476 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The single testing system of breeding for egg production, D. F. Latjbie 

 (Jour. Dept. Agr. So. Aust., 14 (.1911), No. 8, pp. 7J,8-759, figs. 3).— In order to 

 detect good layers from which to breed, the author advocates tbe keepinj? of 

 hens in single pens instead of using trap nests. Details are given for the 

 management of the hens and tbe keeping of records when this system is used. 



The Buckeye; one of the newer breeds, Mes. Gertrude O. Earl and A. H. 

 Weisberg (RcL Poultry Jour., IS (1911), No. Jf, pp. 596, 627. fig. /).— An account 

 of the origin and characteristics of a new general utility breed of fowls. 



The principles of ostrich feeding, J. E. Duerden {Agr. Jour. Brit. East 

 Africa, 3 (1910), No. 3, pp. 233-2.'fO). — This article discusses wild and tame 

 breeding stock, the characteristics of the perfect plume, selective breeding, and 

 variability in progeny. 



The influence of climate on oyster propagation at Barnegat, N. J., 1909, 

 J. Nelson (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1909, pp. 225-266, pis. 5). — The factors influ- 

 encing oyster propagation which were studied included temperature, rainfall, 

 direction of winds and their force, the extent of the tides, and allied phenomena 

 as they affect one another and as they are modified by local conditions, topog- 

 raphy, character of the bottom, and situation of streams. 



The range of the spawning season observed thus far extends from June 10 

 until October, but the principal periods are between June 14 and August 10. 

 Both spawning and spatting occurred in climaxes which coincided with warm 

 waves. The effect of such waves was to warm the water, especially on shallow 

 flats. The temperature effect was greater in proportion to the dift'erence be- 

 tween it and the temperature previously experienced. Hence it is that oysters 

 taken from the warmer southern waters and planted in the colder northern 

 waters fail to propagate although well filled with spawn, and that northern 

 oysters taken into more southern regions will spawn earlier than the natives. 

 A cold period followed by warm weather has a greater effect than if the con- 

 trast was less marked, and when a cool period succeeds a warm spell it has a 

 chilling effect, even though the temperature is as high as that which in a reverse 

 case would have stimulated spawning. It is stated that there are probably 

 other causes, yet to be discovered, that supplement this influence of temi)erature. 



It is unknown why spawn floats for weeks while growing to the spatting size 

 and yet is not seen in the filtration of the water between the warm periods. 

 " Particularly important is the discovery that the spawn emitted does not set 

 as spat as early as has been hitherto believed by the best authorities. This dis- 

 covery has two aspects, one of encouragement and one of discouragement. The 

 encouraging side is that we can take advantage of the long period in which the 

 fry is floating to get the cultch ready to plant at the very best time and not 

 have to trust to luck. There is also hope of finding out other useful facts about 

 the setting of spat. On the other hand, the discouraging feature that grows out 

 of this discovery is that it will be more difficult to breed oysters artificially than 

 we had hitherto hoped." 



Observations and experimental data on spawning, fertilizing, salinity, and 

 filtration are reported and summarized in tables and charts. An alleged oyster 

 disease was investigated and found to be due to a deposit of mud, which settled 

 in a depression whenever easterly winds prevailed in the spring for a consider- 

 able length of time. A floating laboratory for further study of oyster propaga- 

 tion is illustrated and described. 



On the composition of forage plants, L. Goblet (Jour. S'Oc. Agr. Brahant et 

 Hainaut, 56 (1911), No. 22, pp. 271, 272).— Analyses are reported of clover, 

 alfalfa, and prairie hays. 



Soy beans and their by-products, F. Honcamp (Landiv. Vers. Stat., 73 

 (1910), No. 4-5, pp. 241-284, figs. 2; ais. in ZentU. Gesam. Physiol, u. Path. 



