664 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



per surface uuit. With the oess;\tioii of hietation the expenditure of energy 

 rapidly decTeases again." 



Growth restraint of young animals by the X-ray, Richardson {Deut. 

 Landw. Tierzucht, 18 (1914), No. 8, pp. 89, 90, figs. 2).— The results of the 

 application of the X-ray to chicks, lambs, young guinea pigs, and dogs indi- 

 cated that the X-ray has a physiological influence in restraining growth of the 

 animal cells, especially in the vei-y young animals. The growth of wool on the 

 head of lambs was restrained where the X-ray was applied soon after birth, 

 while in older lambs less influence was noted. 



Report of the animal husbandman, E. G. Ritzman (Porto Rico 8ta. Rpt. 

 WIS, pp. SO-SJi. pi. 1). — In the cattle breeding experiments the crossing of 

 pure-bred zebu sires of one of the largest and most impi'oved breeds of India 

 on Shorthorn and Hereford cows has i-esulted in brood framed, deep bodied, 

 early maturing progeny. The zebu characters of constitutional vigor, active 

 movement, strong bone, straight legs, hard hoofs, a straight, easy, and rapid 

 gait, almost complete immunity to tick infestation, together with natural adapta- 

 tion to tropical heat and short pasturage, have been retained by the progeny. 

 The progeny of tliese bulls from Porto Rico cows are larger and stronger than the 

 native stock, yearlings and 2-year-olds are larger and keep better flesh on short 

 pasture, carry practically no ticks, keep in excellent health, are vigorous and 

 thrifty, and show strong indications of some advance toward earlier maturity. 



Sheeivbreeding operations have been abandoned at the station owing to the 

 difficulty exi>erienced in keeping the animals in good health. Flukes are a 

 constant menace during the rainy season. Trials with African wooll-less sheep 

 indicate that they are not affected with scab. The.se sheep breed at any season 

 after one year of age and almost without exception drop twins. They keep in 

 good flesh, their meat is of good flavor and quality, and they are naturally 

 adapted to this latitude. Their advantages for a hot tropical climate are a 

 black skin, which permits of rapid radiation of excess body heat, and a yellow- 

 ish-brown coat of hair, which is a good reflector of heat and light rays. Efforts 

 are being made to improve tljeir mutton form by selection rather tlian by cross- 

 ing with any of the mutton breeds. 



Data are also given as to work with horses and poultry. 



Fattening cattle in Alabama, D. T. Gray and W. F. Ward (Z7. R. Dept. 

 Agr. Hid. 110 {t9l't), pp. J,l, jUih. }). — This is a continuation of work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 27, p. 67.'?; 28, p. 60; 31, p. 109) and is in three parts. 



Part 1 deals witli the wintering of steers preparatory to summer fattening 

 on pasture. Two- and 3-year-old native ticlc-infested grades, classed as common 

 or fair stockers, and weighing approximately 640 lbs., were used. The steers 

 ran in inclosed fields at all times, but had no shelter aside from the natural 

 protection of trees and hillsides, although the winter was severe. The test 

 began in December and continued until the following IMarch, a i^eriod of 91 

 days. Lot 1 of 28 animals on range alone lost an average of 106 lbs. per hesid 

 during the period; lot 2 of 15 animals, receiving range plus a half ration of 

 cotton-seed meal and hulls, gained an average of 43 lbs, per head ; and lot 3 

 of 23 animals on range plus a half ration of coarse hay lost an average of 72 

 lbs. per head during the period. The steers of lot 2 received approximately 

 2.4 lbs. of cotton-seed meal and 8.9 lbs. of hulls per steer per day. 



Comparing these results with those of the previous two winters, it is seen 

 that in each case range-fed steers lost in live weight most heavily, the grand 

 average for the three years showing a loss of 101 lbs. for each of the steers 

 on range alone, a gain of 8 lbs. for those fed on meal, hulls, and range, a loss 

 of lbs. on those which received cowpea hay, a U»ss of 04 lbs. on those which 

 were fed the coiirse, diimage<l hay, and :i loss of 10 lbs. for those which had 



