1919] DAIKY FARMING DAIRYING. 371 



Bui. lis {1918), pp. 2!f, figs. 8). — This is a discussion of the New South Wales 

 contest concluded March 31, 1918. IMonthly individual egg records are tabulated 

 of 420 pullets and 120 second-year hens. The production of the latter as pullets 

 is also given. The report of the previous contest has been noted (E. S. R., 38, 

 p. 72). 



[Reports on the fifth, sixth, and seventh Victorian egg-laying competi- 

 tions, 1915-16 and 1917-18], A. Hart (Joxir. Dept. Agr. VictorUi, U {1916), 

 No. 6, pp. 329-340, figs. 8; 15 {1911), No. 6, pp. 321-332, figs. 7; 16 {1918), No. 6, 

 pp. 321-338, figs. 8). — Continuing previous sunnnaries (B. S. R., 33, p. 673) 

 these reports discuss the results of the egg-laying contests held annually at 

 Burnley, Victoria, beginning April 15. The seventh contest was closed after 11 

 months, while the others continued a full year. Tables give the monthly egg 

 records for each pen of six birds and the breed averages. Individual records 

 of 136 pullets by months are tabulated in the seventh report. 



Report of an investigation as to cause of death, of chicks in shell in arti- 

 ficial incubation, H. B. Arbuckle {Jour. Elisha Mitchell ScL Soc, 34 {1918), 

 No. 3, pp. 14I-I45, pl. i). — The author states that under the standard condi- 

 tions of artificial incubation generally considered essential for a good hatch 

 most deaths in the shell occur after the eighteenth day. The oxygen content 

 of the incubator air at this stage was found to be reduced. The percentage 

 of fertile eggs hatched was increased by introducing a current of oxygen into 

 the incubator during the last few days of incubation. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIEYING. 



Alfalfa as a sole feed for dairy cattle, F. W. Woll {Jour. Dairy 8ci., 1 

 {1918), No. 6, pp. 441-461). — Lactation and other records are reported of 6 

 heifers of the California Experiment Station herd put on an exclusive ration 

 of alfalfa hay (following methods used by dairymen in western irrigated 

 districts) several months before freshening and continued on alfalfa for 

 upward of 3 years. Similar records are presented for comparison of 6 heifers 

 of lilie age and breeding fed a mixed ration of alfalfa hay, silage, and various 

 concentrates (mainly rolled barley, dried beet pulp, coconut meal, and wheat 

 bran). Records of 6 first lactations and 3 second lactations are available In 

 each group. 



During the first lactation the alfalfa-fed heifers averaged 5,743 lbs. of 

 milk and 204.2 lbs, of butter fat, while the group on mixed rations produced 

 7,359 lbs. of milk and 297.1 lbs. of fat. The milk records of the second lac- 

 tation averaged 6,372 and 7,420 lbs. and the butter-fat records 285.8 and 

 351.5 lbs., respectively. Under average California market prices from_ 1910 

 to 1916 the mixed ration cost about 50 per cent more than the alfalfa ration. 



Six body dimensions of the heifers were measured, and the averages and 

 the average increases of each lot are presented. " While the evidence can not 

 be considered conclusive, the tendency is toward a slightly larger body devel- 

 opment of the animals on the mixed rations than of those on alfalfa only." 



The relation of alfalfa feeding to abortion is discussed, but the small 

 amount of new data is not thought to require modification of conclusions 

 previously noted from the same station (E. S. R., 34, p. 269). 



Alfalfa hay v. alfalfa hay and silage for dairy cows, R. H. Williams and 

 W. S. Cunningham {Arizona Sta. Rpt. 1917, pp. 468, 469). — Two lots compris- 

 ing 4 and 3 cows, respectively, were fed alternately by the reversal method 

 during two 3-week periods on the following rations: (1) Alfalfa hay 20 lbs., 

 corn silage 35 lbs., and (2) alfalfa hay 30 lbs. The average daily yields during 



