11 



tected, the flocks may be officiall}- recognized by the Massachusetts Department 

 of Agriculture and classified in either of the two official grades, Pullorum Passed 

 or Pullorum Clean. 



Early Testing: Special mention should be made regarding the splendid co- 

 operation received from the flock owners in testing part or all ot their flocks early. 

 Early testing during the summer months has permitted the laboratory to cope 

 with the volume of testing during the peak work months of October, November, 

 and December. 



Months Number of Tests 



April _ 10,359 



May 16,307 



June - 65,540 



July 90,896 



August 112,210 



September 154,806 



October 174,164 



November 192,299 



December 179,401 



January...- 147,739 



February 71 ,267 



March 22,829 



April, 1949 3,683 



Total... 1,241,500 



This past season approximately 450,000 tests were completed by October 1 

 and approximately 996,000 by January 1. The testingof birds as soon as they are 

 five months of age has helped to level the pullorum testing peak from October to 

 January 1. Of greater importance, however, is it that untested birds are not 

 used for the production of hatching eggs. 



Applications for the 1949-50 season were sent out in April to all flock owners 

 who had pullorum testing this past year. These applications should be filed 

 early because they are serviced in order of receipt unless circumstances suggest 

 otherwise. It should be strongly emphasized that in order to service application 

 cards, the flock owner should submit sufficient monej' to cover the testing of the 

 flock before the blood collector can be scheduled for the collection of the samples. 

 Again it should be mentioned that flock owners should not expect short-notice 

 service. Pajment should be sent to the Treasurer of the University of Mass- 

 achusetts. 



Fullest cooperation between the laboratory and the flock owner should make it 

 possible to give best ser\^ice available under existing circumstances. 



