874 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



An account is given of the reading courses and educational work being 

 conducted, together with a statistical review of the poultry industry in New 

 Jersey. 



The Philippine chicken, V. F. Allarey (Philippine Agr. and Forester, 2 

 (1912), No. 4-6, pp. Jf9-55). — ^A study was made of the physical characteristics 

 and utility value of the native Philippine chickens. They were found to have 

 no established and well-defined type, and no fixed color. Their shanks are 

 not feathered. The skin is usually white, but sometimes yellow or black. 

 The hens are fairly good sitters and mothers. Practically no attention has been 

 given to breeding, except for the production of game cocks. The eggs are 

 small, and the hens seldom lay more than 8 eggs in one laying period and 

 often become broody after laying 5 or 6. It has been demonstrated that native 

 hens will not produce profitably if confined to the yard. The weight of the 

 native chicken is surprisingly small, and it is thought that because of this there 

 is little chance of developing a meat breed by crossing the native chicken with 

 the meat breeds of other lands. 



Experiments performed in order to obtain fixed and lasting varieties of 

 poultry, R. Houwink {IV. Conf. Internat. Genetique Paris, Compt. Rend, et 

 Raps., 1911, pp. 524-533, figs. 40)- — ^As the result of obsei*vations made of the 

 variations in the native breeds of Drent, Holland, especially as regards the 

 form of comb, wattles, and toes, presumably due to the rigors of climate, 

 experiments were made to determine the relative influence of these environ- 

 mental agencies in establishing fixed and lasting variations. The conclusion 

 reached by the author is as follows : " Natural selection produces fluctuating 

 variations in races of hardy fowls. By continued breeding of these fluctuating 

 varieties, produced by natural selection, new fixed races may be formed. In 

 agreement with Darwin's theory, the formation of races may be explained not 

 only by mutations but also by fluctuating variations produced by natural 

 selection." 



Hybrids of the Barbary duck with the farmyard duck: Their egg laying 

 capacity and their eggs, A. Chappellieb (IV. Conf. Internat. G6n6tique Paris, 

 Compt. Rend, et Raps., 1911, pp. 503-506). — The author's observations confirmed 

 the work of Poll in 1906 to the effect that the hybrids between the Barbary 

 duck and the farmyard duck differ considerably in the development of the 

 ovary according to which species is used as the male parent. The use of a 

 male Barbary duck resulted in nonlaying female hybrids which possess a rudi- 

 mentary Fallopian tube and ovaries bearing no trace of ovules. The females 

 of a reciprocal cross produce a large number of eggs, but the eggs are always 

 sterile. The average weight of the eggs from the hybrid is about two-thirds 

 that of the eggs of either of the parents. 



The duck and egg business of Pateros, M. B. Raymundo (Philippine Agr. 

 and Forester, 2 (1912), No. 4-6, pp. 56-59). — ^An account of the duck industry 

 of Pateros, a town situated 10 miles from Manila, and for generations known 

 because of its proficiency in this industry. Interesting methods of incubation, 

 care, and management are described. 



Report of the biologist, J. Nelson (New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1912, pp. 281-345, 

 pis. 8). — In securing data on oyster propagation for 1912 (E. S. R., 28, p. 774), 

 observations were made on the climatic, tidal, water, and filtration conditions 

 at the Barnegat, Mullica, and Scullville stations. 



Relative to spawning observations it is stated that the best oyster fry came 

 from those individual oysters that spawn as near as possible to the date of 

 the spawning climax, and, that as a general thing, "in our northern waters 

 oysters spawn at a definite date, which can be foretold sufficiently early to 

 allow of planting suitable cultch to catch the spat under the best conditions." 



