180 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



to Haturatr 70 ^alu. of water. Howover, owinj;; to impurities in eomiucrcial lime, it in 

 well to use more tliau is called for in this statement. It may not, however, 1)e 

 necessary, if fjood, freshly hurnt quicklime can l)e obtained, to employ as much as 

 was at first recommended, namely, 2 \n :> lbs. to 5 gals, of water." 



Further experiments with thoroughbred geese, T. II. Taylok, Jr. {Rliodc 

 Island *Vto. Ilpt. 1902, j)}). S74-S7S). — Experiments with geese made in 1901 in contin- 

 uation of earlier work (E. S. R., 10, p. 990) are reported, Embden, Toulouse, African, 

 Brown China, and White China breeds being compared. Brief statements are made 

 regarding rations fed the geese. The egg production ranged from 5.75 per bird with 

 the White China to 22.25 with the Toulouse, averaging 13.3 for all the breeds. The 

 percentage of fertile eggs ranged from 12 with tlu> ICmbden to 50 with the Toulouse, 

 and the percentage of fertile eggs which hatched ranged from 31 with the Toulouse 

 to 75 with the Brown China. After hatching, the goslings were fed at first fine 

 cracked corn and bran moistened with liot water, and were allowed access to tender 

 grass; when this was not available such green feed as cabbage, green rye, or lettuce 

 was substituted. After 2 weeks they were given a mixture of equal parts of coarser 

 cracked corn, ground oats, and bran, and after 8 weeks the oats were omitted and the 

 amount of cracked corn increased. Twenty-three of the 25 goslings hatched lived to 

 reach the age of 10 weeks, at which the birds were considered fit for market. The 

 average weight then ranged from 4.75 with the Embden to 7.50 lbs. with the White 

 Chinas. 



"Under the circumstances the experiment indicates that the preference should be 

 given to the Africans, as they seem to have done the best when the numbers averaged 

 are considered. This, too, is in line with the popular opinion among those who raise 

 thoroughbred geese for market. The Africans are generally acknowledged to be the 

 quickest growing of any of the thoroughbred geese." 



Experimental studies in oyster propagation, 1902, J. Nelson {New Jemey 

 Stas. Ilpt. 1!)02, pp. S31-369, pi. 1, figs, tf).— Continuing work previously reported 

 (E. S. R., 14, p. 602), special attention was paid to the early development of the oyster 

 embryo, one of the principal objects being to ascertain whether varieties of oysters 

 differed in their developmental viability. The failure of'fertilized eggs to develop as 

 far as the shell stage, which was observed in most of the lots experimented with 

 earlier, was attributed to one of the three following causes, namely, that the proper 

 variety of oysters was not used, that the eggs were not properly handled, or that they 

 were not in a proper stage of maturity. The experimental studies which were car- 

 ried on do not, in the author's opinion, warrant final deductions, yet considerable 

 information has been secured. 



"First of all we found that native seed is not superior in developmental vitality to 

 oyster seed imported from distant localities. Contrary to expectation, southern 

 plants were found to equal or possibly to exceed native seed in developmental con- 

 stitution. We found that the successful viability is not confined to any one variety 

 of seed. 



"Next, we found that the most careful handling of the eggs did not seem to secure 

 the desired viability in the great majority of the experiments. In those experi- 

 ments that showed the desired viability no especial care was taken. 



"Thirdly, we worked with eggs of the very choicest appearance and as mature as 

 possible, using l)oth those that were just about to be spawned out and those that 

 remained after the oyster had begun spawning. 



"Apimrently, as a result of careful selection in this regard, we obtained a higher 

 percentage of viability during the season just past than during any previous season. 

 This result is in harmony with our fundamental dictum, viz, that the success of oys- 

 ter development depends on the inherent vitality of the eggs. Nevertheless, there 

 are some puzzling features connected with the results of our experiments, and it 

 seems as if it would be necessary to make a careful study of natural spawning on 

 natural beds to clear up[ these matters," 



