70 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Indian cane as a fodder and stand-by, A. H. Haywood {Agr. Gaz. N. S. 

 Wales, 22 {1911), No. 1, pp. 7'J-81, fig. 1). — This includes favoivible comments 

 by stock farmers concerning the use of Indian cane as a fodder plant in 

 Austniiia. An analysis of the cnne grown on the volcanic soil of the Grafton 

 experiment farm, made by P. B. Guthrie, is ns follows: Moisture GO,GO, albumi- 

 noids 2.25, ether extract 0.10, carbohydrates 10.08, fiber 6.84, and ash 11.04 

 per cent. 



The feeding value of mangels, T. B. Wood (Proc. Cambridge Phil. Soc., 

 16 {1910), No. 1, pp. .',2, Ji3).— After studying the data of feeding trials which 

 included about 400 animals, A. B. Bruce found that the probable error in the 

 case of 1 animal amounted to 14 per cent of the average increase in weight 

 during the feeding period. From this it is concluded that it is necessary to 

 make comparative tests with at least 25 animals, each receiving the same 

 ration, in order to be able to get a really significant result. 



One hundred or more varieties of mangels were reduced to 5 types, namely, 

 the White Fleshed Globe, Intermediate, Golden Tankard, Golden Globe, and 

 Long Red. The latter yielded 3.9 tons of dry matter per acre, or more than 

 half a ton per acre more than any of the other types. 



Feeding experiments were made by Professor Middleton in order to ascer- 

 tain the feeding value of these types of mangels in proportion to their content 

 of dry matter. In a series of 7 trials 2 lots were fed side by side on rations 

 containing equal amounts of cotton or linseed cake and chaff, but 1 lot received 

 the White Fleshed Globe mangels and the other an equal quantity of Long 

 Reds. It was found that the increases in live weight were in the proportion 

 of 100 : 116±4 in favor of the Long Red. By using 90 animals the probable 

 error was brought inside the difference which was under measurement. The 

 difference found being 4 times the probable error of the experiment, it is there- 

 ' fore concluded that there is probably at least 10 per cent iu real difference in 

 feeding value in favor of the Long Reds. 



Two other trials in which the Golden Tankard and Long Red were compared, 

 each containing equal percentages of dry matter, were found to be well inside 

 the probable error. "The result of 2 sets of trials is to make it practically 

 certain that the percentage of dry matter in mangels may be taken as an index 

 of their feeding value." 



[Notes on protein hydrolysis in feeding- stuffs], F. Vv'. Foreman {Proe. 

 Cambridge Phil. Soe., 16 {1910), No. 1, pp. 87, SS).— It is suggested that con- 

 siderable economy might be effected by purchasing feeding stuffs the proteins 

 of which were known to be rich in the groups in which the proteins of home- 

 grown feeds are deficient. In order to accomplish this it is necessary to ascer- 

 tain the nature of the proteins in the commercial feeding stuffs. 



The author submits a preliminary report on the proteins of linseed, which 

 were determined by hydrolysis of the crude protein. The results are as follows : 

 Alanin 1.03, valin 12.71, lencin and isoleucin 3.97, prolin 2.85, phenylalanin 4.14, 

 aspartic acid 1.65, glutaminic acid 11.58, tyrosin 0.6.5, arginin 6.06, histidin 

 1.66, lysin 1.19, ammonia 1.94 per cent. Glycin, serin, and tryptophan were 

 also present but not in measurable quantities. It is thought that the low 

 tyrosin content may be due to the method used. The customary method is con- 

 sidered unsatisfactory, and the subject is to be further investigated. 



Condimental feeds, stock and poultry tonics and conditioners, G. M. 

 Macnider {Bill. N. C. Dept. Agr., Jan., 1911, Sup., pp. 38). — Analyses are given 

 of a large number of condimental feeds for stock and poultry, together with 

 the text of the state law in regard to these feeds. 



Inspection of commercial feed stuffs, P. H. Smith et al. {Massachusetts 

 Sta. Bui. 136, pp. 3-56). — This bulletin reports analyses of commercial feeding 



