182 



Harshberger. 



-Man 



experiments were made with hogs feeding for fat and for lean. 

 The experiments showed the following points in favor of the 

 hogs that had been fed on corn, shorts and bran, over those 

 getting corn alone : (i) a more rapid growth ; (2) a much more 

 economical gain for food consumed ; (3) much more blood in 

 the body ; (4) larger livers ; (5) stronger bones in proportion to 

 the weight of the body. Notwithstanding, a large part of the 

 pork produced in the United States is grown en corn, and in 

 consequence is excessively fat. With nitrogenous food swine 

 have better developed organs and leaner flesh. Lean pork is 

 more valuable as a human food, and commands better prices. 



Sheep. — Facts indicate that corn as an exclusive grain 

 ration does not give the best results when fed to growing 

 or fattening sheep. The production of wool is very greatly 

 dependent upon the nitrogen in the ration. 



Chickc7is. — A consideration of the feed of chickens, which 

 consists largely of maize, a highly carbonaceous food, shows that 

 this diet works to the detriment of the fowls. "The fowls 

 having the more nitrogenous food were always in better 

 health, and their plumage, except during a short moulting 

 period, was always full and glossy, while those having the 

 more carbonaceous ration were oftener sick, and their plumage 

 was always ragged and dull." 1 The gain in weight was the 

 largest for the nitrogen-fed chickens.' 2 



" But the eggs laid (E. S. R., 11, 506) by nitrogenous-fed 

 hens were of small size, having a disagreeable flavor and 

 smell, watery albumen, an especially small, dark-colored yolk, 



1 Exp. Stat. Rec, m, 37. 



2 Exp. Stat. Rec, 11, 506. 



