the year; such a one should be carefully watched and her 
eggs saved, providing sufficient size was attained before she began lay¬ 
ing. Other pullets will lay a few eggs in the autumn and then cease 
until spring; these should, of course, be discarded. Those that begin 
laying prematurely are not desirable, as they should attain the size 
characteristic of their breed before commencing, and then lay con¬ 
tinuously during the rest of the fall and winter, rullcts of the smaller 
breeds frequently begin laying at five months of age, but these are 
usually too smail and although they may lay constantly, are not large 
