Factors influencing egg production I. The influence of maturity upon egg production in S. C. White Leghorns

1. A consistent correlation existed between early maturity and high winter egg production in all four years. 2. The correlation between maturity and winter egg production was shown, in graph form, to be negative. 3. Early maturity had a direct negative rectilinear prediction value with winter egg production. 4. Maximum winter egg production was obtained when birds matured in less than 220 days. 5. Very little if any relationship existed between maturity and spring egg production. 6. Great variation in the relation of maturity and total egg pro-production existed from year to year. 7. Maturity bore a high curvilinear correlation with total annual egg production. The mode of this curve was 190 days for maturity and 225.5 eggs for total production while the means were 196.83 days and 204.99 eggs, respectively. 8. The variation in the correlation between maturity and total egg production was due to: First, too few numbers; second, only a sample of the entire population was used; third, the correlation found between maturity and total egg production was curvilinear; fourth, environmental conditions, such as a low protein ration, which retarded development tended to confuse the interpretation of results. 9. In order to secure maximum total egg production, S. C. White Leghorns should mature in 160 to 210 days