366 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



heus. poultry buildin.trs and runs, and the treatment of poultry diseases, injuries, 

 etc. 



Poultry for export, (i. Bradshaw {Agr. Giiz. ^\ S. Wales, 17 (1906), A'O. 8, 

 jip. S26-858, figs. 11). — A competition in raising poultry for market sliinved that 

 under local conditions chickens can be raised to three and a half or four 

 months at a cost of twenty-five cents each. Detailed statements are made re- 

 garding the quality of the poultry shipped to the London market and the con- 

 dition of the poultry industry as a whole. The author believes that the local 

 demand for poultry of good quality can be greatly increased. 



Meat powders, etc., for poultry food {Agr. Gas. N. 8. Wales. 11 (1906), No. 8, 

 p. 85'J). — An analysis is reported of a poultr.v food of animal origin. 



Color in birds and color feeding, L. Dechmann (Rel. Poultry Jour., 13 

 {1906), Kos. 6, pp. 618. 619, 628; 7, pp. 683, 68J,, 702, 103. pgs. 3; 8. pp. 155-151, 

 800, 801, figs, -i)- — The general question of color of poultry feathers and factors 

 which affect it are considered and data summarized on the possibility of 

 intiuencing the color of feathers and shanks by colored light and by feeding 

 pigment. 



The castration of ostriches, Elley (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 29 {1906), 

 No. 3, pp. 349-35-'i, fig. 1). — The operation of caponizing ostriches is described. 

 It is claimed that caponizing induces increased weight of feathers, better phys- 

 ical condition of the birds in times of drought or scarcit.v, and a probable im- 

 provement of the flesh, provided the birds should be used as food, while it 

 lessens the dangers from fighting. 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING— AGROTECHNY. 



On the influence of asparagin on the production of milk and its con- 

 stituents, T. Pfeiffer, W. Schneider, and A. Hefner {Mitt. Landio. Inst. Bres- 

 lau, 3 {1906), No. 5, pp. I'/l-llO). — In experiments with 3 goats in continuation 

 of earlier work (E. S. It.. 17. p. 39G), the addition of 4.5 gm. of asparagin daily 

 to a basal ration was compared with the addition of 58 gm. of aleurone to the 

 same ration. The results as judged by the increase in the yield of milk, total 

 solids, and fat were almost as favorable for the asparagin as for the aleurone. 

 When the asparagin was fed, however, the live weight of the animals decreased, 

 while a slight increase was observed when the aleurone was fed. It is therefore 

 concluded that the asparagin increased the milk production at the expense of 

 body weight, and that this amid in contrast to aleurone and other proteids is 

 not to be classed as a true nutrient, but as a condimental or stimulating sub- 

 stance. 



Report of the Spotted Swiss Cattle Breeders' Association, 1905 {Ann. 

 Agr. Suisse, 1 {1906), No. 5, pp. 285-32.'i, pi. 1). — The average annual yield of 88 

 cows of this breed was 3,Gu8 kg. of milk, showing an average fat content of 3.93 

 per cent and total solids of 13.04 per cent. 



Examination of colostrum of goats, M. Sieufeld (Milrhu-. Zenthh, 2 {1906), 

 No. 8, pp. 360-363). — The analysis of a sample of colostrum obtained during the 

 first day of lactation showed the following composition: Total solids, 28.16; 

 total proteids, 8.40 ; casin, 3.68 ; fat, 14.70 ; sugar, 2.94 ; and ash, 0.99 per cent. 

 On the second and third days the total proteids decreased to 4.14 and 4.46 per 

 cent, respectively, and the fat to 5.10 and 5.50 per cent. The fat obtained dur- 

 ing the second and third days showed a Reichert-Meissl number of 28.7, a 

 I'olenske number of 5.15, a saponification number of 227.2, and an average molec- 

 ular weight of the nonvolatile fatty acids of 259.7. The percentages af cho- 

 lesterin and lecithin were respectively 0.042 and 0.091. 



