Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-08-29
Productive Powers Of a Hen.

The productive powers of a hen de-
pend upon her constitutional %capabiiity
and the feeding, The statement that a
hen has u certain number Of germs of
ovuIes in the ovary ut birth and that
these mature during certain periods of
her life, is simply bosh. 1t is 81 base
less, imaginary supposition, and quite
inconsistent with what is known as the
laws OF animal growth. Ii these 600
ovules exist, at what time We're they
formed? They must have existed in
the young chicks, and if SO they must
have becu in embryo in the egg. This
is not possible. 1t might rs well be
said that every fat globule in the milk
Of a COW has been numbered and pro-
vided for at the birth of the calf, be-
cause these globules are produced by cell
growth in precisely the same manner
as the ovule in the ovary OF q hen. 1t
was once said years ago that the whole
of q tree existed in embryo in the seed
the roots, stem, branches and leaf.
This is a paral ell misstatement to that
in regard to the hen. The absurdity is
apparent to anyone who thinks about
it, and n is absurd as the other. The
fact is, the hen at birth has no appar-
ent ovules, nor is the oyary fully
formed. This grows and natures as
the chick grows and increases in age
and size, from the ordinary cell growth,
by which the bone, muscle and other
parts OF the fowl are produced from
the blood, which is made from the
food. The food is eaten and digested
and changed into blood; the blood forms
the matter from which the cellular
tissue OF the animal is built up. Ii the
food is not sufficient for all the demands
of the animal. its life is first sustained,
then its s]ustenance is added to, but its
reproductive functions are not COM
pleted or set action. For this full
purpose of 4 living creature, whether
plant or animal, full and sufficient nu-
triment must be provided. A hen will
not lay eggs unless fully fed, simply
because the ovules in the ovary can not
be formed without the necessary sub
stance, which must come from the
blood; and these ovules are formed by
an abundant growth of tissues in pro-
portion to the supply OF food. The bet
ter a hen is fed and the more judicious
care bestowed upon her, the eggs
she will produce. AS some hens have
been known to lay ver 1000 eggs in
the course of a long life, it is very clear
that a large numpcr OF ovulcs must
have been produced somehow, although
she was provided with 500 at her birth.
The whole statement is one of those
foolish ''facts'' OF ''popular'' science Of
which SO many are turned II Of the
science mills. Common sense is very
much needed in the investigation Of
every subject, and it is a great pleasure
to observe that truth is being elected
from day TO day. Ignorance and SUI
perstition are gradually passing away.
The light of learning is advancing,
keeping pace with the telephone, and,
like England's drum beat. is keeping
time with the hours, and the thunder
psalm of victory will yet be heard
round the globe. Shall we not all labor
| to this end and do all we can upon the
great drama OF our life: And our
e .orts will surely be crowned with
abundant success. ~ \. Times.