BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 89 



efficient methods rather than to concentrate entirely on increased 

 production. The Avork was carried on in 29 States by 41 field men. 

 In 1919 there was reported from 21 of these States an average in- 

 crease of 2G.5 per cent in poultry production over the preceding year ; 

 5 States reported a normal production, 1 slightly above normal, and 

 only 2 showed a slight decrease, due principally to the high cost of 

 feeds as compared with the price received for the finished products. 



POL'LTKY CLUBS. 



Nine poidtry-club agents or specialists working in 8 States in 

 the calendar yenv 1918 supervised the conduct of 2,151 boys' and girls' 

 ])oultry clubs with an enrollment of 31,095 members, an increase of 

 107.3 per cent over the preceding year. These club members hatched 

 820,869 chicks and raised 233,123 mature fowls. They produced 

 $146,529.09 worth of poultry and eggs for market and breeding pur- 

 poses, and the total value of their receipts and stock on hand at the 

 end of the j^car amounted to $403,690.46. One hundred and thirty- 

 five poultry-club exhibits were held, at which 1,405 members ex- 

 hibited 4,825 birds and 447 dozen eggs, and the total amount of 

 special and cash prizes awarded to the members making these ex- 

 hibits amounted to $4,388. The average profit per member reporting 

 was $23.53. 



ANIMAL GENETICS. 



The inbreeding of guinea pigs has been carried to the twentieth 

 generation Avholly by mating brother with sister. Crossbreeding 

 experiments, with the inbred families as material, have now been 

 carried on for more than three years. The results of the past year 

 are in agreement with those for the previous years. No very obvious 

 degeneration has appeared in the inbred stock. There has, however, 

 been some decline in vigor. Fertility, including both size and fre- 

 quency of litters, has suffered the most. Experiments on the re- 

 sistance to tuberculosis of the difi'erent inbred families and of the 

 crossbreds liave been begun in cooperation with the Phipps Institute, 

 of Philadelphia. A new statistical mctliod has been developed in 

 connection Avith iuA'estigations on the relative importance of the 

 various factors Avhich determine coat color, rate of growth, etc. 



ANIMAL HUSBANDRY EXPERIMENT FARM. 



Besides the experimental Avork carried on at the Animal Hus- 

 bandry Division farm at Beltsville, Md., the general deA^elopment 

 of the farm has been continued. Progress has been made in drain- 

 age, completion of buildings, water system, soil improvement, im- 

 provement of grounds, and several minor projects. Drainage ^i all 

 except woodlands has been completed ; 16,649 feet of drain tile were 

 laid during the year, making a total of 78,191 feet laid since the 

 farm was acquired. All the large buildings and most of the port- 

 able houses have been neAvly painted. 



CERTIFICATION OF ANIMALS IMPORTED FOR BREEDING PURPOSES. 



Under the provisions of paragraph 397 of the tariff act of October 

 3, 1913, certificates of pure breeding were issued for 168 horses and 

 92 dogs. 



15]3.-52°— 20— 7 



