BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTBY. 85 



A new two-story building, having a floor space 30 by 50 feet and 

 a large cement basement, has been erected for investigations in the 

 incubation of eggs. 



PIGEON AND SQUAB INVESTIGATIONS. 



The experimental flock of pigeons has been increased and addi- 

 tional data are accumulating. About 200 homing pigeons have been 

 purchased for investigating the use of flying pigeons for signal work, 

 'and an extensive loft has been arranged for this work. 



OSTRICH INVESTIGATIONS. 



A tract of 80 acres at Glendale, Ariz., has been leased by the 

 department for the ostrich investigations in cooperation with the 

 Arizona Ostrich Breeders' Association, and the ostrich work was 

 transferred to these new quarters in January. Permanent pens 

 have been constructed and the land put into good condition and tem- 



Eorary buildings erected for the attendants. Six pens of birds have 

 een mated this year. 



TURKEY AND GUINEA INVESTIGATIONS. 



Additional data have been gathered on the raising of turkeys and 

 guinea fowl in the Southwest. Turkey raising is being conducted 

 with marked success in that section. 



POULTRY CLUBS. 



Boys' and girls' poultry-club work has been developed in three 

 new States this year, making a total of 11 States (Massachusetts, 

 Rhode Island, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carohna, 

 South Carolina, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Washington), with 

 1,010 clubs organized in 300 counties and a membership of 15,000 

 boys and girls. A substantial increase in membership and results 

 is shown. During the past year the members hatched 98,273 chicks 

 and raised 80,310 matured fowls; more than S17,908 worth of poultry 

 and eggs were sold for marketing and breeding purposes or consumed 

 at home, and the total value of the receipts, stock on hand, and prizes 

 won amounted to $41,312,42. Owing to congested transportation 

 conditions and the fact that many of the smaller fairs were discon- 

 tinued because of the war, poultry exhibits in many instances have 

 been curtailed. Nevertheless, 624 members exhibited 6.208 birds 

 and 329 dozens of eggs at 104 exhibitions, and received special and 

 cash prizes amounting to $3,090,75. Many club members have de- 

 veloped ability to judge poultry and to carry on various phases of 

 poultry work by means of demonstrations, such as setting hens, 

 operating incubators, preserving eggs, caponizing, killing and 

 dressing fowls for market, etc. The poultry-club agents and mem- 

 bers assisted materially in the emergency poultry-extension canv 

 paign for increased production. 



COMMUNITY POULTRY BREEDING. 



The organization of community poultry-breeding associations to 

 standardize one breed or variety in a section has been a valuable 

 outgrowth of poultry-club efforts. Many communities, a large 



