470 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The searing iron v. the knife for detailing lambs, J. W. Mathews et al. 

 (Dept. Agr. N. S. Wales, Farmers' Bui. 61, pp. SJf, figs. 7). — This is a compila- 

 tion of articles and reports of experiments on the comparative results obtained 

 from detailing lambs by the searing-iron and knife methods. 



Results in general indicated that the 2 methods were of about equal value. 

 Development of the lambs was apparently not checked, and the lambs that had 

 been knifed showed no serious effects from the loss of blood. Somewhat 

 greater trouble v/as experienced in getting the seared tails to heal than in 

 the case of those knifed. 



Inheritance of mammae in Duroc Jersey swine, E. N. Wentworth (Amer. 

 Nat., 47 {1913), No. 551, pp. 257-278, figs. S).— A continuation of investigations 

 previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 574) in which 57 grade Duroc Jersey sows 

 and 510 pigs were examined. 



The author's conclusions are as follows : 



" There are 2 common sorts of variations from the even paired type in the 

 mammte of swine, aside from the simple addition and subtraction of pairs. 

 These are the ' triangle ' and ' suppressed ' nipple variations. Each shows a 

 definite tendency to reproduce itself in the offspring, but both are apparently 

 associated with an increased number of pairs. The seat of the greatest 

 variation in the animals under discussion is the second pair of mammte. 

 This is perhaps due to the type of variation in the sires. There is apparently 

 a breed difference in regard to the number of mammae. Bateson shows that 

 in Tamworths and Berkshires, 13, 14, and 15 mammae are typical, occurring 

 in 77 per cent of the cases. The Duroc Jerseys studied show in 90 per cent 

 of the animals 10, 11, or 12 mammae. 



" The ratio of asymmetrical to symmetrical patterns increases as the number 

 of mammae increase. With 5 pairs symmetry is almost constant ; with 6 pairs, 

 symmetry and asymmetry are equal. With 7 pairs asymmeti-y outnumbers 

 symmetry 2:1. No evidence definitely showed that asymmetry is unilateral 

 in inheritance. Asymmetry on one side of the parent does not, on the average, 

 produce asymmetry on the same side only of the offspring. Sows differing in 

 number of mamma;, when mated with the same boar, produce offspring variable 

 in number of mammae. In general, sows with a large number of mammae 

 produce more offspring of a corresponding sort than do sows with a small 

 number of mammae. The difference, however, is not great, and neither sort 

 apparently breeds true. The correlation of mother and offspring in number of 

 mammae is measured by the coefficient 0.2626±0.028. There is a distinct inheri- 

 tance of the tendency to produce a greater number of pairs, the correlation 

 being 0.35S8±0.034. 



" There is no evidence of lateral inheritance of the mammae, the inheritance 

 by pairs being a more probable hypothesis. No definitely Mendelizing units 

 were found in the abdominal mammary series, but the relations between grand- 

 parents and offspring and parents and offspring do indicate a segregation of 

 some sort. Rudimentaries in the functional mammary series have the same 

 effect on the pattern as normal mammae, and probably represent lack of devel- 

 opment. There is no greater tendency to variation among the rudimentary nip- 

 ples of the male than among the potentially functional nipples of the female. 

 The paired rudimentaries to the rear of the inguinal pair behave as a simple 

 Mendellan unit character, sex limited in inheritance." 



Swine feeding experiments with malt sprouts in comparison with skim 

 milk, Institute of Proskau, 1912, Klein {Mitt. Ver. Deut. Schweinezuchter, 

 20 {1913), No. 12, pp. 2^-2//8).— This is a report of feeding experiments with 

 swine in which com, barley, and potato flakes were fed in various proportions 



