880 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 

 Coefficients of digestibility — Continued. 



In several of the experiments the coefficients of digestibility of pro- 

 tein are reported, allowance being made for the metabolic nitrogen in 

 the feces. After treatment by pepsin and hydrochloric acid, the coef- 

 ficients of digestibility of hay (mostly timothy) was 62.7 per cent; corn 

 meal fed with hay, 86.8 per cent; skim milk fed with hay, 96.4 per cent; 

 corn meal fed with hay and skim milk, 85.7 per cent. After treatment 

 of the feces with alcohol, ether, water, and limewater, the coefficients of 

 the feeding staffs enumerated was found to be 62.2 per cent, 90.5 per 

 cent, 97.5 per cent, and 93.5 per cent. A table is given summarizing 

 all the coefficients of digestibility obtained with sheep at the Maine 

 Station. 



Spontaneous combustion of feeding stuffs, F. Hoffmann (Ztschr. 

 Spiritusind., 1S07, Nos. 35, 30, 41, 42, 45, 47, 40, 50; abs. in Gentbl. Ayr. 

 Chem., 27 (1898), l\ T o.6, pp. 305, 300).— The author made a number of 

 experiments with clover hay. His principal conclusions follow: Heat 

 is generated in clover hay, oxygen being taken up from the air and the 

 organic matter transformed into carbon dioxid and water. The water 

 moistens the hay, and the moistened material ferments owing to the 

 presence of bacteria. The fermentation also produces carbon dioxid 

 and water as well as small amounts of hydrocarbons, hydrogen, organic 

 acids, enzyms, etc. Heat is also produced by fermentation. The fer- 

 mentation is more rapid if the clover is moistened at the beginning. 

 However, the water produced by oxidation of the material is sufficient 



