Show stretching DAYLIGHT FOR GREATER EGG YIELD it the hens of this country eier eer manage manag to start a union there is little doubt as to what will causo the first strike the ever ev er growing practice of 0 using artificial lights in hen houses cannot tall fall to excite the ire of 0 walking delegates and a demand tor for shorter hours Is sure to follow however that may be there bisno denying the amazing effectiveness ot of artificial lighting or turning on bright lights in poultry houses to lengthen the day during tall fall and winter when the days are short it not infrequently increases the winter winter egg yield from 25 to 50 per cent ceat with a corresponding increase in profits I 1 it is doubtful whether I 1 atin causes a mater material lal increase it any in a fowls total egg yield tor for the year there is no question however about its causing a decided increase just when an increase Is most profitable there seems to be some misconception about what artificial lighting really accomplishes as such expressions as making the hens work overtime will show A hen eats primarily to keep her own body in proper condition certain elements called carbohydrates go into fatty portions of her body other elements called proteins make up the lean or muscular tissues while mineral elements such as lime and calcium keep the bony frame york or skeleton in repair when enough food has been eaten to take care of the hens body any surplus hot the proper ingredients iscon Is converted into eggs the carbohydrates then become the egg white the proteins become yolks and ad the minerals make up tae shell plainly therefore the more a hen eats of the proper food food in excess of what is needed to maintain a healthy body the more eggs she will lay of course this cannot continue indefinitely as there is a natural limit to the hens ability to consume and digest food understanding this theory theory of egg production makes its much easier to comprehend what artificial lighting really does and how naturally after daylight is over the hen can no long er see her scratch grains and mashes having no incentive tor for exercising she does the only other thing she can do goes to sleep what artificial illumination does therefore Is to provide light so the hen can eat and exercise before the natural daylight comes more feeding naturally means more eggs if the right materials are supplied furthermore there Is doubtless some truth in the theory that the hen has inherited from her original tropical ancestors ancen tors a digestive system that is tuned to days and nights of equal length in the tropics where domestic originated days and nights are nat krally about equal in temperate regions however days are much short er during fall and winter than the nights so that fowls not enjoying the advantage of artificial lights are forced to endure unnaturally long waits between feeding times the use of proper lighting therefore la ka twofold result it lengthens the effective feeding time so fowls can take taie more nourishing and it also foods making makia and egg g eliminates the disturbing effect of over long lone waits between fee feedings digs to give best results houses should us as they are brightly bo be lighted as by day for this purpose electric superior to all other lights light s are so tar far kinds that I 1 hesitate even to suggest that anything else can be used in a number of cases farmers not electric lines have close to regular I 1 installed individual light plants and soon icon paid tor for them out ot of their increased profits in ordinary houses 16 to 18 feet deep one ona fifty watt bulb every ten feet beet Is but double row to la in deeper houses a needed the most moat favored time to light up Is about a in and the lights are allowed to remain on until natural daylight reaches full strength there Is however a growing tendency to light up from 6 a in to and again in the evening full f u 11 daylight until 6 or 7 P in this pr provides avides a 12 or 13 hour day and Is undoubtedly more convenient when automatic control of lights is not possible whether or not the latter time Is as effective as the other can only be decided by further experiment when the lights are turned on the hens jump down from the boosts roosts and begin eating the food that has teen been provided drinking and often laying ying before daylight some poultry lien ien use light for a time both morning ng and evening but I 1 prefer to have lave them turned on at about a in and let run until daylight whatever system Is used be sure that hat the light Is directed on the scratching floor and it should be bright enough so the hens can see every particle of food material it will help considerably it the interiors of artificially lighted houses are whitewashed or painted white when electric fights are hey not only require very little attention but usually cost less to op crate than any other system pur fur her dermore more they may be so arranged hat lights are automatically switch d on and oft off at the proper times a wonderful convenience although the value of 0 artificial lighting may be questioned when electricity cannot be had I 1 think there is 18 no question but what it Is of decided value t f electric lighting is used certainly unless the cost ot of current Is exorbitant or bitant a udy tidy profit Is almost sure to result by boosting egg production when prices are at their peak |