The above illustrates another important phase of the laws of chance, which says that not only is the average likely to be nearer the theoretical average sought when the number is increased, but that the individual extremes will be more removed.

Important Experimental Results at the Illinois Station.

From an Illinois Experiment Station report, the following is quoted: 

“The stock used was Barred Plymouth Rock pullets.  These pullets were a very uniform Barred Rock stock that had been bred as an individual strain for many years.  They were practically the same age, and except for the factors mentioned were treated as uniformly as possible.

    First Year’s Results.

    No.  Hens.  Diet.  Ave.  Egg Yield.

10 Nitrogenous Diet 132.9 10 Carbonaceous Diet 128.4 10 Wet Wash 155.8 10 Dry Wash 111.4

“The results of the first test are somewhat surprising for it is generally believed that the nitrogenous diet is best for laying hens.  The difference indicated in the first year’s results was so light that it was decided to repeat the experiment the second year.

“As the wet wash is clearly proven to be superior, these hens were used the second year to compare meat meal with fresh cut bone.

    Second Year’s Result.

    No.  Hens.  Diet.  Ave.  Egg Yield.

10      Nitrogenous             142.2
10      Carbonaceous            134.5

10      Meat Meal               102.2
10      Green Cut Bone          128.9

“The results of the second year clearly indicate the great superiority of green cut bone as compared with the dry unpalatable meat meal.  The comparison of a highly nitrogenous ration with that of a ration consisting largely of corn, while showing the advantages of the nitrogenous rations, does not show the contrast expected.

“Some visiting poultrymen expressed the opinion that corn is a better poultry food than commonly supposed.  Considering this fact and the great fundamental importance of the question at issue, it was decided to repeat the experiment a third year, and feed a large number of birds on each ration.

    No.  Hens.  Diet.  Ave.  Egg Yield.

100      Nitrogenous          126.9
100      Carbonaceous         127.2”

I will leave the last without comment, for the whole thing is a hoax.  The Illinois Experiment Station has never owned a chicken.  These “Illinois” experiments were planned and executed in a few minutes of the writer’s spare time.  The basis of the experiments was a pack of cards containing the individual records of the Maine Experiment Station hens, shuffling the cards and averaging the desired number of records as they come in the pack, made the distinction between the various diets.

Experimental Bias.

Pet ideas consciously or unconsciously mold practice.  A bias toward an idea may show itself in the planning and conducting of an experiment, or it may come out in the later interpretation.