The record, however, for real yearling hens (and these were real yearling hens, because when they started to lay with us they were fully eighteen months of age), was very far from a poor one, and the novice who succeeds in caring for his breeding stock in such a way that he does not fall short of this average, may consider that he has done very well. CHAPTER XXXI Egg Records February 1st, 1908 to June 30th, 1911. Average Production Average Dates Number of Eggs Price of Hens per doz. Feb. 1, 1908 to Jan. 31, 1909 2,040 338,976 .5066 Feb. 1, 1909 to June 30, 1910 2,811 709,836 .47125 July 1, 1910 to June 30, 1911 4,723 612,000 .4618 AVERAGE FOR FIRST TEN MONTHS OF PULLET LAYING IN FLOCKS OF FIFTEEN HUNDRED. 1909 143.25 1910 145.11 1911 146.23 On examination of this Egg Record it will be noticed that in the average number of eggs laid by the pullets, in flocks of fifteen hundred, there have been three gains, and in analyzing these averages it must be remembered that these are results obtained, not by the handling of a few pullets most carefully selected to produce a record, but of thousands, and the advance of three eggs in the average is therefore a remarkable gain. How Corning Farm Is Able To Get Great Egg Records The salient reasons which make possible such egg records as The Corning Egg Farm is able to show are: 1st,--Careful selection of breeders by the Corning Method, which is the only proper Method and has already been described. 2nd,--Pullets raised on free range, feeding to them a strengthening and upbuilding ration, which constantly supplies new tissues, and is, therefore, a nutritious and not a forcing food. 3rd,--Housing them in The Corning Laying House, which to-day stands unequaled, where they are practically outdoors yet protected from extremes of heat and cold, for if hens are to lay to their capacity they must be kept always in a perfectly comfortable condition. 4th,--The succulent, green food, which is so necessary to their welfare if they are to lay strongly, and which must be given to them in large quantities. Hens on the ordinary free range, in the general run of seasons, after July 1st., cannot find succulent green food in sufficient quantities to enable them to keep up even a fair average of eggs. Receipts of eggs at all large market centers, begin to fall off at about this date, and prices correspondingly increase. Highest Percentage of Fertility