Laying Capacity in Germany. Leistungs-fähigkeiten in der deutschen Gelügelzucht. R. Römer. Dtsch. landw. Tierzucht 37, 33. 1933 (Ref.: Züchtungskunde 1933, p. 463).

Römer gives a review of the increase in laying capacity since 1921. At a model farm where the average capacity in the years 1921 and 1922 was 50 to 51 eggs, this was 212 in 1931. The average for the ·whole country for 1931 was, however, only 120 eggs. Römer refers to the various poultry stud books in Germany and reviews the results of the German laying tests in 1930–31. In various tests during that year there were various large groups of different breeds which produced an average of more than 200 eggs per hen. The Leghorns at Metgethen showed the best results with an average of 208·0 eggs of an average weight of 58·4 gr. The best breed of the combined laying tests in 1930–31 was a Leghorn breed at the test held at Hamm. This group showed an average of 235·0 eggs of a weight of 59·9 gr. Then followed groups at Farmsen and Erding with from 226·8 to 224·8 eggs, and fawn coloured Indian Runner Ducks at Metgethen with 223·7 eggs. These figures were surpassed in the following year. It would appear from what Römer has experienced that German trade poultry keeping has increased considerably during the last ten years. Römer also proves that pedigree breeding has also increased considerably.

High Recognition for Vitamin A in Cod Liver Oil. New England Poultryman, December 15, 1933.

Evidence that the nutritional value of Vitamin A from cod liver oil has been overlooked in poultry feeds, is reported by the biological laboratories of the Health Products Corporation.

Pullorum Disease of Domestic Fowl. A Monograph. L. F. Rettger and W. N. Plastridge. Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 178, May, 1932. With Bibliography of 194 numbers.

Contents:

Foreword. Introduction. Part I—Chiefly Historical, Including a Systematic Review of the Investigations Conducted at the Storrs Experiment Station.—Discovery of the Etiological Agent. Morphological, Cultural and Biochemical Properties of Bacterium Pullorum. Early Attempts to Transmit Infection. Pullorum Feeding Experiment, 1910. Original Source of Infection. Bacteriological Examination of Egg Shell. Bacteriological Examination of the Yolks of Incubated Eggs. Bacteriological Examination of the Yolks of Fresh Eggs. Simplification of Technique in the Examination of Fresh Eggs. Bacteriological Examination of the Ovaries of Breeding Hens. Comparative Susceptibility of Chicks at different Ages to Pullorum Disease. Infection of Mature Poultry Stock. Bacterium Pullorum Infection in Maturing and Adult Male Birds. Experimental Oviduct Infection and Permanent Localisation of Bacterium Pullorum in the Ovary.