PRESENT STATUS OF INVESTIGATION OF THE 

 PROBLEMS OF POULTRY CULTURE* 



PRESENTED BY PHILIP B. HADLEY 

 READ BY WM. F. KIRKPATRICK 



Since the time when the investigation of poultry problems was first 

 taken up in connection with Experiment Station work, the field of experi- 

 mentation and of research has been greatly extended. At the present time 

 the subjects of investigation are numerous, but every year are being 

 increased in number as well as made more valuable by reason of greater 

 intensity of effort. 



In view of these facts, it has appeared desirable to your Committee on 

 Investigation to make an attempt to obtain concise data regarding the 

 general nature of the poultry investigation which is being carried on in the 

 different experiment stations of the United States and Canada; and to 

 ascertain, if possible, the nature of the distribution of these problems in 

 different parts of the country. This has been done with the belief that the 

 acquisition of such data might serve as a basis for more valuable co-opera- 

 tion and united effort between individual investigators. It appears 

 unfortunately true that such co-operation or unity has not, in the past, 

 characterized a great amount of the work of widely separated investigators 

 of poultry problems. On the other hand there has often appeared a lamen- 

 table narrowness of horizon on the part of many who have appeared to be 

 actuated by the belief that, the surest way to secure advantageous results 

 from their investigational efforts, was to closely foster their own problems, 

 and to mention them in detail only to those who did not have an actual 

 working interest in them. Such pettiness in work of a broadly scientific 

 character is not uncommon, and is especially to be avoided; indeed, it must 

 be avoided if the investigations in poultry problems are to result in the 

 fullest measure of benefit to the poultry industry on the one hand, and to 

 pure science on the other. 



As being placed against this attitude it is the belief of your Committee 

 that one of the highest aims in the formation of this association is to 

 stimulate the free interchange of ideas on subjects which are of fundamental 

 interest to the poultry men of this country. 



In attempting to outline the field of poultry investigations, it is first 

 necessary to distinguish between different types of investigational work. 



*Report of the Committee on Investigation for the year ending June 30, 1909. 



