Mr Healy and Mr Westmacott describe a general technique for dealing with observations missing from block experiments analysed on automatic computers. When more than one observation is missing the technique is simpler than other methods hitherto described and has been proved in practice to be satisfactorily fast. It is applicable to any analysis in which least‐squares estimates are derived.

SUMMARY: A series of co‐operative experiments was conducted to compare the bacterial colony counts of soil obtained by workers in different laboratories, using soil extract agar and other media for the determinations. In the earlier experiments it was not possible to obtain a reasonable degree of reproducibility of results between laboratories even when the plating technique was carefully prescribed. By modification and more rigid standardization of the technique closer agreement was obtained in subsequent experiments. It is suggested that when co‐operative investigations are contemplated the participating laboratories should check their technique by the examination of ‘control’ soils. No evidence could be obtained to support the suggestion that higher colony counts are obtained by the use of soil extract media containing extract prepared from the same soil as the sample tested. The source appears to be immaterial so long as the soil for extract preparation is not of extreme type and has been well manured and cultivated.

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1. An examination has been made of the results of a number of experiments on the feeding of fodder beet to fattening pigs.2. When beet is introduced, the daily energy intake and hence the growth rate are slightly reduced.3. The value of beet as a replacement for meal, neglecting the reduction in growth rate, may be assessed satisfactorily from a knowledge of the dry matter content of the beet and of the starch equivalent of the meal, using the average values given by Woodman (1954).4. Where beet is used to replace meal, the available digestible protein is reduced. It is possible that the addition of protein-rich supplements to the ration will improve the performance of the pigs.5. The effects of beet on carcass quality are not clear. The Danish reports examined indicate slightly lower quality, but the English reports similar or slightly higher quality.