Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-28

iitaryC ucations.

10 month. adding these together at the
end of the year and dividing by twelve,
believing that such a method is &C
Curatc.
1t is not accurate. because egg pro-
duction is not the same each month.
For instance, you cannot take October
eggs at 60 cents dozen and April
eggs at SO cents. add them together
and say that 40 cents is the mean aver
age. because in all proba bility five
times as many eggs are laid in April
arc produced in October. Many
glowing accounts of attractive profits
have been represented by such elusive
methods OF figuring.
To figure the cost OF producing a
dozen eggs is somewhat involved, I'M
less separate records OF feed, labor and
other expenses are kept for the layers
themselves. in which event, divide the
total expenses by the total number of
cggs in dozens. The difficulty lies in
apportioninE the correct amount or
labor and overhead charges TO the lay
ers which will have to be approNi-
mated Similar difficulties arise in
estimating the cost OF rearing the pull
lets 20 maturity.
IT IS GOOD BUSINESS
KEEPING TRACK OF FEED
In keeping a record of the amount
CT feed consumed by the different nocks
ii is not necessary to go to the trouble
OF weighing the feed every day. To do
so is likely 10 prove very tedious. and
perhaps Offset the value OF the infor-
nation sought On the other hand.
ono cannot weigh the feed for one day
and accept that as an average for the
year. or for 4 month
\ fowls appetite is never the same.
II varies from week 10 week. much
the same as prices OF grain and other
commodities fiuctuatc. During period
OF heavy laying hens eat more than at
other times. when they are melting.
hruody or out OF sorts. In cold weather
they ca; more grain than in warm
weather. providing their health and
egg yield are the same, and on bright,
SunShiny day in winter they eat more
than on a dull. stormy day. Therefore.
experienced poultrymcn seldom feed
prescribed amount of grain to each
flock every day. They cater TO the
nock's appetite and to general cond-
tions 1t is the only intelligent way to
feed.
Except for these variations in the
Quantities o. the feed and in the prices
Of the different articles, it would be
Il comparatively simple task TO fgure
the cost Of the feed for given pen
tor a given period.
ON most farms it is customary to
give the stock a light feeding Of
scratch grains in the morning, Just
enough TO keep them al work in the
litter. In the afternoons about an hour
lclorc shutdown. heavier feeding of
scratch grains is distributed: some
operators give the fowls all they will
clean up In addition to this scratch
fare. n dry mash is kept before the
birds in hoppcrs at all times. toS ether
with oyster shells, grit. charcoal and
beef scrap. Frequently the charcoal
and beef scrap are mixed in the dry
mash.
For reasons previously mentioned,
'he quantities eaten vary considerably.
as do the prices on the feed More
over, the various kinds Of feed are pur
gihsed at varying intervals, perhaps.
when they may be bought advantage
ously.
The simplest way to surmount these
irregularities is TO reduce the cost Of
the feed to a unit basis or rate, as.
for example, the cost OF a pound or
quart of dry mash for a particula r