92 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 369 



Samples Purity Germination 



644 Field Crops for Purity and Germination 644 644 



14 Field Crops for Purity Only 14 



123 Field Crops for Germination Only 123 



103 Lawn and other types of Mixtures for Purity Germina- 

 tions involving 456 ingredients 103 456 



96 Lawn Mixtures for Purity Only 96 



1501 Vegetable Seeds for Germination Only 1501 



37 Flower Seeds for Germination Only 37 



22 Tree Seeds for Germination Only 22 



123 Tobacco Seeds for Germination Only 123 



2663 857 2906 



Field tests to determine trueness to type were conducted in cooperation with 

 the Departments of Vegetable Gardening, Floriculture, and Agronomy, which 

 tested respectively, 193 samples of Vegetable seeds, 224 samples of Flower seeds, 

 20 samples of Oats, and 73 samples of Corn. All samples for these tests were 

 collected and submitted by the State Commissioner of Agriculture, with the 

 exception of 4 samples of Oats, which were sent in by seedsmen. 



The Seed Laboratory cleaned 7 lots of Onion seed and 73 lots of Tobacco 

 seed for Connecticut Valley farmers. 



Corn, oats, barley, and wheat purchased by various State institutions (179 

 samples) were examined for conformity to grade purchased; and 103 samples of 

 ground cattle and poultry feed, collected by inspectors or sent in by dealers and 

 farmers, were examined microscopically. 



DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 

 J. B. Lentz in Charge 



Poultry Disease Control Service. (H. Van Roekel, K. L. Bullis, O. S. Flint, 

 and M. K. Clarke.) 



1. Pulloriim Disease Eradication. During the 1938-39 season 365 flocks 

 (including 10 flocks other than chickens) were tested. A total of 623,935 tests 

 (including 3,565 paratyphoid tests) was made on blood samples received from 

 12 counties. Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex Counties led in the number 

 of birds tested. The average percentage of reactors was 0.34, which is a slight 

 increase over the previous season. The increase in reactors is due to the detection 

 of infected birds in one large flock which had no infection the preceding season. 

 Reactors were detected in all of the more common breeds of chickens. No in- 

 fection, either pullorum or paratyphoid, was found in fowl other than chickens. 



A total of 298 non-reacting flocks (100 percent tested, representing 440,689 

 birds) was identified. The value of these birds is expressed by the increased 

 egg production, increased fertility and hatchability, and high chick livability 

 which represent an inestimable monetary saving to the poultry industry of this 

 and other states of this country. 



Infection was discovered in 10 flocks which were negative the previous season. 

 The source of the infection was determined in some of these flocks. It may be 

 concluded from these "breaks" in negative flocks that annual testing of all birds 

 on the premises, plus effective precautionaiy measures against the introduciion 

 of infection, is necessary to keep the spread of pullorum disease at a minimum. 



The growing interest in pullorum disease eradication in Massachusetts for the 

 1938-39 season is manifest by increases in tested flocks (47), tested birds (90,838) , 

 tests (117,436), and non-reacting flocks (41). 



