28- REPORT OB' OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



The investigations on the improvement of live stock are still in 

 ])rogress, and not onl}- the exj^criment station l»iit j)rogFessive plant- 

 ers are endeavoring to im})ro\(' the <(uality of their farm animals. It 

 has been sliow n that imj)i()ve(l niiiinals of various breeds can l)e im- 

 ported and successfully acclimated providing a few precautionary 

 measures be taken. Imported animals should be stabled and fed on 

 grass or should be kei)t on small Avell-shaded lots until they have 

 become used to their surroundings. Pigs, turkeys, geese, ducks, tnul 

 chickens have been acclimated at the station Avithout any loss, and 

 it has already been shown that the hatching and rearing of poultiy, 

 if carried on during the dry season, is fairly successful. 



NUTRITION INVESTIGATIONS. 



Investigations on the nutrition of man, by which is meant, broadly 

 speaking, studies of the utilization of agricultural food products of 

 animal and vegetable origin, have been carried on by this Office 

 during the past j-ear in continuation of earlier work, and the same 

 general policies have been followed as heretofore. This enterprise 

 involves studies of the digestibility of different food materials alone 

 and in combination, studies of the kinds and amounts of food con- 

 sumed by individuals and grouj^s, the relative value, from a money 

 standpoint, of different foods and food combinations as sources of 

 nutritive material, the effects of cooking ujjon nutritive value and 

 digestibility, and related questions, as well as an investigation of the 

 fundamental laws of nutrition and the practical application of these 

 laAVs to the health and well-being of man. Particular attention is 

 given in this woi'lv to the hygiene, physiology, i>edagogics, and eco- 

 nomics of nutrition, with special reference to securing data which 

 will be of service in improving the diet of people of din'orenl age 

 and .sex living under varied conditions of occupation, climate, and 

 surroundings, aiul to accunudating information for tlie use oP 

 Icachei's and students. 



During tlie ])ast year a.ttention has been ])aid i)articidarly to tliges- 

 lion expei'iments, cooking experiments, dietary studies, studies of 

 liic metabolism of ash constituents ol" food and the proportions re- 

 quired in the diet, and the jjcdagogics of nntrition. In addition to 

 I lie ex])erimental work a large amount of editorial woik has been 

 required for the calculation of the results of the experiments, foi' 

 the jireparation of experimental data foi- publication in technical 

 and popular form, and in similar ways. 



The coo])erative investigations liaxc bciMi canied on at agricultural 

 ('\p(M'iment stations, agricnltui'al colleges, and other institutions in 

 dill'erent pai'ls of the connti'y. the general pnr|)ose being to form 

 centers of in\estigalion foi- (he shidy of praclicul pioblcins at sueh 



