22 N. H. Agr. Experiment Station [Bulletin 280 



Colon Test Not Substitute for Inspection 



As a check on sanitary conditions, the laboratory test for the gas- 

 producing colon organism in milk is not a reliable substitute for dairy 

 farm inspection by boards of health, according to a study conducted 

 during the past year by H. C. Moore. 



Some authorities have felt that the presence of this undesirable type 

 of bacteria is a definite indication of unsanitary conditions, particu- 

 larly as to contamination from fecal material, from dirty utensils and 

 from the exterior of the cow. Others have not agreed. Our investiga- 

 tion shows no relation between the colon organism in milk and the 

 condition under which the milk was produced. 



Bacterial counts were made of 683 samples of milk taken from 108 

 farms. These farms were also scored with the use of the dairy score 

 card of the state board of health. 



Milk from 56 of the farms showed colon counts on one or more 

 samples. Three hundred and forty-five samples were taken from these 

 farms, but only 131 or 37.97 per cent carried the organism. 



While 17 of these farms had barns and equipment scoring less than 

 60, as compared with nine in the non-colon group of 52, no direct 

 relationship was found between the score and the presence of colon or 

 between the score and the average bacteria count. 



Of the 55 farais having poor or dirty equipment, only 22 or 40 per 

 cent were in the colon grouj). [Purnell Fund) 



Rabbits Benefit Forest Stand 



Investigation of the damage done by cottontail rabbits to the stands 

 of mixed young hardwoods and conifers indicates that the rabbits tend 

 to improve the composition of the stand. 



They show preference for certain species, others they will attack, and 

 others they do not seem to bother. The sprouts of the preferred trees 

 have little or no chance for sun'ival, and these species will usually be 

 entirely removed from the stand. 



The composition of the mixture undergoes a decided change. The 

 percentages of white pine, hemlock, and gray birch show decided in- 

 creases. Blue beech, red maple, and hop hornbeam are decreased. 

 These may be considered as beneficial changes. Others not so good, 

 include decreases in the per cent of red oak, sugar maple, basswood 

 and beech, and increases in the per cent gray birch, choke cherry, 

 and speckled alder. {Hatch Fund) 



New Poultry Disease Is Not Spreading 



Epidemic tremor, or trembling chick disease as it is popularly known, 

 recently made its appearance in a few flocks in the Northeast. For- 

 tunately it docs not seem to spread and in some cases may have been 

 confused with the so-called "crazy-chick" disease. It is believed that 

 epidemic tremor is caused by a vims, an organism so infinitely tiny 

 as to escape the range of the strongest microscope. It is characterized 

 by distinct trembling or tremors, and this may be accompanied by 



