274 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Comparative phosphatic manuring of swedes (Field Erplfi. Havprr-Adams 

 Agr. Col., and StaffordsJiirc and Shropshire, Rpt. I'JIO, pp. 2.'/-26). — In a com- 

 parison of basic slag and sujierphosphate as manures for swedes in respect to 

 the feeding value of tlie roots, the value of the net gain in weight of sheep in 

 1910 in favor of the superphosphate was at the rate of 12 shillings 4 pence per 

 half-acre plat. 



Protein as a factor in the nutrition of animals. — I, A study of the physical 

 constants of fats from swine, A. D. Emmett and E. C. Carroll {-Jour. Biol. 

 Chvni., 9 not J), Ao. 2, pp. A'A7//-XA'F).— An abstract of a paper read at the 

 1910 meeting of the American Society of Biological Chemists. 



Berkshire pigs, of known ancestry and age, were fed different amounts of 

 blood meal in connection with a basal ration of ground corn and crude calcium 

 phosphate. Lot 1 was fed on a low protein plane, lot 2 on a medium or balanced 

 plane, and lot 3 on a high plane. Chemical constants of the leaf, back, intes- 

 tinal, and jowl fats were determined. 



From this preliminary study of the influence of feed the following conclu- 

 sions are drawn: "If the ancestry, age, and type of the animals are not con- 

 sidered in comparing the data, the different amounts of protein feed have no 

 apparent influence on the physical constants of the fats. The individual idio- 

 syncrasies of the animals may be as great a factor or greater than that of 

 feed. If litter mates be compared, of which there was one in lot 1 comparable 

 with one in lot 2, and one in lot 2 comparable with one in lot 3, these data show 

 that the differences in the physical constants due to feed were very slight. 

 Here, however, the matter of individuality again may be the controlling factor. 



" If the data from the various samples be compared with respect to the kind 

 of fats, they show that the values for the iodin number and melting point are 

 quite differeut in the case of the back fat when compared with the leaf and 

 composite samples of fat. The averages for the iodin number are 51.23 for the 

 back fat, 45.6 for the leaf fat, and 45.91 for the composite fat. The averages 

 of the melting point determinations for the back, leaf, and composite samples 

 of fat are respectively: 34.1°, 42.8°, and 45.7° C. Comparing all samples of fat 

 in respect to both the protein feed and the kind of fat and without regard to an- 

 cestry, age, and type of the animal, or to individuality, the specific gravity, 

 saponification number, the insoluble acids, and the index of refraction appear 

 to be practically constant in each case, averaging for all the samples, 0.8934, 

 196.94, 95.58, and 1.4595, respectively." 



Pork production with forage crops, F. B. Mumford and C. A. Willson 

 {Missouri Sta. Bui. 95, pp. 561-597). — This bulletin reports the results of 3 

 years' feeding experiments in studying the adaptability of forage crops for 

 swine, determining the proceeds per acre for pasturing off forage and grain 

 crops, and working out forage crop rotations suitable for hog farms. 



The aim was to take a hog weighing about 70 pounds June 1 and by feeding 

 corn produce a gain of 80 pounds by September 1 regardless of the condition 

 of the forage. The hogs, from 8 to 16 per acre, were mostly grades and crosses 

 with Poland XlJhina predominating, of early spring farrow, weighing at the be- 

 ginning of the tests about 50 to 70 pounds each, and in good growing condi- 

 tion. Corn was valued at 60 cents per bushel, oil meal $30 per ton, and gains 

 produced at 6 cents per poimd. To determine the amount of pork produced 

 per acre by forage 10 pounds of gain were accredited to each bushel of corn 

 fed and the remaining gains accredited to the forage. 



The average amounts of pork accredited to an acre of forage and the net 

 profits were as follows: For blue grass 285.2 pounds, $17.12; alfalfa 596.8 

 pounds, $35.71 ; clover 572.2 pounds, $34.11 ; rape, oats, and clover 394 pounds, 

 $23.64; sorghum 370.5 pounds, $10.15; cowpeas 224.9 pounds, $13.16; and soy 



