4Y4 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



1 showed a yolk with a deep yellow color, those from pen 3 had a yolk of good 

 yellow color, and those from pen 2 were noticeably pale in color of yolk. 



In a second test in which white corn was substituted for the yellow in pen 1, 

 pens 1 and 2 produced eggs with very pale yolks in all cases but one, and pen 

 3 a good yellow in all cases. The results of this experiment tend to show that 

 the color of the corn influences the coloring of the yolks and that wheat exerts 

 no influence. 



Vitality and activity of sperm cells and artificial insem^ination of the 

 chicken, L. F. Payne (Oklahoma Sta. Circ. 30 (1914), pp. 3-8. figs. 2).— The 

 objects of the work reported in this circular were first to study the vitality of 

 the sperm cells of fowls under both laboratory and natural conditions, and sec- 

 ondly to test the possibility of artificial insemination of poultry. 



Under artificial conditions the cells did not appear active after 28 hours when 

 kept at body temperature. Cells kept at 34° F. lived from 2 to 3 times as long 

 as those at body temperature. The number of cells per cubic millimeter from 

 five cock birds of approximately the same age ranged between 2,000,000 and 

 5,000,000. 



Virgin pullets were bred and killed at certain periods after breeding and a 

 microscopic examination for sperm cells made of scrapings from the oviduct. 

 It was found that sperm cells pass very quickly from the cloaca to the infundi- 

 bulum or full length of the oviduct. ^Vfter the fourteenth day cells in the ovi- 

 duct appeared to have greatly degenerated. From the fourteenth to the fifty- 

 sixth day the movement in cells was the same and had all the appearance of 

 life, although fertile eggs were not laid more than 16 days after the males were 

 removed. Hens laying infertile eggs were treated artificially with seminal fluid 

 with a resulting fair percentage of fertile eggs. 



Standard-bred poultry (Seranton, Pa., vols. 1, pp. Yni-{-[38.5]+IX-XXII, pis. 

 28. figs. 79; 2, pp. VII+[281'i+IX-XVIII, pis. 43, figs. i5).— These two volumes, 

 which are a part of the International Library of Technology, treat the various 

 breeds of poultry. 



Poultry farming (Scranton, Pa., vols. 1, pp. YIII-{-[6m->rIX-XXXIV, figs. 

 337; 2, pp. riI+[r)4S]+IX-XXIX, pis. 2, figs. 2^7).— These volumes, which are 

 a part of the International Library of Technology, treat of the various phases 

 of poultry breeding and management. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Dutch methods of breeding dairy stock, W. Wright (Jour. Agr. [New 

 Zeal.'\, 8 (1914), No. 3, pp. 277-293, figs. 8). — The author states that there are 

 at present three breeds of native cattle to be distinguished in the Netherlands, 

 the black and white Holland, the red and white Meuse-Rhine-Yssel, and the 

 black white-head Grouingen breeds. The body characteristics and measure- 

 ments of the three breeds ai-e described. 



While each group comprises various tribes, families, and types, the typical 

 characteristics of the breeds are constant and permanent. With regard to their 

 relative aptitudes for the accumulation of flesh these groups rank as 40: 50: 

 55, respectively; as to milking powers, as 60: 50: 45. 



It is stated that the fundamental principle of the reorganized Xetherland herd- 

 book is the improvement of each of the three native breeds by straight breeding. 

 Animals which do not possess the coat proclaimed typical of one of these breeds 

 are excluded from the herdbook. A rigid system of inspection and of registry 

 is practiced in connection with the herdbook recording. The animals are judged 

 by a prescribed score card especially adapted to each breed. 



