New Yorx AGricuLtuRAL ExperRIMENT Station. 121 
very weak germs and 64 per ct. of the tested eggs hatched strong 
chicks. arly in the season some of the eggs from both lots were 
much better than these average results show and later some were 
much inferior. The cockerels used were undoubtedly responsible 
for many fluctuations in fertility of the eggs, for there were pro- 
nounced differences consistently following changes of the male 
birds. 
A circumstance was noticed in the later hatches which seems 
worthy of record for it suggests a difference in the prepotency of 
the hens in the two lots. The hens used were thoroughbred S. 
Combed W. Leghorns and the cockerels were pure W. Wyandottes. 
From Lot X XI almost exactly one-half of the number of chicks 
hatched (52 per ct.) had the single comb characteristic of the 
female parent, while all the chicks from Lot XXII had the rose 
comb characteristic of the male parent. Unfortunately these ob- 
servations were limited and apply only to about eighty chicks of the 
later hatches as the opportunity was lost for observing the chicks 
of the earlier hatches. 
No difference in the vigor of the chicks from the two lots while 
growing was observed. 
SUMMARIZED DATA. 
With every lot of chicks in the first series (Lots Il, IV, VI, 
VIII and X) having a ration wholly of vegetable origin more 
food was required to produce a pound gain than by the contrasted 
lot (Lots I, II, V, VII, IX). On the average for the ten lots 
about 23 per ct. more food was required. 
The two lots of laying hens, XVIII and XX, required on the 
average about 23 per ct. more food for each pound of eggs pro- 
duced than did Lots XVII and XIX having animal food. 
Lot B of ducklings required about 2.3 times as much food for 
each pound gain in weight as did Lot A having the unchanged 
ration containing animal food. 
Every lot of chicks in the second series (Lots XI, XIII and 
XV) having a ration containing animal food required more food 
