376 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 260 



manure gave 31 per cent bitter cucumbers, while the manure tubs gave 

 42 per cent bitter cucumbers, with no difference between the chemical 

 treatments, There was some correlation between bitterness and growth. 

 Of the fancy fruit, 30 per cent were bitter; of the wasp shaped types 35 

 per cent were bitter; and of the seconds and nubbins 50 per cent were bit- 

 ter. Generally, the more time that was required to mature the fruit, the 

 greater was the possibility that it would become bitter. There was no 

 correlation between the location of the cucumber on the vine and its 

 flavor. Bottle-necked cucumbers had a 75 per cent chance of being 

 bitter near the stem end- 



DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 

 J. B. Lentz in Charge 



The Cutaneous Vaccine for Fowl Pox. (N. J. Pyle). From the eighth 

 to the twenty-first day following the use of vaccines, egg production was 

 slightly decreased. In birds 68 days of age, gain of weight indicated 

 that growth was not seriously affected and that the weaker vaccine ap- 

 peared to be as efficient as the stronger, "standard" vaccine. An im- 

 munity duration of at least 371 days was established. Attenuation of the 

 vaccine appeared to be associated with its glycerol content. Details of 

 this work are in the printer's hands. 



Laboratory Service — Pathology. (G- L. Dunlap). This service was 

 used by 284 persons, of which number 112 made personal calls, either de- 

 livering specimens or discussing the reports of examination. 



Of the 1,055 specimens examined, 1,002 represented poultry and the 

 remainder consisted of other domesticated animals. Approximately one- 

 fourth of the poultry specimens harbored intestinal parasites, led by 

 coccidia. Avian tuberculosis and fowl cholera were entirely absent in 

 the material submitted. 



Trlchuris ovis, a sheep parasite, and tetrameres, a poultry parasite, 

 are being reported for the first time from this laboratory. 



A diagnostic fee of two (2) dollars, to be paid before a report is issued, 

 is associated with this service. Failure of payment accounts for 26 un- 

 claimed reports. 



This service deserves credit for valuable assistance given to the pullorum 

 disease testing work. 



Poultry Disease Elimination Law. (W. R. HinshaM* and E- F. Sanders; 

 H. Van Roekel and K. L. Bullis). Control Series Bulletin 48 reports the 

 1928-29 Pullorum Disease Testing Season. Compared with the 1927-28 

 season, the respective increases are: 72,001 agglutination tests, 63,8!61 

 birds tested, 92 flocks, 90 negative flocks, and 72 flocks 100 per cent test- 

 ed and negative. Similar comparison shows the average infection to be 

 reduced 2.27 per cent. 



The proper age to start testing birds has received some attention. 

 Preliminary results, obtained from a limited number of flocks, .seem to 

 show that the disease can be eradicated just as efficiently when testing is 

 begun before laying, as when testing is postponed until the flock is in 

 production. 



