776 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOKD. 



Official report, edited by E. Brown {ISlat. Poultry Conf. Reading Off. Rpt., 

 2 (1907) in>- XXX-\-3Sl, pis. .'/, fl(j. 1). — A report of the proceedings of the 

 second national poultry conference held at University College, Reading, July S 

 to 11, 1907, together with the papers and discussions presented at the different 

 sections. 



Among the papers on poultry farming and production, breeding, hygiene, and 

 disease, and related topics, may be mentioned The Colony System of Poultry 

 Keeping, by J. H. Robinson ; Mendel's Law of Heredity and Its Application to 

 Poultry Breeding, by C. C. Hurst ; The P^conomic Values of External Characters, 

 by L. A'ander Snickt ; The Production of :Milk Chickens, by Mme. A'an Schelle ; 

 and Methods of Instruction in Poultry Keeping in Great Britain, by F. W. 

 Par ton. 



In a paper entitled '" Hybridization Experiments with the Ceylon Jungle 

 Fowl." by J. L. Thomas (pp. 98-115), experiments are reported in which Ceylon 

 jungle fowl were crossed with common fowl with the object of determining 

 whether these wild birds should be counted as among the ancestors of domestic 

 poultry. The various crosses of pure breds and hybrids were fertile, but, in 

 the author's opinion, additional investigations are needed before the question 

 under consideration can be settled. The paper is followed by a discussion. 



Ostrich farming in Cuba, E. V. Morgan {Daily Consular and Trade Rpts. 

 [U. *S'.], 1907, Ao. 2992, p. 15). — A brief account is given of ostrich raising on a 

 farm in Cuba. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING— AGROTECHNY. 



Variations in the amount of casein in cow's milk, E. B. Hart (Jour. Ainer. 

 Chcm. Hoc, SO {190S), Xo. 2, pp. 2:<l-2s.)). — The author attempted to learn the 

 significance of the variation in the proportions of the quantity of fat to that 

 of casein in the milk of different cows. Data for 2G cows of 5 different breeds 

 are reported and discussed. In the author's opinion: "(1) The relation of 

 casein to fat in cow's milk is a variable one. (2) One of the prime factors 

 controlling its relation is individuality. (.'>) The relation of casein to fat 

 varies among animals of different breeds and among animals of the same breed. 

 (4) Direct determination of both fat and casein seems necessary in determining 

 the value of the milk of any single cow for cheese production." 



The proportion of nitrogenous substances in milk and cream, II. Hoft 

 (Mileliw. ZentbL, 3 {1907), Xo. 12, pp. ^22-526).— The data of the investiga- 

 tions show similar jn-o] tortious of casein and soluble proteid in milk and cream. 



On the combining power of casein with certain acids, J. H. Long {Jour. 

 Amer. Chcm. ,Soe., 29 {1907), Xo. 9, pp. i3;i'/-iJ.'/2).— The author has previously 

 shown that casein will combine with different alkalis to form salts, and also 

 that the products of casein hydrolysis by peptic digestion combine with hydro- 

 chloric acid (E. S. R., 18, p. 910). In the present article an account is given 

 of the behavior of casein toward acid in the absence of pepsin. 



At ordinary temperature 1 gm. of casein combined with nearly 7 cc. of one- 

 tenth normal hydrochloric, hydrobromic, hydriodic, sulphuric, and acetic acids. 

 It also combined with tartaric, phosphoric, oxalic, and other acids, for which 

 the numerical values could not be found, but it did not unite with boric acid. 

 With the application of heat the combining power Mas much greater, due per- 

 haps in part at least to hydrolysis and combination of the resulting products 

 with acid. 



"Adsorption " and the behavior of casein in acid solutions, T. B. Roijkrt- 

 soN {Joitr. Biol. Chcm., Jf (1908), Xo. 1, pp. ^J-.'/ '/ ) .— The conclusion derived 



