DEPARTMENT REPORTS. 49 



SWINE. 



There are 176 head in the herd represeutiug several breeds, as fol- 

 lows : Berkshlres 25, Yorkshires 53, Doroc Jerseys 44, Poland Chinas 

 17, Tamworths IG, cross breds 21. During the year a pair of Tamworth 

 pigs and a Yorkshire boar were purchased. The herd has been treated, 

 to prevent hog cholera, with the serum furnished by the Bacteriological 

 Department. 



Prof. J. G. Halpin reports as follows for the Poultry Division : 



The feed house described in last year's report has been completed 

 and found very satisfactory, so that we are now able to carry on, Avith- 

 out friction, both class and investigation work in feeds and feeding. 

 The addition of eleven brooders and two incubators gives us sufficient 

 equipment for the hatching and rearing of 2,000 chicks. The new com- 

 niercial poultry house has proved itself very satisfactory during the 

 past winter and is considered excellent for experimental feeding for the 

 production of eggs. 



Our rapidly increasing stock has made it necessary to secure larger 

 summer ranges. To meet this demand, we have been granted permis- 

 sion to use a part of the college orchard and one of the meadows. 

 These ranges are ideal, providing the chicks an opportunity to hunt a 

 large part of their living and unlimited range for exercise over fresh, 

 clean ground. 



Our present stock consists of Barred Plymouth Rocks, White Wyan- 

 dottes, Light Brahmas, Brown and White Leghorns and a few speci- 

 mens of each of the following breeds for class work : Partridge Wyan- 

 dotte, Black Langshires, Butf Cochin, Rhode Island Red and White 

 Plymouth Rock, and Cornish Indian Runner ducks. 



The instruction work during the year has been as follows: 



Fall term : Six men enrolled for Poultry 5b, ten lectures were given 

 the sophomores on breeds and ten lectures to the sub-freshmen on 

 elementary poultry work. 



Winter term : Six men enrolled for Poultry 5c and the first Avinter 

 poultry course was given. Thirteen men took all or a part of this work. 

 Four lectures on feeding were also given the juniors. 



Spring term: Four men enrolled for Poultry 5d. We have tried to 

 make the instruction work as practical as possible, and with our in- 

 creased facilities have been able to give a large amount of practice 

 work. 



The exi>eriments with the three colony laying houses have been con- 

 tinued and Avork begun to test different methods of feeding the laying 

 hens. In addition we are endeavoring to determine the best method for 

 handling breeding stock in the winter. 



During the past winter one pen of sixty Barred Plymouth Rock hens 

 was alloAved access to the yards at all times, but not forced to go out- 

 side for either feed or water; while a similar pen was kept closed dur- 

 ing the entire winter, and accurate records kept of the feed consumed 

 and eggs produced. 



A study was also made of the fertility of the eggs produced under 

 each of the different conditions. To demonstrate the necessity of feed- 



7 



