176 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



"Shelled corn soaked 11! hours was iiiuro i)alatable and produced faster and 

 more eeononiical gains than shelled corn soaked 24 hours. 



" With hogs over 200 lbs. in weight the soaking of corn was of greater ad- 

 vantage to those running on pasture than to those confined in dry yards. 



"It proved useless to grind corn for hogs of any age when the weather was 

 warm enough to permit soaking. In every case, where grinding has shown a 

 saving of corn, simple soaking 12 hours in water has shown a still greater 

 saving. 



" Soaking corn meal added nothing to its feeding value for hogs that relishe<l 

 dry corn meal sufficiently to eat it readily in that condition. Young pigs did 

 not relish dry corn meal so well as did older hogs. 



" In general, hogs that had been accustomed to corn prepared in some form 

 received at least a temporary check in rate and economy of gains when for any 

 reason a change was made to dry ear corn. When the gains had been very 

 rapid on the soaked or ground corn this effect was more marked and in some 

 cases offset any beneficial effect of the preparation of the corn. 



" These results clearly indicate the most profitable farm practice where com 

 was the main part of the ration for hogs. The fastest and most profitable gains 

 were secured by feeding dry ear corn until the hogs were close to 200 lbs. in 

 weight. The scoop shovel was all that was needed to prepare corn for them. 

 Then if the hogs were to be fed longer, and the weather permitted, the most 

 profitable gains were secured by changing them to soaked shelled corn. Spring 

 pigs to be sold the next fall and winter thus gave the best results when fed dry 

 ear corn until sold. Fall pigs and the spring pigs carried over to be fattened 

 the following spring w^ere handled most profitably by feeding dry ear corn until 

 the weather became mild enough for soaking corn in the following spring, and 

 then feeding soaked shelled corn until the finish. This was especially true 

 when the hogs were run on pasture. The old sows made faster and more eco- 

 nomical gains on dry corn meal than on ear corn, but the benefit from this was 

 largely lost when it was finally necessary to ship them to market on ear corn. 

 They were handled most profitably by feeding soaked shelled corn." 



The development of swine breeding in Germany, with special reference to 

 economic problems, A. Crone {Die Enticicklung tier Schiceinc.zucJit in Dcutsch- 

 land utiter besonderer Beruclcsichtigung der WirtscliaftUchen Fragcn. Inaug. 

 Diss., Univ. Jena, 1907, pp. 112). — This contains a general survey of the growth 

 of the swine industry in Germany, with statistics since 18G0. Native and intro- 

 duced breeds of swine are described, and there is an account of public and pri- 

 vate methods for promoting the industry. 



Baldamus' illustrated book of poultry breeding, A. Beeck (Baldamus' Illus- 

 iriertes Handbiich der Federviehsucht. Berlin, 1908, 4- €d., vols. 1, pp. XIII-\- 

 871, pis. 6, figs. 205; 2, pp. VIII+Jf07, pis. 2, figs. 133).— This treatise on poultry 

 breeding for pleasure and profit is a revised edition of a work originally writ- 

 ten by A. C. E. Baldamus. 



The first volume contains a short sketch of the history and present status of 

 the poultry industry, an account of poultry associations and other measures for 

 encouraging the poultry industiy, and of the management of poultry, and de- 

 scriptions of the different breeds of fowls, bantams, peafowl, guineas, pheasants, 

 and turkeys of all countries, including frizzled, rumpless, short-legged, and 

 bald-necked fowls, prairie hens, Curassow, and other little known varieties of 

 poultry. The second volume treats of pigeons, ducks, geese, and swans. 



Chickens, and how to raise them, A. T. Johnson (Philadelphia, 1909, pp. 

 159, figs. 26). — A popular work on poultry, which contains discussions of prac- 

 tical methods of rearing the chickens, managing incubators, the common dis- 

 eases of fowls, and related topics. 



