The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-09-13
TO STUDY
CHICKENS
Head Disease Will
Ensross Experts
Attention.

Experts of the bureau of animal indus
try of the Department OF Agriculture VIII
consider the head disease in chickens,
and upon their report will depend much
Of the later experiments of Director
Smith and his assistants. in their inves-
tigations on the slopes of Tantalus.
In the mail which went to Washing
ton in the Mariposa yesterday was
package sent forward by Director Jared
smith of the Agricultural Experiment
station, containing two chickens. pre-
served In alcohol, for investigation. The
chickens in l.fe were excellent specimens
Of the results of the head disease, and
they were preserved in alcohol, so that
they might reach the experts of the ami
NAL industry bureau in shape Tor theIr
consideration, without any change.
In the opinion OF the men Of the eXper-
tment station, including Director Smith,
the head .sease is sort of fungus dis
order similar to that which has been
found in the southern states and In most
of the warm countries. Although there
was a dissection of chicken whose
stage of the disease was the last. II was
impe ssible here to accurately locate the
malady and the decision was reached
to send the two specimens on to head
quarters, where an accurate diagnosis
may be made. The belief that the mos
quito has to do with the trouble Is not
entertained by the experts here, after
their experiments, and they think that
an extensive study there may be found a
means to cope with the trouble in future.
and IL is for this reason that the present
steps are taken.
A bulletin is now being prepared by the
local station which will he devoted to
the chicken industry. All of the troubles
with poultry will be treated and the ex-
perence of the best growers of the ISL
ands will be embraced in the pamphlet
There will be shown the results of the
first experiments of the station with
poultry, and the attempts made to fight
the eye disease. The bulletin will not
be sent out until report has been re-
ceiyed from Washington as to the identi-
ty OF the head trouble which has been
the principal drawback to the cultivation
of poultry in the Islands, causing the
loss OF thousands of dollars In the plants
and at the same time making II neces-
sary that eggs and chickens be imported
from California. The experimenters will
make every endeavor to find what will
prevent or eradicate the maiady from
the h.nneries of the Islands,
The recent discussion of the head dis
ease has had many results, and has caus-
ed those interested in 1t 10 reach out In
all directions for information upon the
subject. The greatest length 80 far
known was that reached by an earnest
Investigator a rancher, who came 10 thu
city last week to hear the music OF Jear
Gerardy. He had been charmed by th'
'cellist, and having read all that was OBJ
tainable about him, learned that he hat
come from Australia Reading of tn
poultry gazettes had told the rancher a
well that the head disease was prevalen
in that country. So II was that the dua
enthusiast called upon the 'cellist at tn
hotel the day after the concert.
He did not send a card. for the cler
pointed out the musician standing on tn
lanai, in enjoyment of the moment afte
luncheon. and in deep thought, perhap
as to a forthcoming masterpiece. Tn
rancher is tail and ahlebodied. He ap
preached the musician thus:
Il understand that you are from Aus
tralia. Yes7'
II am" began Mr. Gerardy backing
away from the earnest and persistent III
yestigator, who thought nothing of tn
retreat of the artist and followed hin
on
Well" returned the investigator. e
have heard meanwhile following tn
backward retreating artist, with uplifte
torefinger) that the head disease i
chickens is prevalent there and
thought that you could tell"
But he was speaking to the air. for tn
musician was in rapid pursuit of som.
thing lying In an opposite direction, an
never stopped to hear what his admire
wanted to know, but later he applied fo
information as to what was the matte
with the man who had buttonholed hin
and averred that he knew nothing at a
about chickens, even going SO far tina
be denied knowledge OF d toasted egg,
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