168 EXPEKIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The average weiglit of fleece increased from 6.3 lbs. in 1899 to 6.8 lbs. in 1909. 

 The highest average weight was in the Mountain division, 7.3 lbs. per fleece. 



The total reported production of mohair in 1909 was 1.683.000 fleeces and 

 the value $902,000. A decrease in the average value of mohair per pound is 

 noted. 



The total production of eggs in 1909 was estimated at 1,591,311,000 doz., an 

 apparent increase of 23 per cent over that of 1899. The value of eggs is given 

 as $300,689,000, or an increase of 112.6 per cent over 1899. The average value 

 of eggs per dozen as reported by the farmers increased from 11.1 cts. in 1899 

 to 19.3 cts. in 1909. The number of fowls reported as sold in 1909 was 153,- 

 600,000. or about one-third of the number raised. In 1909, 28 per cent of the 

 total number of eggs produced and 25.4 per cent of the total number of fowls 

 raised were accredited to the West North Central division, and 24.7 and 21 

 per cent to the East North Central. The average value of all fowls raised in 

 1909 ranged from 66.1 cts. each in the New England division to 29.9 cts. in the 

 West South Central division, while the value of those sold ranged from 70.9 

 to 34.5 cts. 



Feeding corn silage to farm animals, W. H. Pew, J. M. Evvard. and H. H. 

 KiLDEE (loica Sta. Circ. 6 {1913), pp. 6). — In this circular general instructions 

 are given for the feeding of corn silage to the breeding herd of beef cattle, 

 fattening lambs, yearling sheep, horses, hogs, fattening cattle, wintering ewes 

 and lambs, and to dairy cnttle. 



[Analyses of feeding stufEs] {Off. Bui. Ohio A,gr. Com., 4 {1913), No. 3, pp. 

 56-58, 80-97). — Analyses are reported of cotton-seed meal, malt sprouts, linseed 

 cake, blood meal, meat scraps, tankage, dried beet pulp, molasses feed, distillers' 

 grains, middlings, oat hulls, gluten feed, bran, hominy feed, alfalfa meal, germ 

 oil meal, and various mixetl and proprietary feeds. 



[Animal husbandry], T. L. Haecker {Minnesota Sta. Rpt. 1913, pp. 25-30, 

 fig, 2), — Four or 5 dry-brood sows representing the principal breeds were placed 

 on each of different lots of forage crops, stocking each pasture to its ca- 

 pacity, but not overstocking. Under these conditions it was estimated that a 

 5-acre plat of rape would have a net value of $70.85, of oats, peas, and rape 

 $.58.75, of oats $9.49, of corn $20.60, and of sorghum $4.20. The first two lots 

 were the only two in which any individual sows gained consistently during the 

 experiment. Young sows showed more gains and less losses in weight than 

 old sows. No breed showed superiority over other breeds in making gains on 

 pasture. The sows that had been on grain without pasture proved as good 

 breeders as those on pasture without grain for the same period. 



Data secured on the composition of the body of a steer at all stages of growth 

 indicate that there is a rapid increase in protein in the early stages of life, 

 which is followed by a marked slowing up when the animal reaches a weight 

 of about 800 lbs. This is just opposite to the results secured for fat, in which 

 the increase is slow during the early stages, but shows rapid gain from about 

 the 600-lb. stage. It was found that disturbances ordinarily not thought of as 

 important cause a decrease in the rate of gain and in some cases an actual loss 

 of weight. 



The brains of the domestic animals, H. Keaemeb (Mitt. Dent. Landw. 

 Gesell., 29 (1914), No. 4> PP- 55-58). — Data are given on the brain capacity and 

 weight of brains of various breeds of horses, mules, cattle, sheep, hogs, and 

 dogs, and the relative weight of brain to body weight is compared for the 

 various animals. 



The importance of measurements in .the improvement of the breeds, C. 

 VoiTELLiEK (Ann. 8ci. Agron., 4. ser., 3 {1914), ^0. 1, pp. 1-13). — This reports 



