876 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



batching with hens, K) considered the incubator as being successful but no 

 better than hens, and the remainder found them unsatisfactory. 



In crate feeding a ration used by some Kansas feeders witli great success, 

 according to the author, is comi>osed of oatmeal and buttermilk in the form 

 of a soft batter which is left in the troughs for about 30 minutes and the resi- 

 due theu removed. " Chiclcens are generally fed 8 times per day. Water may 

 or may not be given, according to the weather and the amount of liquid used 

 in the food." 



In the case of a 12 months' feeding test with G pens of White Leghorns car- 

 ried on at the college farm the average egg yield varied from G4.5 eggs per hen 

 on a ration of wheat and corn to 125 eggs per hen on a ration of casein, corn 

 choi), wheat, and corn, and the profit per hen from 15.7 cte. on wheat and corn 

 to 63 cts. on the casein ration mentioned. 



In general the author concludes that " the Kansas farmer, or the farmer in 

 general, has not yet fully recognized the full value of poultry on the farm for 

 supplying food for his table. Besides the eggs that they produce, which are 

 lieing recognized as one of the most wholesome food products that we have, 

 the poultry should furnish to the farmer the l)ulk of his meat for the j'ear, 

 which can be had at all times in a fresh and healthy condition. There is no 

 other meat that can be produced as cheaply and is as wholesome." 



DAIRY FARMING— DAIRYING— AGROTECHNY. 



Preliminary observations on protein supply of dairy herd, T. I. Mairs 

 {Pennsylvania t^ta. lipt. 1906, pp. J27-138). — Observations undertaken, as ex- 

 plained in a previous report (E. S. R., 18, p. 472), were continued during the 

 year 1905-G, and records of the IG cows in each of the two lots into which the 

 herd was divided are reported. From these results the following deductions 

 are drawn ; 



The cows fed the larger amount of protein produced more milk than those 

 fed the smaller amount, but the cost of milk per 100 lbs. was more for the 

 former than for the latter. The amount of protein in the feed had no percep- 

 tible effect upon the composition of the milk and the chief advantage of the 

 larger amount, if any, seemed to be in stimulating the appetite, which induced 

 the cows to eat more and possibly resulted in the greater milk production. 



" While the results of these observations do not warrant any radical 

 conclusions, it is thought that they are sufficient to indicate that beyond cer- 

 tain limits the supply of protein is of much less importance than was formerly 

 considered, and that an excess of protein beyond that i-equired for maintenance 

 and for the protein of the milk does not stimulate a greatly increased pro- 

 duction." 



Continued experiments as to the albuminoid minimum in the rations of 

 dairy cows (Bcr. K. Vet. off Landhohojskolcs Lab. Landokonom. Forsog [Copcn- 

 Jtaffcn], 63 {J907), pp. 110+JiS). — Experiments with G cows were conducted 

 from October 15, 1906, to February 1, 1907, in continuation of investigations 

 previously reported (E. S. 11., 18, p. 668). The balance of both albuminoid 

 and amid nitrogen was determined for each cow in two series of tests, one with 

 ample rations containing much amid nitrogen but too little total nitrogen, and 

 the other with rations containing as little amid nitrogen as possible. Conclu- 

 sions drawn by the author from the results of the experiments may be briefly 

 stated as follows : 



Cows on a ration containing enough nonnitrogenons constituents for all func- 

 tions not requiring albuminoid nitrogen, but furnishing less albuminoid nitrogen 

 than is accounted for iu excreta and milk, are below the actual albuminoid 



