1917] DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 871 



indicate that under the unusually severe conditions of this experiment in- 

 breeding has had distinctly detrimental effects. In 1913, 67 per cent of the 

 fertile eggs from inbred stock hatched, while in 1916 only 18 per cent hatched. 

 During this period the fertile eggs from check hens mated to inbred males 

 decreased in hatching power from 67 to 64 per cent. Confirming previous re- 

 sults, the period of incubation was found to be lengthened in the case of the 

 inbred flock. 



There was a marked variation in the vitality of the inbred fowls, many of 

 them being weak, while others made normal growth. In general the females 

 were normal and the males frequently lacked vigor. It was also noted that 

 a relatively larger number of inbred chicks failed to reach maturity. 



The production of eggs for hatching, H. Atwood {West Virginia Sta. Circ. 

 24 (1916), pp. 15). — This is a brief review and list of experiment station and 

 other literature bearing on the subject. 



The incubation of hen eggs, H. Atwood {West Virginia Sta. Circ. 25 {1917), 

 pp. 24). — This is a brief discussion of the general subject of incubation and a 

 review of experiment station and other literature bearing thereon. The prin- 

 ciples involved and the most improved methods in use at the present time are 

 explained. A list of the literature cited is included. 



Brooding and feeding little chicks, H. Atwood {West Virginia Sta. Circ. 26 

 {1917), pp. 15, figs. 5). — Full directions are briefly given. 



Turkey raising, A. S. Weiant {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 791 {1917), 

 pp. 26, figs. 16). — Full directions are given for raising turkeys, the points dis- 

 cussed being the turkey industry in the United States, profits from turkey 

 raising, varieties, management of breeding stock, incubation, brooding, fatten- 

 ing for market, caponizing, marketing, and diseases. 



Report of the department of biology, J. Nelson {New Jeisey Stas. Rpt. 

 1915, pp. 239-242, 251-260). — Observations on the periods of spawning and 

 spatting of oysters in relation to weather conditions are briefly reviewed. 

 Data on spawning at Tuckerton and on oyster plankton and oyster spatting 

 at Edge Cove during 1915 are tabulated. 



Results of investigations during the year show that Canadian oyster larvse 

 at the time of spatting are a fourth larger than those of native New Jersey 

 oysters. The soft parts of an oyster occupy only about half of the shell 

 cavity. An abundance of snails was found to be associated with a scarcity 

 of oyster fry. The most accurate method for determining the number of oyster 

 fry in a plankton sample is that of sedimentation. 



Oysters exposed at low tide are delayed in spawning, and for those always 

 covered the spawning is dependent on temperature. The length of the free 

 larval life of oyster fry at 77° F. is 16 days; at 80°, 13 days. The temporary 

 raising of the temperature of water by warm waves causes the fry to rise to 

 the surface, while cold weather drives them down. Larvfe reared by artificial 

 fertilization reach the shell stage in their development only when the fertiliza- 

 tion is made within ten minutes after the oysters are taken out of the water. 

 At 90° the shell stage is reached within 12 hours after fertilization. Larvse 

 tend to stay near the bottom at night, while they rise when daylight appears. 

 The adult oyster discriminates in its food, rejecting what is unsuitable. The 

 larval oyster swallows everything small enough. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Report of the department of dairy husbandry, A. S. Cook {New Jersey 

 Stas. Rpt. 1915, pp. 125-141). — Twelve cows in the early stages of lactation 

 were divided into two lots of 6 cows each and fed for 100 days on the reversal 

 98133°— No. 9—17 6 



