364 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.— D. 



fertility is a cause of much loss amongst breeders of Utility White Wyan- 

 dottes, and fertility is often stated to be as low as 50 per cent, average over 

 the hatching period, whilst with other heavy breeds kept under identical 

 conditions the fertility is 85-90 per cent. Similarly, information is re- 

 quired as to the inheritance of fecundity and as to why the progeny of 

 apparently healthy vigorous birds are often lacking in stamina and vitality. 

 On the nutritional side it may be noted that feeding- stuffs are responsible 

 for about 60 per cent, of the costs of production. It is essential, therefore, 

 that with changing market prices, the poultry farmer should have informa- 

 tion as to the interchangeability of feeding- stuffs from the point of view of 

 their nutritive value and productive capacity. On the disease side, cures 

 are wanted for occidiosis and worm infestation generally , and for paralysis 

 in its various forms, and preventatives for cholera, fowl plague, and laryngo- 

 tracheitis. 



Dr. A. W. Greenwood. — Breeding problems (2.30). 



A discussion of observations made on a series of Brown Leghorn fowls at 

 the Institute of Animal Genetics, with particular reference to economic 

 productivity in respect of egg production, over a number of years. The 

 influence of environmental agencies and the possible genetic implications 

 are reviewed. 



Mr. E. T. Halnan. — Nutrition problems (2.45). 



In research work on problems of poultry nutrition, two methods of attack 

 are available : a short range method in which an answer to a specific point 

 of practical interest is sought, and a long range method in which the basic 

 principles upon which feeding systems are dependent are studied. Each 

 method has a definite place in any scheme of research, and examples are 

 given to show that, by careful planning on the part of the research worker, 

 long range methods of research may be so designed as to yield results of 

 practical value to the poultry industry within a reasonably short period of 

 time. 



The evolution of a flexible system of feeding, whereby the poultry keeper 

 will be enabled to exercise considerable freedom of choice in the selection 

 of alternative feeding stuffs, is shown to depend upon the acquisition 

 of a large body of knowledge attainable only by work of the long range type ; 

 in particular, knowledge of a quantitative character. 



The relation of nutrition to disease is briefly discussed, and the limited 

 influence of nutrition on the control of disease indicated. 



Dr. E. L. Taylor. — The economic and disease aspect of parasitic 

 worm infection in poultry (3.0). 



For purposes of this discussion the parasitic worms of poultry are divided 

 into those which are usually associated with disease and those which are 

 not, ' definite pathogens ' and ' indefinite pathogens.' The definite 

 pathogens are represented in this country by the gapeworm of chickens 

 and the gizzard worm of geese ; at the present time they are causing com- 

 paratively little trouble, but the gapeworm may become a major problem 

 should more extensive systems of rearing become popular. 



A few members of the group of indefinite pathogens are of very frequent 

 occurrence in healthy birds ; as yet we are quite unable to determine when 

 these worms are causing disease and when not, and opinion is widely 



