FEEDING AND HOUSING OF POULTRY. 207 

The nitrogenous ration cost slightly more money, but it is 
said to have been further profitable, because more eggs were 
laid by the hens fed on this ration, in addition to the gain 
in weight. Moreover, the eggs from the fowls fed with a 
nitrogenous ration were, it appears, larger, more fertile, 
and hatched better and produced far more vigorous chicks 
than those laid by the hens fed on the carbonaceous ration. 
Both lots of fowls. are reported to have remained in a 
healthy, vigorous condition during the entire experiment. 
The effect of the two kinds of rations on the fertility of the 
eggs was tested inincubators. Sixty-six per cent. of the eggs 
produced on the nitrogenous and 47 per cent. of those pro- 
duced on the carbonaceous ration were fertile. The average 
weight per hundred of the former eggs was 12°68lbs., and of 
the latter 11.571bs. 
The second experiment was made in 1898-99 with four lots of 
White Leghorn chickens, each containing ten hens and one 
cock. Lots 1 and 3 were pullets, Lots 2 and 4 old fowls. Lots 
: and 2 were fed with the nitrogenous, and Lots 3 and 4 witn 
the carbonaceous, ration. The test covered 7 periods of 30 
days each. All the lots were given a mash of ground feed 
iene mormine, Wots 1 and 2 receiving, meat meal in 
addition during the first four periods, and ground fresh meat 
and bone during the remainder of the test. During periods 
2, 3, and 4 all the lots were given boiled sugar beets; but, 
as the beets seemed to be making the fowls too fat, they 
were then dropped from the ration, although the fowls were 
very fond of them. At night all the lots were given as much 
grain as they would eat. 
The results were calculated per 100 fowls. On this basis 
Lots 1 and 2 weighed respectively 227 and 304 lbs. at the 
beginning, and 272 and 273 lbs. at the close of the experi- 
ment; while Lots 3 and 4 weighed respectively, at the 
beginning 213 lbs. and 263 lbs., and at the close 250 lbs. and 
300 lbs. It may be noted, however, that, had the experiment 
been concluded at the end of the third period, instead of the 
seventh, the fowls fed on the carbonaceous ration would have 
shown a gain of 74 lbs., and those fed on the nitrogenous 
ration a gain of 55 lbs. only, per 100 fowls. 
