372 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



Six pregnant Duroc-Jersey sows fed corn only and three fed a similar low 

 ash ration composed of ground corn, wheat gluten, and blood meal produced 

 small litters of poorly developed pigs, half of which were dead in 30 days. The 

 sows were generally in poor condition, and two died about five weeks after 

 farrowing. Two control lots, comprising three sows each, were fed a mixture 

 of ground corn 70, shorts 24, and tankage 6 per cent with or without extra 

 mineral matter, and produced healthier pigs that grew more vigorously and 

 showed a lower death rate. 



Some vital problems of the poultry feeder, H. R. Lewis (New Jersey Stas. 

 Hints to Poultrymen, 7 (1918), No. S, pp. .}). — The supply, cost, and quality of 

 poultry feed are discussed, the planning of rations is considered, and methods of 

 feeding, including suggestions regarding the quantity of grain to be fed laying 

 hens during each month of the year, are outlined. 



[Marketing of poultry] [Kansas Sta. L'i>t. 1911, /-. 66). — A large number 

 of fowls were dressed by different methods and shipped to a town about 50 

 miles distant. From there they were returned to the bacteriology department 

 for examination. The results indicate that it is not feasible in Kansas to ship 

 poultry by parcel post during the summer. Attempts to use preservatives, such 

 as cane sugar, sodium nitrate, and sodium chlorid, were not successful because 

 of the foreign flavors added with the 



[Incubation and brooding tests in Guam], (.'. W. BDWABDS (Guam Sta. h']>t. 

 1911. pp. 18-16). — The batching percentage secured In the station poultry 

 plant was low during the season of 1917. In a test setting during which the 

 concrete floor under the Incubator was sprinkled twice daily, the percentag 

 fertile eggs hatched increased slightly. The percentage of dead germs In 

 held more than 10 days waa very high. 



A comparison was made of heated and indicated brooders. During th( 



of cool nights (December and January), a lower chick mortality and re 



rapid growth occurred in the brooder artificially heated, hater during the 

 warm season (after February L5), results from the firelesa and kerosene 

 brooders were equally satisfactory. 



Accuracy in commercial grading of opened eggs, M. K. Jenkins and N. 

 Hendbicksoh (17. 8. Dept. Agr. Hul. 891 [1918), pp. 87, pis. .5. figs. S).— In con- 

 nection with the previous work of the Bureau of Chemistry <>n the quality of 

 liquid eggs used in making frozen or dried egg products (B. s. B,, 35, p. i~'.u. 

 it was noted that comparatively high-grade stock might have a high bacterial 

 count under conditions which could not be accounted for on the grounds of 

 carelessness in opening or during subsequent treatment Apparently there 

 were some infected eggs among those that went to make up breaking-stock 

 of a type which is not readily detected by ordinary grading OUl Of the shell. 



To Investigate this problem a study was made of 2,052 individual oltu's. pep- 

 resenting '-'!' samples Secured from eastern commission houses. All the eggs 

 had been passed as lit for human food by commercial candlers. Bach egg was 

 opened separately under aseptic conditions and a portion removed for bac- 

 terial examination. Of the whole lot only 13.5 per cent had more than 100 

 organisms per cubic centimeter, and only 2.8 per cent contained members of 

 the Bacillus coli group. 



When the eggs were classified according to the condition of shell, it was 

 found that the percentage of infection (both general and /?. coli) progressively 

 increased through the following series; Clean whole eggs, dirty whole i 

 clean cracked eggs, dirty cracked eggs, clean leaking eggs, and dirty leaking 

 ol'u's. 39.1 per cent of the last class being infected. The percentage of eggs in- 

 fected also Increased with the physical breakdown of the yolk, but a large 



