580 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



corn alone for several weeks before slaughtering. This is done to harden 

 the meat. With the view of obtaining information on this point, 1 pig 

 each from the lots fed cowpeas and corn meal, peanuts alone, and pea- 

 nuts and corn meal was fed corn only for a month before slaughtering. 

 The melting point of the lard from the 3 pigs was 43°, 38.5°, and 37°, 

 respectively. Cooking tests were made of the pork from the different 

 pigs. 



"Cowpeas fed with corn did not injuriously affect the quality of pork or lard. 

 Peanuts when fed with corn greatly softened the pork and lard. The softening effect 

 of peanuts was still greater when they constituted the sole food. This softening 

 effect of peanuts was not corrected hy feeding exclusively on corn for a month hefore 

 the date of slaughtering. . . . Lard from exclusive peanut feeding solidified only 

 during the coldest weather of February, at other times in Fehruary and March 

 becoming almost a semiliquid. The low melting point or want of firmness of lard 

 made from peanuts injures its sale. However, cooking tests fail to reveal any real 

 inferiority." 



Some experiments with poultry, C. D. Smith, C. S. Brooks 

 (Michigan tita. Bui. 158, pp. 329-341). — The authors describe the station 

 poultry house, discuss several trials with incubators, and report a num- 

 ber of feeding experiments with poultry. The chemical composition of 

 eggs of different breeds and under different conditions of feeding is 

 also given. 



Coarsely cracked vs. finely ground grain for young cliickens. — Eighty- 

 six Barred Plymouth Bocks and 14 Golden Wyandotte chickens were 

 divided into 2 equal lots 10 days after hatching. Lot 1 was fed coarsely 

 cracked corn from which the meal was sifted and an equal weight of 

 clean wheat screenings; lot 2 was fed corn and wheat in the same pro- 

 portions, the grains being ground to a coarse Hour. In addition both 

 lots were given enough sweet skim milk to thoroughly moisten the 

 grain, and the same amounts of oyster shells, finely cut green bone, 

 lettuce, and cabbage. 



At the beginning of the test, which lasted 7 weeks, lot 1 weighed 5.7 

 lbs. and lot 2 5.8 lbs. During the test 7 chickens in lot 1 and C in lot 

 2 died. At the close of the test lot 1 weighed 49.8 lbs. and had eaten 

 39.25 lbs. of wheat screenings and the same quantity of corn. Lot 2 

 weighed 59.5 lbs. and had consumed a pound more of each of the grains 

 than lot 1. The conclusion is reached that there was a slight advan- 

 tage in grinding the grain for young chickens. 



Immediately after the close of this test a comparison of wheat and 

 cracked corn was made with the same lots. The test was divided into 

 2 periods of 6 weeks each. Lot 1 was given whole wheat and lot 2 

 coarsely cracked corn, each lot being fed the same amounts of lettuce, 

 cabbage, rhubarb, oyster shells, and green bone. In the first period 

 lot 1 gained 51.7 lbs., consuming 2.8 lbs. of wheat per pound of gain. 

 Lot 2 gained 117 lbs., consuming 2.77 lbs. of corn per pound of gain. 

 During the second period lot 1 gained 72.5 lbs., consuming 2.62 lbs. of 

 wheat per pound of gain, while lot 2 gained 83 lbs., consuming 2.5 lbs. 



