772 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



have shown better profits tbau flocks that were partly or wholly conlinetl. Farm 

 flocks have been more profitable than village or city lot flocks. . . . Poultry 

 ' systems ' requiring close confinement of the flock and a large amount of 

 personal attention are out of place on a general farm. The poultry should be 

 incidental to the main business of the farm. Farm and village lot ix)ultrymen 

 are serious competitors with the commercial poultrymen. The surplus from all 

 these small flocks pours upon the market a continuous stream regardless of 

 profit. ... A better system of marketing eggs and poultry is needed ; one 

 which Avill encourage the production of a high-class product and insure expedi- 

 tious and careful transi)ortation to the consumer." 



[Hatching chickens on a large scale] (\. Y. Produce Rev. and Aincr. Cream., 

 33 {iyi2), x\o. 17, pp. 7.2',, 7..'J).— A note on a hatchery with a capacily of ;J().(;kjO 

 eggs at one time. 



" The principle of the hatchery is the use of a fan to drive the heat from 

 gas burners downward through the eggs, instead of allowing it to rise to the 

 higher elevations as hot air will always do if left to itself. The fan principle 

 enables the placing of the eggs in the hatchery 20 layers deep, instead of 1 or 2, 

 as in the small incubators. Therefore, one man can attend to the hatching of 

 the entire contents of the hatchery, as thermostats and other scientific attach- 

 ments jtositively control the heat in the incubator to 100.5°, which is the exact 

 heat for hatching eggs. In case a stronger or lesser flow of gas in the heater 

 is required, the thermostat controls it automatically." 



The method of turning eggs by the incubating hen, J. L. Feateur (Rev. 

 Gen. Agron., n. ser., 6 {1911), No. 11-12, pp. J,12-'i77). — By numbering the eggs 

 the exact location of each egg was determined from day to day during the incu- 

 bation period. It was found that the position was changed daily, the eggs 

 occupying the center of the nest being moved to the iTeriphei'y and vice versa 

 by rotating on the longer axis. 



The formation of organic phosphorus from inorganic phosphates, G. Fin- 

 GERLiNG (Biochem. Ztschr., 3S {1912). No. 5-6, pp. -)}8--j6'7). — Analyses of eggs 

 laid by geese showed that lecithin and nuclein were synthetically formed fi-om 

 inorganic phosphorus supplied in the ration. 



Effect of narcotics upon the development of hen's egg, A. M. Reese (Abs. 

 in Science, n. ser., 35 (1912), A'o. 892, p. 191). — An abstract of a preliminary 

 account of the effect of reagents on the development of the hen's egg. Alcohol 

 was fatal in about 75 per cent of the experiments, ether in about 35 per cent, 

 and chloroform, chlorotone, and magnesium chlorid were generally fatal, though 

 with the 2 latter compounds some deaths may have been due to faulty technic. 



White-faced black Spanish, R. A. Rowan (Rel. Poultry Jour., 19 (1912), 

 No. 1, p. 75, fig. 1). — Brief notes on the revival of interest in what is supposed 

 to be the oldest breed of the Mediterranean type of fowls. 



What's a capon and why, G. Beuoy (1912, pp. ^0, pi. 1, figs. S5). — The ad- 

 vantages of caponizing are discussed, and methods for performing the operation 

 are described. 



Ostrich breeding, W. Bassermann (Der Strauss und seine Zucht. Berlin, 

 1911, pp. yiII + 157, pis. 15). — A general treatise on the breeding, feeding, and 

 management of ostriches. 



The fur trade, E. Brass (Aus dein Rcichc der Pcl^^e. Berlin, 1911, pp. 

 JXI+709, figs. i83).— The first part of this book is devoted to the history of 

 the trade in fur, skins, and hides of animals. The second is devoted to the 

 natural history of fur-bearing animals, both wild and domesticated. 



History and criticism of inbreeding, Strang (Deut. Landw. Tierzucht, 15 

 (1911), Nos. J,9, pp. 5S5-5S7; 50, pp. 597-601; 51, pp. 612-616; 52, pp. 622-621,).— 



