76 ANNUAL REPOUTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



stock sired by Corriedale rams from native cross-bred ewes are of 

 good build and very uniform in all respects. 



The first year's test did not show material increase in the number 

 of lambs from Southdown ewes that received extra feed at mating 

 time. Twin-born lambs raised as singles (having all of one ewe's 

 milk) attained the same weight as single-born lambs. 



The educational wool car used in the field last year was again cir- 

 culated this year in cooperation with the agricultural colleges of 

 Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. 

 This collection, together with the motion-picture film showing the 

 manufacturing steps from raw wool to finished cloth, proved of great 

 interest at each of 60 towns in the States mentioned. At each point 

 large numbers of sheep raisers visited the car, and in a number of 

 cases the local authorities made arrangements for the school children 

 to see the pictures. 



In experiments in cooperation with the New York City Department 

 of Health to see if goat's milk has any special value for tubercular 

 patients, this milk when used for adolescent tubercular patients has 

 not proved more valuable than cow's milk. Cheese made from goat's 

 milk by the Dairy Division " has some of the characteristics of Ca- 

 membert and would probably find a ready market." 



HORSE AND MULE INVESTIGATIONS. 



BREKDING AMERICAN CARRIAGE HORSES. 



Work in the horse-breeding investigations carried on in cooper- 

 ation with the Colorado Experiment Station has progressed very 

 favorably. The foals being produced show good uniformity. The 

 stud is now composed almost entirely of animals produced in the 

 experiment, and they all possess to a large degree the desired type. 

 The 24 brood mares produced 17 foals during the year. The stallions 

 Defender and Highball are standing for public service at Shell, Wyo., 

 and Montrose, Colo., respectively. 



As recommended by the board of survey, 22 animals were elimi- 

 nated from the experiment as unsuitable to be retained for breeding 

 purposes. The brood mare Bonita and a weanling died during the 

 year. 



For the past two years approximately one-half of the brood mares 

 have been fed on alfalfa hay during the winter and pastured on 

 alfalfa during the summer. The other brood mares have been fed on 

 native hay and grain and pastured on native grass pasture. No ill 

 effects have been noticed from the alfalfa feeding. Care has been 

 taken not to overfeed and not to feed any dusty or damaged alfalfa 

 hay. 



BREEDING MORGAN HORSES. 



At the close of the fiscal year there were in use at the Morgan 

 horse farm, near Middlebury, Vt., 12 mature stallions, 6 young stal- 

 lions, and 31 mares, 19 of which are mature. The 19 mares bred in 

 1916 have produced 9 foals, and 6 mares are J^et to foal. Two stal- 

 lions from the farm are standing for public service in North Caro- 

 lina. Five of the stallions from the farm are standing in the eastern 

 part of Vermont for the purpose of producing horses suitable for 

 military use. 



