DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 501 



Cooperative egg and poultry societies ( I'xl. Agr. and Fisheries [London], Leaflet 

 111, pp. 4). — The work of the cooperative poultry societies in England and Ireland 

 is briefly described, and the advantages which attend such organized attempts to 

 benefit the poultry industry arc briefly spoken of. 



Duck breeding at Netherby, ('. J. Cornish {Country Life [London], 16 (1904), 

 Nos. 392, pp. 49-52; 393, pp. 99-101, figs. 13). — The possibilities of raising teal, pin- 

 tails, widgeons, and hybrid wild ducks in semicaptivity are discussed, and the results 

 of experiments reported, which were on the whole successful, the whole question 

 being considered from the standpoint of the possibility of stocking estates with game. 



Experimental studies in oyster propagation, 1903, J. Nelson (New Jersey 

 Sins, ttpi. 1903, pp. 4-15-458, pis. 4). — During the present year the studies in oyster 

 propagation have had to do especially with the ventilation, temperature, and 

 manipulation of the oyster spawn. 



"We may summarize the factors or conditions on which success seems to depend, 

 as determined up to the present, thus: Oysters freshly tonged, filled with spawn, 

 consisting of ripe, clean eggs, speedily taken and fertilized, without crowding, by a 

 small quantity of motile sperms, in well-filtered, fresh sea water taken at full flood- 

 tide, thorough washing of the eggs, occasional agitation and good ventilation while 

 keeping them at a temperature as near 75° as possible, with care to prevent their 

 exposure to temperatures below 60° or above 80°. A failure in one or more of these 

 respects proves fatal. Under the above conditions, if the fry do not reach the shell 

 stage on the third day, counting the day of fertilization as first, it is evidence that an 

 unknown factor foredooming to failure has influenced the experiment." 



DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 



Report of the dairy husbandman, C. B. Lane (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1903, 

 pp. 347-411, pi*. 25). — This report deals with the soiling crops grown for the dairy 

 herd, the record of the herd, cost of milk production, etc. 



Soiling crops, 1903 (pp. 350-362). — The record is given of the yields of the various 

 soiling crops grown for the dairy herd, the time during which they furnished feed, 

 and the cost of production. Rye and wheat, while they did not give a large yield, 

 supplied forage for the herd at a time when nothing else was available, and the land 

 was immediately seeded to other crops. A record of one acre of alfalfa for 5 years 

 showed an average yield of green forage of 19.32 tons per year, including the year it 

 was seeded. Another acre seeded in May, 1901, yielded 11.36 tons, and a third plat 

 yielded from 4 cuttings at the rate of 21.36 tons of green forage per acre. Crimson 

 clover is regarded as "a very valuable plant for early forage," and peas and oats are 

 "now considered almost a necessity by dairymen who practice the soiling system." 

 If sown the first week in April, the crop supplies the best of forage during the month 

 of June. The crop will not do well where the soil is acid, and hence a dressing of 

 lime is recommended, and also a heavy dressing of well-rotted barnyard manure. 



From tests of a number of varieties of millet it is concluded that "White French, 

 Hungarian, Red Siberian, Golden, and German are not as profitable as the Barnyard 

 (Giant) and Pearl (Pencilaria), where the object is to grow the largest amount of 

 forage possible. Some of these varieties may, however, be better adapted for hay. 

 Of the two other distinct varieties, namely, Barnyard and Pearl, the Barnyard has 

 given better results as an all-around crop for the reason that it contains a higher 

 percentage of dry matter and produces smaller and more palatable plants." 



Among the cowpeas, the Red Ripper proved the best of the erect varieties and 

 outyielded all the others; the Southdown, Small Black, and Taylor (medium trailers ) 

 also being noted as good. The Thoroughbred White Flint corn continues to be one 

 of the best kinds for soiling purposes, owing to its succulent habit and heavy growth. 

 Strychnin mixed with moist corn, which was then spread upon the field, proved 



