May, 1937] Agricultukal Research in X. H., 1936 29 



Certain strains like the variety Landreth and the Shirley and Lan- 

 dreth Bonm' Best have consistently yielded well at the Horticultural 

 Farm. (Hatch Fund) 



Fertilizers in the Peach Orchard 



The bearing trees in the peach orchard have been divided by G. F. 

 Potter into five plots, on three of which nitrate of soda is applied at the 

 rate of 4 pounds per tree, and on the remaining two at the rate of 2 

 pounds per tree. A full crop of peaches was harvested in 1936, but prac- 

 tically no difference was observed in the total yield or the per cent of 

 drops. The trees having high nitrogen had an average yield of 107 

 pounds per tree with 11.2% drops. Those with a low nitrogen had an 

 average yield of 102 pounds per tree with 10% drops. (Hatch Fund) 



Protein Requirements of Chickens at Various 

 Stages of Growth and Development 



Twelve groups of laying pullets, fed varying levels of protein derived 

 from three animal protein sources, namely, fish meal, dried skim milk, 

 and meat scrap, were maintained in laying cages up to seventy weeks 

 of age. 



Comparisons between groups were made on a basis of body weight, 

 feed consumption, efficiency of feed consumption, egg production, egg 

 weight, and mortality. Inasmuch as this report is one of progress and 

 not of final conclusion, definite statements concerning results secured 

 are being withheld until at least one additional year's work is completed 

 covering a repetition of the previous work. Tentative conclusions ad- 

 vanced to date are as follows: 



1. No relationship appears between percentage protein content of 

 feed and total feed consumed. 



2. Body weight of birds within all groups did not advance regularly 

 as age increased, but was subject to occasional weekly decreases. 



3. The groups fed fish meal as the sole source of animal protein 

 were most efficient in feed consumption, as measured by^ number of 

 pounds of feed required to produce one dozen eggs. The groups re- 

 ceiving dried skim milk were least efficient. 



4. Mortality was relatively heavy. Those groups receiving dried 

 skim milk as the sole source of animal protein experienced the lowest 

 mortality. 



5. The groups receiving fish meal as anirrial protein supplement av- 

 eraged to lay at the greatest rate of production with the mixture, meat 

 scrap and dried skim milk groups following in the order named. 



6. No significant relationship appears between percentage protein 

 fed and size of egg laid. The work was conducted by A. E. Tepper, R. 

 C. Durgin and T. B. Charles. (Purnell Fund) 



