April, 1935J Agricultural Research in N. H. 23 



Peat vs. Manure 



The experiment of fertilizing the soil in greenhouse ground beds for 

 tomatoes, using about 200 pounds of peat on a plot 18x25 feet, compared 

 to a half load of manure on the same area, reached its third season. The 

 tomatoes were planted at such a time that the crop would be harvested dur- 

 ing the early spring months. One hundred forty plants under the manure 

 treatment yielded 1,552 pounds of fruit, as opposed to 1,443 from the same 

 number of plants on the plot fertilized with peat. This is the largest dififer- 

 ence between the treatments which has appeared to date. (/. R. Hopler — 

 Miscellaneous Income.) 



Breeding Studies 



The third experiment in a series with epidemic tremors tends to prove, 

 as did the previous ones, that it is doubtful if the condition is either inherited 

 or transmitted by way of the egg. 



In previous experiments attempts to produce the disea.se by continued 

 breedings and hatchings with diseased birds or with direct filial descendants 

 failed. In Experiment No. 3, various crosses from the above groups were 

 made. The chicks from these crosses were confined in an electrically heated 

 battery brooder for a period of four weeks. 



At no time during the experimental period did any of the chicks exhibit 

 symptoms of epidemic tremors. From a total of 131 chicks on the test only 

 two deaths occurred, and neither of these was attributed to the disease upon 

 autopsy. 



The weight of the experimental groups, though slightly less than the 

 check group, showed growth very close to normal. {A. E. Tepper, P. D. 

 Reed, and T. B. Charles — Purnell Fund.) 



Inoculations — Epidemic Tremors 



A filtrate made from a solution of the brain and spinal cord tissue of 

 chicks affected by epidemic tremors was injected into the cranial cavity of 

 suspectible chicks, in different amounts. The chicks were observed for a 

 period and those which survived the mechanical operation showed no evi- 

 dence of tremors. (C. L. Martin, C. A. Bottorff, and L. JV. Slanets — Pur- 

 nell Fund.) 



Protein Level Requirements for Growing Chicks 



Protein levels higher than 22% and lower than 18% give poor growth, 

 and a level of 16% protein produced better results than a level of 24% or 

 over, according to a study made with nine groups each of fifty S.C.W. 

 Leghorns. 



Other important facts gleaned from this study were that high protein 

 levels produce fair growth for six weeks, and that growth after six weeks 

 is decidedly inferior. Protein requirements of S.C.W. Leghorns appear to 

 be quite similar to the requirements for New Hampshire Reds. {A. E. Tep- 

 per, F. D. Reed, and T. B. Charles — Purnell Fund.) 



