1. Losses of incorporated non-protein nitrogen compounds from stored cubes have been determined. The loss of incorporated urea was very small provided moulding did not occur. The loss of incorporated ammonium bicarbonate was large, amounting in all to some 50–60%.

2. The effects of the size of the cubes and of the nature of the container on nitrogen losses are discussed.

1. Experiments were carried out to determine the period of survival of spermatozoa in the genital tract of the cow.

2. No reliable results were obtained by searching, post-mortem, the genital tracts of two cows and three heifers killed at various intervals after insemination.

3. An attempt to induce ovulation at a definite time to which insemination could be related, in order that the survival time of the spermatozoa might be determined by the recovery of the ova post-mortem, was not successful. Of four cows and one heifer given pregnant mare's serum followed by pregnancy urine, one ovulated. To one animal, where a large follicle was present in one ovary, pregnancy urine was given. Ovulation occurred but could not be definitely attributed to the pregnancy urine.

The average numbers of females of all ages (herd size) in pedigree herds of Jerseys, Guernseys, and Red Polls in 1939 were found to be 25, 22 and 42 respectively. Of the herds listed, 15–20% made no herdbook entries and were of much smaller than average size. Excluding these, the average numbers become 29, 26 and 49. The number of females entered in the herdbook during 1939 was about 20% of the total number of females of all ages. The same proportion was found in all herd size groups except the smallest where it was lower. As a general guide, therefore, to breed and regional differences in herd size in all the major breeds, the average number of herdbook entries of females has been multiplied by 5.

Trichlorethylene-extracted palm-kernel meal is not an essential factor in the production of six-day disease.

A comparison of the results of tests 1, 2 and 3 clearly indicates that under the same conditions and with similar chicks, some diets tend to produce six-day disease and some do not.

In his observations on six-day disease, Taylor (1944) reported that the chicks which died on his preliminary experiments gave negative results on bacteriological examination.

Many workers hold that for routine examination of poultry, a quick, convenient and inexpensive method of detecting certain specific bacterial infection is to inoculate slopes of nutrient agar with liver or other tissue, and incubate at 37° C. It is claimed that some organisms often grow in pure culture from diseased chicks, and that this method is especially suitable in the detection of S. pullorum or S. gallinarum infections. The resultant growth can be washed off in saline solution and tested by specific agglutinating sera or by testing on certain carbohydrates.

Evidence is presented, based on feeding tests, that vitamin A metabolism is adversely affected when meat meal having a vitamin A consuming power in vitro is included in the diet of chicks.

Evidence is presented, based on feeding tests, that when fish meal having no vitamin A consuming power in vitro is fed to chicks in a basal ration which produces negligible mortality, the addition of such fish meal to the ration does not appreciably increase mortality.

Evidence is presented, based on feeding tests, that when fish meal having a vitamin A consuming power in vitro is fed to chicks in a basal ration which produces negligible mortality, the addition of such fish meal to the ration causes appreciable mortality.

Six-day disease of chicks is a disease of intestinal putrefaction, and may be fostered by any ration which contains the following:

(a) Animal proteins which show evidence of putrefaction.

(b) Excess of fibre, or sponge-like fibre such as palm-kernel meal or sugar-beet pulp, which assist in the proliferation of putrefactive microbes.

(c) Residual oils which destroy vitamin A.

(d) Starch or carbohydrate insufficient to maintain an acid reaction to the lower end of the intestines.

1. The occurrence of stripe smut of rye, Urocystis occulta (Wallr.) Rab. in Great Britain is recorded.

2. Control of seed-borne infection by disinfecting seed prior to sowing with an approved organomercury seed disinfectant has been shown.

3. Experiments have confirmed that the disease may be soil-borne.

4. With the increase of the acreage of rye grown in Great Britain it is suggested that seed should be treated with an approved organo-mercury seed disinfectant as a preventive measure.

1. Dressings of 12–100 lb. borax per acre resulted in marked temporary ‘yellowing’ of bean seedlings. Dressings of 25 lb. or more depressed the stand and reduced the yield.

2. Determinations were made to ascertain the distribution of boron within the treated plants and to measure the uptake of boron from the soil. The relevant figures are quoted in the text.