New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 95 
under the two rations. In every instance somewhat less food was 
required for the same increase in weight under the ration or vege- 
table food supplemented by bone ash than under the ration con- 
taining animal food, the average amount of dry matter in the food 
taken for each pound gain in weight being not far from 4.3 pounds 
under the one ration and 4.8 pounds under the other. 
The ducklings having the animal food ate on the average about 
26 per ct. more food than those with the contrasted ration, though 
during three different periods they ate less. The consumption of 
food per pound live weight was greater under the ration of vege- 
table food. Up to ten weeks of age the gain in weight was 65 
per ct. greater under the ration with animal food, one pound in- 
crease in weight being made for every 3.3 pounds of dry matter 
in the food as against one pound for every 4.3 pounds under the 
contrasting ration. At ten weeks of age the average weight was 
5-7 pounds for the one lot and 3.7 pounds for the other, and at 
twelve weeks 6.4 pounds and 4.7 pounds, respectively, the advantage 
being with the ducklings fed animal food; these birds reaching the 
average weight of five pounds about a month sooner than the 
others. | 
There was no loss in either lot, and the ducklings seemed in 
equally good health under both rations. With the ration wholly 
of vegetable origin, supplemented by bone ash, the ducklings made 
a moderate, regular and apparently healthful growth, though much 
slower than with a ration containing animal food. The chief dis- 
advantage of the less efficient ration was the much slower growth, 
for the birds ultimately attained the size of those more quickly 
grown. 
The two lots of hens were fed the contrasted rations for seven 
months, covering the principal part of the laying season. ‘They 
had been laying well for two or three months before the recorded 
feeding began. The average food consumption under the two 
rations was almost exactly the same. For nearly six months there 
was very little difference as to laying, the average amount of dry 
matter in the food for each pound of eggs produced being 2.8 
pounds for the hens fed animal food and 2.9 pounds for the con- 
trasted lot. After this time the falling off was more rapid for 
the hens having the vegetable food ration. No general difference 
was noticed in regard to molting. 
A cockerel was kept with each lot for over three months, these 
males being alternated between the pens by frequent changes and 
