ANTMAI. I'RODUCTION. 69 



Comi^osition and feeding value of cucurbits, A. /ausciikk iLdiidir. .htlirlt., 

 3.') iHKlG), Xo. 1-2, pp. 2'i5-2ijS) . — Digestion experinuMits wcic inndc witli steers 

 jind pigs to determine the digestihility and nutritive value of cuenrhits of 

 different sorts fed witli hay. 



The coefficients ef digestihilily with steers, calculated i'uv itunipkiiis alone, 

 were protein TO.o, fat '.MM. niti-ogen-trcc extract 80.-1. irudc tii)er (57.r>, pentosans 

 (18.7, and ash 72.G i>er cent. 'I'he coellicieiits otttained in the tests with i)igs were 

 Iiroteln 72.3. fat r)7.(). nitrogen-free extract '.fJ.T. crude lilx-i- (m.'",. pentosans Tn.l, 

 and ash (Jl.O per cent. T!ie author helieves that other sorts el cucurl)its would 

 have practically the same nutritive value. 



The urine was kualyzed and the amount of metlian excreted was calculated. 

 Taking these facts into account tlH> ])Ii.vsiological nutritive value of the cucurbits 

 for steers was 70.2 and for pigs (i'.» per cent. 



The nutritive value of ground beech bark, A. Zaitschek (f.andir. Jdlirb., 

 3-'> {1!)06), No. 1-2, pp. 2SH-2 'i 'i ) . — Digestion experiments were undertaken with 

 sheep and pigs to ascertain the nutritive value of ground beech bark, a material 

 offered as a feeding stuff in times of scarcity. The sheep could not be induced 

 to eat the matcM'ial even when ndxed with molasses. The mixture was, however, 

 eati'U by swine. Imt the ground beech bark was found t'> be wholly indigestible. 

 Analyses ^were made of th(> urine. 



Rejjort of progress regarding the f)roposed act to be introduced by the 

 Dominion government relative to the sale of concentrated feeding stuffs, 

 \V. P. (iAMBi.E (Aiiti. h'pt. Ontario A(/r. (uid E.rpt. In ion. 2.7 (HXI.'j), pp. .jD-61). — 

 The need for a law recpiiring an inspection of concentrated feeding stuffs in the 

 Dominion of Canada is s])okeii of and a report given of the efforts which have 

 been made to secure the enactment of such legislation. 



Fattening cattle for the years 1904 and 1905, F. P.. Lim-ielu {.Montana 

 Hta. Bui. .'jS, pp. .')7-S2). — Cpntinuing earlier work ( E. S. P., ir>, p. 700) 2 tests 

 with steers are reported. 



In the first test crushed wheat, ground oats, ground barley, and a mixture 

 of ecpial parts of these grains were compared, the coarse fodder in every case 

 consisting of clover hay. Each of the 4 lots contained 8 steers and the test as 

 a whole covered 101 days. The average daily gain ran.ged from 2.00 lbs. per 

 head on wheat to 2.35 lbs. on mixed grains. The greatest range in feed recpiired 

 per pound of gain and in the cost of feed i)er pound of gain was also noticed 

 with the.se two lots, being respectively l.s:', and 2.1.5 lbs. and 4.50 and 5.83 cts. 

 Considering this and earlier woi-k the author estimates on the basis of the 

 amounts required per pound of gain that the different grain rations supple- 

 mented by clover hay rank as follows: Mixed grain, barley, wheat, and oats. 



In the second test different anumnts of grain (barley, oats, and br;in 2:1:1) 

 wei-e compared, the daily grain rations being re.spectively .".. 5. 7. .-ind 10 lbs. 

 pi'r head. The coarse fodder In every case consisted of clover hay. Each of 

 the 4 lots contained (i steers and the feeding i)eriod covered 129 day.s. The 

 smallest gain. l.Ki lbs. per head per day. was noted with the .5-lb. grain ration 

 and the greatest gain. 1.37 lbs. per head per day, with the lO-lb. grain ration. 

 The feed required per pound of gain ranged from 1.89 lbs. on the 3-lb. grain 

 ration to 5.1(! lbs. on the lO-lb. grain ration. The greatest variation in cost of 

 feed per pound of gain, namely, (i.7 and 0.5 cts.. was also noticed with these 

 two lots. 



"The results of the tests made during tlie winter 1002-3 ;ind 10():]-4 seemed 

 to show that the relative value of the differ(>nt grains (when fed with clover) 

 to produce increase in live weight on a steer, is : 1st, mixed grain ; 2d, barley ; 

 3d, wheat ; 4th, oats. 



