The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-16
Professor Dryden Who Produced This Triumph of Science
Explains How He Did III Hints That Some Dav we Nav NJ
By Prof. James Dryden,
Professor OF Poultry Husbandry,
Oregon Agricultural College.

making Oh names, VIII give a set
ting OF eggs that will hatch out some
Of the Oregon egg layers for suit.
able name for hen No. C543, Of the
Oregon Experiment Station. I have
known this wonderful hen for Il
year past by this number; rather l
have known her daily for twelve
months ending October Is. 1913, and
the new name must have the word
Oregon attached to It and be other
wise acceptable before l will CON
sent to throw aside the magical num-
Der.
This Biddy I have watched daily
ever since early in the year when
she gave evidence that she was one
in ten thousand, and as the days
went by and the daily egg was de-
posted in the trap nest. my respect
and admiration have grown for her
until at the end of the year she has
proved herself not merely one in
ten thousand, but one in ten billion
in other words the best layer OF eggs
the world has seen, SO far as anthem
tic records are concerned.
This hen. No. C543. began laying
at five and a half months of age and
laid in twelve months 291 eggs,
which is forty more than the num-
Der laid by the Maine Experiment
Station hen, which for eight years
or more was the most wonderful egg
layer the world knew; thirty-four
more than the Cornell hen; thirty
I've, 80
two years ago; thirty-six more than
the record hen at the North Ameri-
can egg-laying competition at the
Agricultural College of Connecticut:
ten more than the Missouri hen,
Lady Show You. and nine more than
the record of the Ontario Agricul-
tural College hen, which for two
years has held the worlds record.
~ few years ago the 200-egg hen
was wonder. Some experts said
she was a monstrosity; she was a
nature fakir; she laid herself out,
then she laid herself down and died
without leaving posterty. They
wanted none Of her: they would pin
their faith to the 150-egg hen or even
the ten dozen egg hen. Because all
the eggs of a 20o.egg hen didn't
hatch and because all the pullet pro.
geny of some other 200-egger didn't
lay 200 eggs, many OF our poultry
breeders and experts were disap.
pointed, and condemned the whole
race of 200-egg hens.
1t looks as though we must en-
large our vision Of the possibilities
Of the American hen. Next year or
the next we will have 300-egg hen.
the impossible will happen, and the
MIL
200-egger Is good enough for me-"
Hen C543 was Matched April 20,
1912. She began laying at the carly
age Of five and a half months, and in
twelve months. or 365 days, there.
after, she laid 29l eggs. From the
date she was Matched to the end of
her laying year there were $50 days
She. therefore, laid an average of
more than half an egg day, count.
ing from tho date. she was Matched
and more than three fourths an egg n
day during the laying year.
The eggs were OF white color and
good marketable size, averaging
about two ounces She, therefore.
laid some thirty-siX pounds OF eggs,
nearly nine times her own weight
At 80 cents Il dozen her eggs were
worth 1925.
She nte heartily, Of course, be.
cause the eggs came from the
food There is no way OF telling
exactly how much she did eat be.
cause she was fed with a fock OF
ffty, and she had TO take pot luck
with the rest of them The average
food cost for the flock OF fifty was
less than $3.50 per fowl, but 1t is
reasonable 10 suppose that this hen
ate more than tho poorest layers OF
the flock. The number OF eggs laid,
however, does not bear an exact re.
!auon 10 the food eaten, because one
men with better digestion makes bet.
Ter use Of her food than another
noted that she was frequent visitor
10 the beef scrap hopper and also TO
the protein for the egg contents and
for lime for the shell.
She took her daily rest after her
iced OF mash, and she would 20 back
10 the mash second or third time
she was also frequent visitor 70
the water dish; take her off the tran
nest after laying an egg and she goes
straight TO the water, some Of which
Is later put into the egg She woulC
niDble at the green food which was
always accessible, then walk 10 the
scratching shed and scratch for q
stray kernel OF whca: OF oats.
In disposition she was not the
most friendly or amiable; she ken
ner distance; she wouldn't be q Det
she was usually on the outskirts n,
the flock when You entered the ward
But because this hen was a It'll,
offish and kept herself TO the quite,
circle, the poultry enthusiast should
not make the discovery that "Offish
ness" indicates the good layer. ant
then proceed 10 Kill off all those hen,
OF the inner circle. The next bes
layer in the flock was the mos
aniable OF the fifty and kept hersel
usually inside the inner circle. O,
around your feet.