FOODS ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 1083 



The relation of the different parts of orchard grass and timothy of 

 luxuriant growth and stunted growth was studied. Measurements of 

 the growth of yellow rocket ( Barbarea vulgaris) and studies of the com- 

 position, including fertilizer constituents, of the stem and leaf were also 

 made. 



In addition to digestion experiments with cows the comparative value 

 of clover hay and sour grass hay for the production of milk was studied. 

 Feeding sour grass hay diminished the milk yield, while clover hay 

 increased it. 



The relative digestibility of foods by different animals is discussed. 

 The majority of feeding stuffs are said to be about equally well digested 

 by different ruminants. When, however, the feeding stuff contains a 

 small amount of nutritive material it is better utilized by cows than by 

 sheep. The results obtained with rabbits are believed to be comparable 

 with those obtained with the larger animals. 



Investigations on the value of different concentrated feeding 

 stuffs, W. von Knieriem (Landw. Jahrb., 27 (1898), No. 3-4, pp. 566- 

 630). — These experiments, which extend over a number of years, were 

 conducted by different investigators at the Peterhof Experimental 

 Farm. Experiments are reported with rabbits, sheep, and horses on 

 the digestibility of cocoanut cake, hemp-seed cake, linseed cake, sun- 

 flower-seed cake, rape-seed cake, meadow hay, and a number of mixed 

 rations. In some cases the digestibility of the concentrated feeding 

 stuff was calculated by deducting from the digestibility of the mixed 

 ration the calculated digestibility of the other feeding stuffs, and in 

 others it was determined by changing the ratio of the foods and calcu- 

 lating the digestibility algebraically on the basis of the differences 

 observed. The results obtained by the two methods of calculation are 

 compared. 



In a number of the experiments the balance of income and outgo of 

 nitrogen was also determined. 



Tests of the effect of cocoauut cake and linseed cake on the yield and 

 composition of milk were also reported with 2 cows. The cocoanut cake 

 increased the milk yield 1(3 per cent, and the linseed cake 12 per cent. 

 Notwithstanding the fact that the fat in the two sorts of cake possessed 

 such different properties, the butter made when these cakes were fed 

 was not materially changed as regards meltiug point, cooling point, or 

 content of nonvolatile acids. As regards the volatile acids, so great 

 irregularities were observed that no deductions could be drawn. 



A test of the effect of palm-nut cake on the yield and composition of 

 milk was also made. It was fed with clover hay. As compared with 

 periods when clover hay was fed alone, palm-nut cake increased the 

 production of milk about 17 per cent. The fat content of the milk was 

 also increased. Butter made from milk obtained in the different periods 

 was compared. The saponification number of the butter was increased 

 when palm-nut cake was fed. 



