ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 75 



one-fifth its weight of hominy chop, the value of the ration was increased, but 

 homhiy chop jUone gave better results than a mixture of 3 lbs. of hominy chop 

 and 2 lbs. of bran. 



A test of hopper feeding was made, in which 5 Duroc Jerseys were allowed 

 access at all times to corn meal, wheat bran, tankage, and linseed meal. The 

 nutritive ratio of the voluntary ration was 1:7.3. More corn meal was eaten 

 than all other feeds combined. The pigs ate regularly without surfeiting and 

 produced pork economically. A patent motor grinder and feeder gave good 

 results in 2 tests, but when used in comparison with hopper feeding with both 

 shelled com and corn meal the margin of profit was in favor of the hopper-fed 

 pigs. 



A tonic mixture (1*1 S. R., 6, p. 604), wood charcoal, and soft coal were 

 compared as correctives and were i*anked in value in the order named. The 

 pigs fed the soft coal in large quantities had better ai)iietites and gained more 

 than pigs having no corrective. A hog house containing 5 pens and a portable 

 hog cot are illustrated and described. 



Cost of raising pigs, C. A. Wilson (Wallaces' Farmer, 36 (1011), No. 12, p. 

 56.'i ) . — An experiment in the cost of producing and growing pigs up to the time 

 of weaning is reported. 



The average cost of maintaining the sow was $11.06, besides 15.5 cts. for 

 maintaining the boar. The birth charge for each pig therefore varied from 

 $11.82, when there is only one in the litter, to 74 cts. when there is a litter of 

 16. To these figures must b(! added $1.87 for the feed of the sow in order to 

 determine the total cost to the time of weaning. 



Influence on the production of mutton of manures applied to pasture, 

 W. SoMERViLLE (Jour. Bd. Ayr. [London], 11 (1911), No. 10, Sup. 5, pp. 58, 

 pi. 1). — ^A summary of trials begun in 1896, brief reports of which have appeared 

 from time to time (E. S. R., 15, p. 897). 



Some of the conclusions drawn from the work as a whole are the following: 

 " Cake of various sorts was fed to sheep on pasture at 11 centers, and in no 

 instance was the outlay on the cake recovered in the increased mutton produced 

 by the sheep in the season when the cake was consumed. . . . Common burned 

 lime, used alone at the rate of 4 tons per acre, has proved very ineffective; but 

 smaller dressings of gi-ound lime, when added to a phosphatic dressing, have 

 sometimes been justified. . . . Where a direct comi)arison has been made be- 

 tween the effects of equal quantities of phosphoric acid derived from basic 

 slag and superphosphate respectively, the former manure has always produced 

 the greater amount of live weight increase. When the cost of manure is taken 

 into account, the profits from the use of basic slag have always been mucji 

 greater than those from superphosphate. 



" Potash added to a phosphatic dressing generally resulted in the production 

 of more live weight increase, but this increase was not a profitable one. The 

 expediency of using potash on pastures — as contrasted with meadows— therefore, 

 receives no support from these experiments. The addition of moderate dress- 

 ings of sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda to land already treated with 

 phosphate has increased the yield of herbage, but has, as a rule, reduced the 

 yield of mutton. . . . Dissolved bones compare badly with basic slag and super- 

 phosphate." 



Fundamental facts about wool, C. S. Plumb (Breeder's Gaz., 59 (1911), No. 

 14, P- 884). — The structure of the wool fiber and the grades of wool found on 

 the market are explained. 



Hygroscopic qualities of wool (Bui. Nat. Assoc. Wool Manfrs., 40 (1910), 

 Nos. 2, pp. 128-151, figs. 5; 3, pp. 209-217, figs. 2; 4I (1911), No. 1, pp. 108-118, 

 pis. 9). — This is a discussion of the properties of wool fibers by H. Priestman 



