panionship. There are one
hundred and seventy-five recognized breeds, varying in size from that of
the Japanese bantam weighing ten ounces to that of the huge Brahma which
weighs fourteen pounds. The shapes and colours present as great a
variation as the sizes. The breeds that are usually regarded as good
layers are White Leghorn, Barred Bock, and Rhode Island Red, while the
Game breeds are usually regarded as poor layers. Careful tests prove,
however, that there are good laying and poor laying strains in every
breed, and care must be taken to select from good strains, since the
breed is not a sufficient guide.

At the close of the first lesson, assign to the pupils the task of
making a chicken census of the district as follows:

1. Request each pupil to count the number of hens under two years old at
his home and also to count the hens that are more than two years old.

2. Request each pupil to find out, if possible, the number of eggs
obtained at his home during the whole year.

ARITHMETIC LESSON BASED ON THE CHICKEN CENSUS

1. Using the data collected by the pupils, calculate the total number of
chickens under two years old in the district.

Calculate the number over two years old. (The latter are classed as
unprofitable.)

2. Using the data obtained by the pupils (provided sufficient data was
obtained to make it reasonably reliable), calculate the average number
of eggs laid a year by each hen.

3. If the data collected by the pupils as to the number of eggs is
thought to be unreliable, make use of the following:

The average number of eggs laid each year by each hen in Ontario is
seven dozen. Use this average number, and:

(1) Calculate the value of the eggs produced in this district in a year,
the average price of eggs being twenty cents a dozen.

(2) If the average production of eggs were increased to ten dozen (a
number that is easily possible under improved management), find the
value of the eggs that would be produced in a year, and find the gain
that would result from this better management.

4. If it costs ninety cents a year to feed a hen, find the net annual
profit to this district from the egg production.

CARE OF CHICKENS

The method of developing conceptions of how to take proper care of
chickens is based partly upon the pupils' experiences and partly upon a
knowledge of the history of the original wild hens.

Information can be gathered from the pupils as to the date of hatching
of t