Department of Poultry Husbandry . Iv 



Research. — The nature of research projects in operation during the year, 

 and the numbers of fowls involved, were as follows: inheritance of egg 

 production, 815 fowls; inheritance of egg characters, 47; miscellaneous 

 breeding experiments, 47; methods of feeding, 171; influence of electric 

 lighting, 259; feed tests, 259; total, 1598. Because of the serious feed 

 situation, due to the high cost and scarcity of feed and the necessity of 

 using substitutes, a large proportion of the research projects relate to 

 improvement in feeding methods. 



The difficulty in securing an adequate supply of eggs during the fall 

 and winter months has led to the inauguration of investigations of the 

 economic value of artificial illtimination to induce egg production. The 

 results to date confirm the practical experience of producers, and justify 

 the belief that illumination is likely to greatly influence the winter pro- 

 duction of eggs. The importance of securing high egg yield in order to 

 meet the excessive increase in the cost of production warrants the con- 

 tinuance of the extensive and costly system of pedigree breeding to 

 improve laying qualities. The College now has a large number of high- 

 producing fowls, many of the offspring of which have been made available 

 to the breeders of the State. Among these are fowls that have records of 

 915 eggs in seven laying years, 1000 eggs in seven years, and 1062 eggs 

 in eight years — which is believed to be the largest record for a long 

 period. 



During the year the administration of the new game farm has been 

 assigned to this Department. A tract of land of 176 acres, east of and 

 adjacent to the college farm, has been purchased. An instructor in 

 game farming has been appointed and a trained foreman has been engaged. 

 Progress is being made in stocking and equipping the farm for teaching 

 and research purposes. 



Recommendations. — The efficiency of the Department and the appear- 

 ance of the plant could be greatly increased by the construction of impor- 

 tant and comparatively inexpensive buildings to complete the original 

 plan. Those needed are an incubation building and a judging pavilion 

 at the teaching plant, three or more large laying units for demonstration 

 purposes, and a service building on the poultry farm. Funds should be 

 provided for drainage, fencing, plantings, roads, and walks, if the poultry 

 farm is to be handled efficiently and if it is to be maintained in keeping 

 with the other college property. 



