ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 767 



ifrove Oil the preseiit method of littins^ loKarithink' curves bj- the least-squares 

 method, by brin,i,'in,i; this class of curves into the f,'eneral system of curve fitting; 

 worked out by I'earson and known as the " method of moments." The method 

 is worketl out on the assuniption that "if we equate the area and moments of a 

 theoretical curve to the area and moments of a series of observations we shall 

 fiet a reasonable tit of the curve to the observations." 



A bibliography of 23 references is included. 



[Animal husbandry], L. B. Barbeb and J. B. Thompson (Guam 8ta. Rpt. 

 JOI4, pp. 7, 8, 18-22, 25-27, pU. .3).— It is stated that the mating of a pen of 

 single-comb Brown Leghorn hens with a native black-fleshed cock resulted in 

 nine ]uillels which had dai'k green legs and black flesh, resembling in these; 

 features the male parent, and the remaining nine had dark green legs resem- 

 bling the male parent, with white skin and flesh of a normal color resembling 

 more closelj' that of the Brown Leghorn. From 2o cockerels out of the same 

 breeding pen all had white skin and flesh resembling that of the Brown Leg- 

 horn, 20 had white legs, one had one white leg and one of a dark greenish hue, 

 and the remaining two resembled each other in having one white leg with a 

 black patch on the other leg. In this work a strong tendency is shown for the 

 color characteristics to be tran.smitted by the jia rents to the progeny of the op- 

 posite sex. 



In horse breeding experiments it has been demonstrated that foals from 

 native mares and an imported stallion inherit size and (piality from their 

 superior sire, while they seem to retain in a full measure the hardiness and 

 vitality of their native dams. Successful crossbreeding experiments with na- 

 tive hogs and imported Berkshires are reported. 



It is stated that goats of an inferior and degenerate type which were proba- 

 bly introduced from Mexico are now bred on the Island. These have been 

 occasionally crossed with a milch type, and tlie superiority of this cross over 

 the native animal is well marked. It is stated that goats are reasonably 

 hardy and free from disease in Guam, and a number of conditions exist which 

 would indicate the adaptability of the milch goat, both in relation to the coun- 

 try and to the people. 



The station flock of Plymouth Rocks and Brown Leghorns shows a tendency 

 toward loss of vigor thought to result from inbreeding. Hens obtained from 

 crossing either of the introduced brewls on the native fowl are reported to be 

 belter layers than the latter and with the hardiness of that parent not greatly 

 reduced. In experiments with Brown Leghorn chickens, ordinary natives, 

 native black meat fowls, and a cross between the latter and the Brown Leg 

 horn, it was found that other things being equal all are equally susceptible to 

 chicken pox. 



Inoculation of ensiled roots with germ culture, Zscheye (Ztschr. Ver. Deut. 

 Ziickerindus., No. 703 (WI4), II, pp. 668-671). — Successful experiments are re- 

 ported in inoculating ensiled roots with a lactic acid bacteria culture, resulting 

 in a lowering of the injurious acids, acetic and butyric, as well as the am- 

 monium nitrogen, the femientation product of the protein material. The 

 optinumi temperature for growth of these bacteria appears to be about 35° C. 

 The inoculated silage was of a clear color, with a clean sour smell, and in no 

 case showed indications of spoiling, while the uninoculated silage was darker 

 in color, showed indications of molding, and a decayed smell. In the inocu- 

 lated silage there was a 24 per cent loss in the silage mass, in the uninoculated, 

 32 per cent. 



Feeding of sugar-containing feed materials, Zuntz {Ztschr. Vcr. Deut. 

 ZuckeriiKjKs.. Xo. 701 (1914). II, pp. //S5--}9S). — These were respiration exiieri- 

 ments with ruminants, in which straw, molasses, turf molasses, and sugar 



