392 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Tests of the effectof carbon dioxid with and without water on eggshells as a possi- 

 ble aid to the chicks in breaking the shell showed that when water was present car- 

 bon dioxid weakened or entirely dissolved the eggshells, but that dry carbon dioxid 

 apparently had no influence. The thin membrane inside the shell was not affected 

 in any case. "It is intended to continue these tests further to determine what 

 amount of ventilation, if any. and of applied moisture, if any, are necessary for suc- 

 cessful incubation." 



Growing ducklings (pp. 191-194). — With a view to securing data relative to the 

 cost of raising ducks, 5 newly hatched Pekin ducks were fed for 9 weeks a mixture 

 of ground grains and skim milk in the form of a mash, with cut bones and a little 

 green alfalfa. The grain consisted of bran, shorts, wheat, corn, rolled oats, and lin- 

 seed meal, in varying proportions. At the close of the period the ducks had made a 

 total gain of 27.3 lbs. Each pound of gain required 3.02 lbs. grain, a like amount of 

 skim milk, and 0.16 lb. meat scrap, the cost being 3.93 cts. 



At the close of the period 2 of the ducks were fed for 5 weeks longer and gained 

 only 0.8 lb. The food required per pound of gain was 22.5 lbs. of grain, a like 

 amount of skim milk, and a pound of cut bone, very much larger amounts than dur- 

 ing the first period. 



"It is the practice of the large producers to market the clucks at the age of about 

 10 weeks. The market demands young ducks. At this age they bring the best 

 profit to the producer. If kept longer they begin to grow new feathers, and the 

 food they eat is largely used in the making of feathers. Further growth is checked, 

 and to feed them beyond this period is unprofitable." 



Fattening turkeys (pp. 195-197). — The possibilities of profitably feeding turkeys in 

 confinement and improving the quality of the flesh was tested with a lot of 6 nearly 

 mature birds, kept in a small pen with an open front closed by a curtain. Whole 

 wheat was scattered in straw litter in the morning, corn was fed at noon, and a grain 

 mash at night. The turkeys were also given skim milk, sugar beets, and alfalfa 

 leaves, with grit or gravel. One of the turkeys was sold at the end of 3 weeks, the 

 others were fed for 4 weeks. 



Considering the test as a whole, the 6 turkeys made a total gain of 16.4 lbs., of 

 which 13.2 lbs. was made by 4 birds. When bled and plucked the turkeys lost 7 

 per cent in weight. The author calculated that there was a profit of $3.54 on an 

 original investment of $8.50. "As to the quality of meat, those who ate it reported 

 that they never ate better turkeys. There was no question about the quality of 

 meat being greatly improved. The 2 smaller turkeys were not in as good condition 

 as the others, but the meat was excellent." 



' ' This experiment shows that young turkeys may be taken from the farm and fed 

 in small pens at a profit; second, that the quality of the meat is greatly improved by 

 such feeding." 



Egg preservation, J. 8. Jeffrev (North Carolina Sta. />'>//. 191, />/>. 11-17). — Dif- 

 ferent methods of preserving eggs were tested. 



A 10 per cent solution of water glass gave very satisfactory results, the eggs keeping 

 well from June until the following May. "Some of those used in December so 

 closely resembled fresh eggs that it would take an expert to tell which were the fresh 

 eggs and which were the packed ones after they were cooked." A 20 per cent solu- 

 tion of water glass did not give as satisfactory results. Though none of the eggs 

 were spoiled, the whites in some cases were slightly coagulated and some of the eggs 

 would not sink to the bottom of the solution. 



A lime and salt solution gave as satisfactory results as water glass, none of the eggs 

 being spoiled. A solution of lime and salt with British Egg Preserver (borax and 

 sodium bicarbonate) also gave good results, "but it could not be seen that the addi- 

 tion of the preserver gave any returns for the money it cost and trouble of using." 

 A solution of salicylic acid in water (1 oz. to a gallon) gave good results, none of the 



