692 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The poultry industry of Petaluma, California, P. H. Lawler ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. li pt. 1904, pp. 316-322, ph. 3).— The author points out that 

 the raising of chickens is not generally a paying business in California, except upon 

 a strip 40 miles wide along the Pacific, though turkeys thrive in all parts of the 

 State. Where practiced, however, the chicken industry is very important, and Peta- 

 luma may be fairly regarded as a center of the poultry industry. 



Statistics regarding the poultry and eggs produced and shipped, the feeding and 

 care of the poultry, and other similar data are summarized. The breeds of chickens 

 which are more commonly raised in the vicinity of Petaluma are Barred Plymouth 

 Rocks, Brown Leghorns, and White Leghorns, the last-mentioned breed far outnum- 

 bering all the others. 



The growth of chickens, M. Stefaxowska (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sri. [Paris], 141 

 {1905), No. 4, pp. 269-211; abs. in Zentbl. Physiol., 19 (1905), No. 16, pp. 581, 582).— 

 The rate of increase in weight of chickens on a uniform diet was found to progress 

 rapidly until it reached a maximum, and then to take place less quickly. Some 

 differences were noted with males and females, but in general the maximum rate of 

 increase was about the middle of the growing period. 



The Buff Orpington duck, D. F. Laurie (Jour. Dipt. Agr. So. Aust., 9 (1905), 

 No. 2, pp. 85-90, fig. 1). — The author considers Buff Orpington ducks very satisfactory 

 for duck raising under local conditions, and records some data regarding egg yield. 

 A bird under observation laid 79 eggs in 80 days; a second, 54 eggs in 54 days; a third, 

 92 eggs in 96 days; and a fourth, 70 eggs in 74 days. 



The guinea fowl and its use as food, C. F. Laxgworthy ( U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Farmers' Bui. 234, pp- 24, fig*. 3). — Data regarding varieties, habits and care, mar- 

 keting guinea fowl, the value of their flesh and eggs as food, and similar topics are 

 discussed. As pointed out, these birds are fairly hardy and will gather a considerable 

 part of their food. The flesh is considered excellent, and there is a growing demand 

 for guinea fowl at fair prices, particularly in city markets. 



The oyster. A popular summary of a scientific study, W. K. Brooks 

 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Press, 1905, 2. ed., pp. XYI-\-225, illus.). — The principal 

 object of this popular summary of data regarding the oyster and oyster problems, 

 which is based largely on personal experience and observation, is to suggest means 

 of conducting an oyster industry on a rational and economical basis. 



The principal addition, in the second edition, the author states, is the section on 

 the transmission of typhoid fever and cholera by oysters. If the micro-organisms 

 causing these diseases and other similar minute forms of life pass into the oyster's 

 stomach they are digested and rendered harmless, but as long as they remain in the 

 gills they may be a possible source of infection if the oyster is eaten raw. The author 

 believes that oysters should not be fattened or floated, but should be marketed 

 directly from salt water. 



"In my opinion, no one need fear to eat true salt-water oysters raw, but every 

 fresh-water oyster and every ' fattened oyster ' is too dangerous to be eaten raw. . . . 

 [Fattened oysters are simply full of fresh water. ] All the fresh water that a ' fattened ' 

 oyster has absorbed is at once extracted by cooking, so the 'fattening' of oysters that 

 are to be cooked is not only an unnecessary expense, but a fraud on the consumer, 

 who is sold filthy water from the harbors of cities at the price of oysters." 



Imports and exports of animals and animal products, J. Roberts ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Rpt. 1904, pp. 469-505).— A summary of statistical data. 



The total value of animals and animal products imported into the United States 

 in 1904 was .$112,000,000 in round numbers. The total value of the exports was 

 $249,300,000. The most prominent feature of our international trade in animals and 

 animal products during the calendar year 1904 was a decided increase in imports. 



Farm animals in 1904 ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Anim. Indus. Rpt. 1904, pp. 506- 

 512). — Statistics are given regarding the number and value of farm animals in the 

 United States, the losses of farm animals during the year, and regarding the amount 



