BY PHILIP B. HADLEY 57 



It is not the function of the present paper to indicate what subjects of 

 investigation in poultry diseases may be especially desirable or profitable 

 at this time, but it may be said that the field is a wide one, and the need 

 for such work great. 



The next most important branch of poultry investigations, at least the 

 one in which a large number of stations are interested, is that of Housing. 

 Seven institutions are now investigating the merits of different housing 

 systems, upon egg production, fertility, etc. Much of the experimental 

 work in this line has already yielded good results. One of the aspects of 

 this subject which has not, however, received so much attention, is the 

 hygienic conditions of the poultry house, especially with reference to the 

 nature of the flooring, the presence of many deep, open cracks, and the 

 supply of sunlight. All these points are directly referable to the larger 

 subject of Poultry Hygiene, already mentioned. 



Most of the remaining subjects of poultry investigation may be grouped 

 under the heading of Methods and Technique, especially with reference to 

 handling the fowls themselves. This group included experiments in 

 caponizing, in preparing birds for market, in methods of shipping and of 

 storing dressed fowl. Under this head may also be placed the method of 

 handling and preserving eggs ; and methods of storing them for the market. 

 All these subjects are of value, and it is somewhat surprising that only four 

 stations are interested in definite work of this nature, although several 

 others are making casual observations. 



The remaining subjects which are receiving attention are of a miscel- 

 laneous nature. They include for instance experiments calculated to show 

 the value of the male in the flock, especially with reference to bringing up 

 the grade of a scrub flock ; also studies of the moulting of birds, the rate of 

 feathering, etc. One station is making a special point of the study of the 

 vitality of the stock, believing that this is one of the most important con- 

 siderations for the poultry man. Other subjects include color feeding, the 

 influence of light upon the egg-production of a flock, the influence of light 

 upon the development of chicks, all of which problems are being investigated 

 by one or two stations. And besides all these, there are probably still other 

 problems which, as the writer has stated, have not, for one reason or 

 another, been brought to the attention of your committee. 



In conclusion it may be said that we have some reason to be proud of the 

 quality of the investigation of poultry problems, which is now being con- 

 ducted in this country. However much has been written on some of the 

 subjects in investigation given above, very few problems are as yet, settled. 

 What is needed primarily in poultry investigations at the present time is a 



