The Press., 1914-02-11
MANSFIELD.

MANSFIELD.
 The most striking feature in the fourteenth week of the third interna- tional egg laying contest is the unex- pectedly large gain of 682 eggs over the previous week. production, or a yield of 1869 eggs for the week. In spite of this tremendous gain the management of the contest is predict ing a still further increase in the fif- teenth week on account of the fact that the last day of the week gave the highest production for any one day since the competition opened more than three months ago. Honors for the week were more hotly contested for than ever before. A Bay State pen of Buff Wyandottes, owned by Dr. N. W. Sanborn of Holden, finally won out with 39 eggs to their credit. Some of the best individual scores for the first three months of the contest are as follows: English White Wyan- dotte, 67 eggs; Pennsylvania Red, 60 eggs; New Hampshire Red, 60 eggs Massachusetts Buff Wyandotte, 59 eggs; Connecticut White Wyandotte, 5h eggs; New York Barred Rock, 53 eggs. A number of inquiries have recently come to the college from people seeking to buy eggs for hatch | ing. These cannot be supplied be- cause there are no males in any of the lpens, hence the eggs are all infertile, and therefore unsuitable for matching purposes. It was at one time thought that hens woull lay fewer eggs un- less there were, males running with the fiocks. This opinion, however, is now generally conceded to be with out foundation. As matter of fact the egg production of flock of hens is very likely to drop for a week or two after males are introduced into the pen. The whole point is simply this: Any unusual or unaccustomed feature such as strange attendants, radical changes in rations, removal to different quarters, introduction of males into the fiocks, etc., any or all are likely to affect adversely the curve of egg production. In other words the heavy laying hen is looked upon as a nervous sort of creature working under high tension, and she should be handled just as carefully as the dairyman does when he refuses 'tC permit strangers around when he is milking his record COW, and cautions his help not to make unusual and dis. turbing noises in the dairy barn. Going back for moment to the mat ter of hatching eggs, it is we'll tC point out that during some of tho cold days which we are yet likely tc have such eggs should be gathered quite frequently during the day. The importance of this one little point can be illustrated by this incident which happened at the Storrs Experiment Station during the cold weather ir January. One pen of Leghorns was producing from "a to 55 eggs daily, and these eggs were saved for student practice work in incubation. The eggs laid Ln January 1 3 were collected only three times during the day, and as all egg were not only marked with the pen but with the date as we'll, il was easy to follow them thereafter. In the course of a week or such g matter these eggs were put into the incubators, and when it came time to candle or test the eggs. it was found Ithat 53 eggs laid on this day showed mo development whatever. In other words, these eggs were a complete loss. It would have been much better tC have taken no chances and to have sold them as market eggs rather thar to have attempted to hatch them.
 The Is leading pens to date are as follows. The figures in the parenthe sis show the number laid during the week:-
 Tom Barron, Catforth, England, White Wyandottes, (38) -524.
 Francis F. Lincoln, Mt. Carmel, White Leghorns, (27)-429.
 NApoAluI0uG On, 0IOlISS w Ill0 hGS horns, (38) 316.
 Neale Bros, Apponaug, R. l., White Wyandottes, (26)-369.
 Merrythought Farm, Columbia, White Wyandottes, (3D-359.
 Cecil Guernsey, East Cobbleskill, N. Y., White Leghorns, (36) -34O.
 Dr. LA. Fritchey, Harrisburg, Pa. Single Comb R. I. Reds, (34) = BPS.
 Jules F. Francais, West Hampton, L. T., NY, Barred Plymouth Rocks, (2D-299. ~~>~
 Experiment Pen, 1Storrs, White, Leghorns, (32) PIP.
 Dearborn & Sharpe, Blairstown, N. J., S. C.>Rhode Islanh Reds, (37)- 263. sst1as-''s-- .f--:,s.
 F: :TofnaAaBarron, Catforth, England, White L6ghorns, (3O) 25O. ... F Pinecrest. Orchards, Groton, Mass. ', Single Comb Rhode Island Reds, (38) ) --243.
 West Mt. Poultry Yards, Naugatuck White Wyandottes, (26)-24l.
 Glenview Poultry Farm, Rockville, (25) = 239. ..
 J. s. Gillespie, Stamford, s. c. R. I. Reds, (23)-222.
 D. J. Ryan. &. Son, Bridgeport,