776 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



[Poultry experiments in Canada] (Canada Expt. Farms Rpt. 1919, pp. 34, 

 35, llJf, 115, 180).— A report by F. C. Elford of the work at Lethbridge, Alta. 

 (pp. 34, 35), includes the following determinations of breed averages for 

 percentages of fertile eggs : Barred Plymouth Rocks 77.9, White Wyandottes 

 57.5, White Leghorns 88, and Rhode Island Reds 80.8. The numl)er of eggs set 

 per hatched chick were, respectively, 2.8, 3.1. 2.1, and 3. In comparing hens 

 and pullets it was found that 73.7 per cent of the hens' eggs were fertile, and 

 that 2.4 eggs were i-equired to secure one chick. Of the pullet eggs 79.8 were 

 fertile and 2.9 eggs were required for a chick. In a comparison of hatching 

 dates of Barred Plymouth Rock pullets it was found that a pen hatched April 

 21 produced more eggs from November to March than pullets hatched either in 

 March or in May. 



In feeding experiments at Cap Rouge, Que., reported by G. A. Langelier (pp. 

 114, 115), it was found that, as measured by egg production of pullets in the 

 winter, skim milk is superior to beef scrap and dried clover leaves better than 

 swede turnips. Snow can, in case of necessity, be used in place of water. 



At Invermere, B. C, it is reported by G. E. Parham (p. 180) that the average 

 Barred Plymouth Rock pullet consumed 84.2 lbs. of feed per year, or 7.5 lbs. 

 per dozen eggs. It was also found that Barred Plymouth Rock chicks at the 

 age of 10 weeks had consumed 5.5 lbs. of feed each and that at 20 weeks they 

 had consumed 19.75 lbs. 



Value of sour milk, beef scrap, cottonseed meal, gluten meal, and oil 

 meal in rations for egg production, H. L. Kempster {ilissouri Sta. Bill. 172 

 (1920), pp. 36, 37). — Tn two experiments meat scrap, or cottonseed meal, or both, 

 were added in varying proportions to the mash fed to AVhite Leghorn hens. In 

 general the liens produced eggs most economically when a quarter or a third 

 of the mash was composed ot meat scrap. Cottonseed meal did not increase 

 the efficiency of the ration and when fed alone was very uneconomical. 



Gluten meal and linseed meal were not specifically mentioned as part of the 

 rations of any pen. 



How to select good layers, F. E. Mussehl (Nebraska Sta. Circ. 12 (1920), 

 pp. 8, figs. 5). — The author describes the physical characteristics that are sup- 

 posed to indicate laying capacity in hens. 



Absence of xenia in ostrich eggs, J. E. Duerden (Jour. Heredity, 9 (1918), 

 No. 6, pp. 2Jf3-245, fig. 1). — The egg of the North African ostricli (Struthio 

 camelus) is almost round and the surface is smooth, while the egg of the South 

 African species (S. australis) is definitely oval and the respiratory pits are 

 large and conspicuous. In the author's experiments, when the hen of one 

 species was mated to the cock of the other, the hen invariably laid eggs char- 

 acteristic of her species. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Influence of nutrition of heifers and the age of breeding iipon their sub- 

 sequent development, A. C. Ragsdale and W. W'. Swett (Missouri Sta. Bui. 

 172 (1920), pp. 21, 22). — Studies on the protein requirements for growth (E. S. 

 R., 41, p. 676) were continued with 12 lieifers. It is noted that neither Hol- 

 steins nor Jerseys made normal gains on an 8 per cent protein plane, and that 

 on a 35 per cent plane the gains of the Jerseys were only slightly above normal, 

 while the Holstein gains were greatly in excess of normal. From these and the 

 earlier results it is concluded that " the Jerseys can not make normal gains on 

 a ration, which, figured on the same basis, is adequate for Holsteins." 



Experimental feeding [of dairy stock], G. A. Langelier (Canada Expt. 

 Farms Rpt. 1919, pp. 110, 111). — Continuing work previously noted at Cap 



