202 



[September, 1912. 



Raymond Pearl and Dr. P. M. Surface based on experimental work at 

 the Main Agricultural Experiment Station. It was found that the effect 

 of selection on egg production was nil, taking into consideration the 

 influence of environmental circumstances. As to these latter, the more 

 the floor-space in the housing pen and the less the number of hens in 

 flocks the greater the egg-production. This affects only the summer 

 egg production. 



Egg-Eating Fowls. 



To test whether fowls are egg-eaters or not, put an egg in the 

 run. Let it be a brown one if the hens lay brown eggs or a white 

 one if a breed is kept which lays white eggs. When the bird 

 notices the egg, if she only rolls it over with her beak, it is a pietty 

 good proof that she is not an egg-eater but that she has sometimes 

 helped the other hens to eat an egg. If they do not know the taste 

 of an egg, they do not turn it over and the fact of their rolling it 

 over is a proof that they expect to find a hole in it ; these birds can really 

 be called egg-eaters. Some hens will strike an egg with their cut beak 

 or an egg filled in the way we have described and these are considered 

 inveterate egg-eaters and should be killed. Feather pluckers should be 

 treated in exactly the same way as by cutting their beaks they cannot 

 hold the feathers to pull them out. 



THE JUTE CROP OF ASSAM, 1912. 



The Director of Land Records and Agriculture, Assam , reports on July 5th :— 



On the average of the five years ending 19C9-1910, the area under 

 jute in Assam represents some 21 per cent, of the total area under jute 

 in British India.— The rainfall in Febi uary was in excess in all districts 

 of the Province except Goalpara and Garo Hills, where it was normal. 

 It was excessive everywhere in March, and continued to be so in April, 

 when it was about double the average in the four laige jute-growing 

 districts — Sylhet, Goalpara, Garo Hills, and Kamrup. But in May rain 

 was in defect everywhere, especially in the larger jute-growing areas. 

 In June rainfall was normal with a slight tendency to defect. The 

 weather was thus not favourable at the time of sowing to excessive 

 rainfall, and tended to diminish the area that would have been put 

 under jute: weeding was also hampered by the same cause. Though 

 the unfavourable conditions at the beginning changed for the better, 

 the general condition of the crop is not as good as last year. 



According to the estimates of District Officers, the total area under 

 the crop this year amounts to 106,853 acres, against 90,700 acres in 1911 , 

 or an increase of nearly 18 per cent. Goalpara reports an increase of 

 18,000 acres, or nearly 50 per cent., which is attributed to the influx of 

 cultivators from Bengal, but in Sylliet there is a decrease of 3,000 acres 

 on account of the unfavourable weather : in Garo Hills, there is a 

 slight increase, in Kamrup one of about 8 per cent. : the area in the 

 remaining districts is trifling, and shows an improvement in Darrang only. 



Stocks.— The -quantity of jute in stock from last year is reported to 

 be very small. 



