882 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the rainfall, bnt it averages somewhat less than the yield of <>at sheaves, under the 

 same conditions. 



"This grass succeeds remarkably well on dry uplands, where an oat crop would 

 give small returns. Its roots are also very useful in preventing the drifting of soil." 



Experiments on the feeding of steers, W. Saunders {Canada Expt. 

 Farms Bpt. 1897, pp. 75-79). — A test was made with 3 lots of 4 steers. 

 During a preliminary period of 1 month all were given a ration consist- 

 ing of 50 lbs. corn silage, 25 lbs. of roots, 5 lbs. of cut bay, and 5 lbs. of 

 cut straw. Tbe test proper began December 15, 1S97, and covered 10 

 weeks, being divided into 3 periods of 8, 4, and 4 weeks respectively. 

 Throughout the test all the steers were given the same coarse fodder 

 ration as during the preliminary period. During the first period lot 1 

 was fed no grain in addition. During the second period the steers 

 were given 2 lbs. of a mixture of equal parts of peas, barley, oats, and 

 bran per head daily. During the third period this was increased to 

 lbs. The steers in lot 2 were given 2 lbs. of the same mixture per 

 head daily during the first period, 4 lbs. during the second, and lbs. 

 during the third period. The steers in lot 3 were fed 4 lbs. of the same 

 grain mixture per head daily during the first period and lbs. per head 

 daily during the second and third periods. The financial statement is 

 based on corn silage and roots at $2, hay at $8, and straw at $4 per ton. 

 The grain mixture was valued at the rate of 1 cent per pound. The 

 foods consumed and the gains made by the steers during each period 

 are recorded in full. The animals weighed about 1,000 lbs. each at the 

 beginning of the test. The average gain of the steers in lot 1 was 200.5 

 lbs.; lot 2, 104.5 lbs.; lot 3, 202.25 lbs. 



"The results of the foregoing experiments appear to show that it is economical to 

 withhold the feeding of grain, or to feed but little of it, during the iirst portion of 

 the feeding period. The steers in lot 1 fed without grain for the first 8 weeks cost 

 on an average 9.80 cts. per day for the whole period of 111 days; lot 2, 11.10 cts., 

 and lot 3, 12.14 cts. per day. This shows an average cost of 1.30 cts. per day more 

 for each animal in the second lot than for those in the first lot, and 2.34 cts. per day 

 more for each steer in the third lot than for those in the first lot. This makes the 

 average cost of feeding each animal in the second lot for the 111 days during which 

 these tests were continued $1.44 more than for those in the first lot, while the aver- 

 age gain in w T eight at the close of the experiment was 6 lbs. more per head in the 

 first lot than it was in the second. The steers comprising the third lot cost on an 

 average $2.60 per animal more than those in the first lot, while the advantage in 

 gain was only 1 J lbs. per head." 



Experiments in fattening swine, W. Saunders {Canada Expt. 

 Farms Rpt. 1897, pp. 80-86). — Tests are briefly reported in which shorts; 

 ground barley; ground Indian corn; shorts, a mixture of ground barley 

 and Indian corn; a mixture of ground peas, barley, oats, and shorts 

 with skim milk; unground oats; ungrouud barley; unground peas; 

 unground Indian corn; and a mixture of unground oats, barley, and 

 peas were fed to swine. The grain was soaked in cold water before 

 feeding, and the pigs were given all they would eat up clean. With 

 the unground grain 3 lbs. of skim milk per head daily was fed. In 



