54 PRESENT STATUS OF POULTRY INVESTIGATION 



It is at once apparent that more work is being accomplished under the 

 head of breeding and feeding experiments, than in all the other divisions of 

 poultry investigation combined. It appears, moreover, that while the 

 breeding for egg production is the subject of investigation in ten instances, 

 breeding for meat production is being investigated at only two stations, 

 although one other station is studying the correlation between conformation 

 and meat production as affected by breeding. 



In the case of feeding experiments, on the other hand, it is apparent 

 that six stations are engaged in feeding for meat production, but that, so far 

 as can be learned at the present time, only two institutions are breeding for 

 type. It should be said that the work of Davenport, at Cold Springs 

 Harbor, is not included in this list. Furthermore, at one other station, 

 although no definite poultry investigations are under way, the horticulturist 

 is carrying on independently some very interesting experiments in making 

 reciprocal crosses between fowls, with a view to throwing more light upon 

 some of the problems of sex heredity. Generally speaking, it may be said 

 that most of the work which is now being done in poultry breeding and 

 feeding belongs to the purely experimental order; that is, very little of it is 

 of a sort calculated to throw light upon the deeper principles which underlie 

 the phenomena referable to both these subjects. This cannot, by any 

 means, be called a regrettable condition, as some would have us believe. 

 There is room in the whole field of poultry investigation for work of a 

 simple testing character for a long time to come. What we need first is 

 facts upon which we can rely, facts regarding feeding stuffs and feeding 

 methods, regarding definite crosses and their result, facts about diseases and 

 disease parasites. A substantial body of facts, from which to work upward 

 is the surest basis for all higher types of scientific investigation. 



There appears to be, however, in the field of poultry investigation 

 relating to breeding and feeding, ample opportunity for the study of 

 problems of heredity in poultry. It is true that many of these problems 

 are more easily studied with other birds and mammals, but there are many 

 problems of heredity, for the working out of which, poultry is especially 

 well adapted. Furthermore, as has been shown, another phase of poultry 

 investigation is especially open and promising, that is, breeding for meat 

 production. It is probable that the next few years will see much valuable 

 work accomplished by the small number engaged in this line of work. 



When we come to the subjects of incubation and brooding, it appears 

 that, while seven institutions are engaged in studying the former, only 

 five are working at the latter. This indicates a diminishing interest in this 

 line of investigational work, much of which has undoubtedly been forsaken 



