78 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 327 



locations along the digestive tract. This tissue is closely associated with the 

 vascular system by means of capillaries. In lympholeukosis this lymph tissue 

 appears to be in a state of hyperplasia, and the number of lymphobasts in the 

 tissue and the capillaries is materially increased over that in the healthy fowl. 

 In neurolymphomatosis the lymph tissue appears the same as in normal birds 

 In this respect, as well as in the locations of the pathological cells, lympho- 

 leukosis is distinguished from neurolymphomatosis thus supporting the view 

 that the two diseases are of different origin. 



A Study of "Pearly Eye" in Neurolymphomatosis. (C. S. Gibbs and 

 C. G. Johnson.) Gross and microscopic examinations of "pearly eyes" in 

 neurolymphomatosis indicates that neurolymphomas form in the ciliary nerves, 

 and interfere with the stimuli going to the ciliary muscle and iris. Since neuro- 

 lymphomatosis is a progressive disease, not all of the ciliary nerves are affected 

 at once. This accounts for the distorted appearance of the pupil in birds affected 

 with this form of the disease, until all of the nerves are affected and the iris 

 contracts, resulting in complete closure of the pupil and total blindness. 



WALTHAM FIELD STATION 



(Waltham, Massachusetts) 

 Ray M. Koon, In Charge 



For reports on approved projects conducted at this station, in addition to 

 those listed under this caption, see reports of the Departments of Botany, 

 Entomology, Floriculture, and Olericulture. 



Following an organized request by the Massachusetts Nurserymen's Asso- 

 ciation for researcn in their interest, the trustees were successful in securing a 

 special appropriation for instituting and maintaining a service in Nursery- 

 culture at Waltham. Professor George Graves was added to the staff to con- 

 duct this department, and the office and laboratory building was enlarged to 

 accommodate the new activity. 



Consultation and Information Service. Not only have the calls for 

 service on the part of commercial horticultural interests increased, but amateur 

 gardening and the expansion of civic improvement have brought an increasing 

 number of persons to the station during the year for personal conferences. A 

 count of these, and in addition those who came for other purposes, runs well 

 over 7,000. More than 3,500 telephone calls were checked, the majority from 

 persons seeking definite information. In 1934, Paul W. Dempsey was appointed 

 to relieve the research men of some of this growing activity, and the arrange- 

 ment has proved satisfactory in a large measure. At the request of various 

 organizations he has given 105 talks on the work of the Field Station and on 

 general horticultural subjects during the year. 



Soil Testing Service. (Robert E. Young, Harold E. White, Paul W. 

 Dempsey. ) Soil samples were tested for acidity with the Potentiometer. 

 Determinations were made for nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus, and occasionally 

 potash. 



