liG ANNUAL KKPOHTS Oi»' DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



this proiliict on a small scale. The su^ar obtained by this method is 

 in a satisfactory condition for refining, and in connection with the 

 albumen shows promise of providing' a market for wliey. 



In an effort to find some means of convertin<^ lactose into a i)roduct 

 which could be marketed jjrofitably, it was found that lactose may be 

 converted into lactates, and lactates into propionic and acetic acids, 

 throu<rh the action of a certain oi'<»:anism. The propionic acid, which 

 IS produced at a faster rate, is used for making perfumes, and com- 

 mands a good price. 



SILAGE INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations have been continued on the fermentation of corn 

 silage made from corn at various stages of maturity, and studies 

 have also been made on the composition of sunflower and Sudan grass 

 at different stages of growth, to determine the best time for ensiling. 



DAIRY EXPERIMENT FARM. 



At the Dairy Division experiment farm, Beltsville, Md., practical 

 experimental work was continued on various problems of dairy man- 

 agement. The dairy herd now contains 140 animals, an increase of 

 35 over the number at the farm at the end of the last fiscal year, and 

 the farm of 190 acres produced sufficient hay and silage to rnaintain 

 the herd and work stock. 



INBREEDING EXPERIMENT. 



The inbreeding experiment begun in 1912 is nearing completion, 

 and considerable data have been obtained. Cows of the first genera- 

 tion show an improvement in dairy ability, this being more marked 

 with the Holsteins than with the (niernseys. Owing to an outbreak 

 of abortion a large nnmber of calves .were lost, which interfered with 

 the experiment. A number of characteristic deformities have ap- 

 peared among the calves, evidently due to the mating of closely re- 

 lated Guernseys, but no such results were obtained from inbreeding 

 Holsteins ci" from outcrossing Guernseys. Whether the results with 

 the inbreeding of Guernseys were due to the particular bull used or 

 whether similar results would have been obtained with other bulls 

 and breeds if inbreeding were long continued can only be determined 

 by further investigation. 



MILKING EXPERIMENTS. 



Experiments to determine the effect of irregular milking and feed- 

 ing upon production have been continued, previous work having 

 shown that with average cows irregular milkmg alone is not detri- 

 mental. A comparison of milking twice a day and three times has 

 shown an increased production varying from 0.42 to 22.43 per cent 

 in favor of milking three times a day. Milking four times a day as 

 compared with three times has so far resulted in a variation in pro- 

 duction, from a decrease of 2 26 per cent to an increase of 11.68 per 

 cent. 



