1917.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 39 a 



department, however, announces that definite progress appears 

 to have been made in each of the following directions : — 



1. The production of a family of Rhode Island Reds charac- 

 terized by high winter egg production. 



2. The production of a family of the same breed character- 

 ized by high annual egg production. 



3. The production of a strain of the same breed character- 

 ized by relatively little tendency to broodiness. 



The work of the year has shown that Rhode Island Reds 

 which mature early are smaller than those reaching maturity 

 later; that the former produce the first egg earlier and will lay 

 more eggs than the latter. 



The report calls attention to the fact that weights taken 

 make it apparent that early hatched chicks grow more rapidly 

 than those hatched later. 



The observations to which attention is called in the report for 

 1915 — that complete separation of newly hatched chicks from 

 older fowls with range over new ground not only insures com- 

 plete freedom from vermin and all diseases except bacillary 

 white diarrhoea, but also much more rapid growth and greater 

 vigor — were practically confirmed by the experience of the 

 past year, during which not only were the chickens completely 

 isolated but they were cared for by a man who did not come in 

 contact with any other fowls. 



Department of Veterinary Science. 



The principal lines of investigation in this department during 

 the year have been those connected with the following subjects: 

 prevention of hog cholera, study of Bacterium pullorum (bacil- 

 lary white diarrhoea) infection, and suppression and eradication 

 of bacillary white diarrhoea in fowls. 



The investigations connected with hog cholera have had 

 mainly to do with a herd averaging about 150 in number of 

 garbage-fed animals, the garbage used, at least on two previous 

 occasions, having been the apparent source of infection. Anti- 

 hog-cholera serum and virus both have been used extensively, 

 a number of different commercial serums having been tried with 

 satisfactory results. The investigation has not yet been brought 

 to the stage when a final report seems desirable. 



