120 Report oF THE DEPARTMENT or ANIMAL HUSBANDRY OF THE 
food ration supplied on the average a little more protein and a 
little less of ash and fats than the contrasted ration. 
During nearly six months there was very little difference in 
egg production, the difference being less than three per ct. in favor 
of Lot XXI. After this the falling off was more rapid for Lot 
XXIT so that the egg yield for the whole time was about six 
per ct. greater for Lot XXI. The average number of eggs laid 
per hen during the thirty weeks was 119.4 for Lot XXI and 
112.7 for Lot XXII. For every pound of eggs produced there 
were 3 pounds of dry matter in the food for Lot XXI and 3.2 
pounds for Lot XXII. For nearly six months the proportion 
of dry matter in the food for each pound of eggs produced was 
2.8 pounds for Lot XXI and 2.9 pounds for Lot XXII. AI- 
though the cost of food was somewhat more under the animal 
food ration, the egg yield was enough larger to make the food 
cost of eggs about alike for both lots. For the whole time the 
average cost for each pound of eggs was 3.2 cents for each lot. 
For all but the last period the average was 3.1 cents for Lot 
XXI and 3.0 cents for Lot XXII. The average food cost per 
dozen eggs was, for the thirty weeks, 4.7 cents for Lot X XI and 
4.6 cents for Lot XXII. 
No general difference was noticed in regard to molting. 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE EGGS. 
Two cockerels were kept, one with each lot, during the first 
three and one-half months. The birds were alternated between 
the two lots so that average and general differences in the eggs 
would appear justly credited to the hens. The eggs from Lot 
XXI proved better from the breeders’ standpoint than those from 
Lot XXII. Eggs from both lots were sometimes kept several 
weeks. Five hundred eggs from each lot were examined and in- 
cubated. Eighty-six per ct. of those from Lot XXI were fertile, 
19 per ct. of the fertile eggs had very weak germs and 77 per 
ct. of the tested eggs hatched strong chicks. Of those from Lot 
XXII, 78 per ct. were fertile, 34 per ct. of the fertile eggs had 
