301 



CTitting (June) "was so light tliat the experiment was considered a 

 faihire." 



Fodders and feeds ([ip. 161-167).— Analyses are tabulated show- 

 ing the food and fertilizing ingredients of timothy hay, wheat straw, 

 linseed meal, cotton-seed meal, malt sprouts, dried brewers' graius, Buf- 

 falo feed, and Chicago feed. There is also a compilation of analyses of 

 various feeding stufls. 



Experiments with different breeds of dairy cows (pp. 169- 

 230). — A complete record is given of the data obtained in the test of 

 breeds of cows from May, 1889, up to Xovember 2, 1890, when it was pre- 

 maturely terminated by fire. These data previously appeared in Bul- 

 letins Nos. 57, 61, 65, 68, and 77 of the station (see Experiment Station 

 EecOrd, vol. i, pp. 258 and 200, and vol. ii, pp. 162, 241, and 499). 



Eeport of Chemical Geologist, II. B. Patton, Ph. D. (pj). 

 231-248). — An account of investigations regarding the relation which 

 flocculation in soils bears to their fertility. The samples of the soils 

 investigated were taken according to the method recommended by 

 Professor Hilgard. In every case both soil and subsoil were sampled, 

 the latter, when possible, to a depth of at least 2 feet. The samples 

 examined comprised " trap-rock soils," " Triassic red-shale soils," and 

 a few from " Tertiary soils," and from soils formed by a mixture of 

 the last two kinds. A few samjiles of clay were also taken for com- 

 parison with the clayey soils. Brief descriptive notes are given for 

 each of the samples studied. A mechanical analysis of these soils was 

 lirst made with reference to the relation, if any, between the size of 

 the soil particles and fertility. The method of analysis used was the 

 " beaker elutriation " method, devised by T. B. Osborne. The results 

 are stated in detail in four tables. It Avas observed that the amount 

 of organic matter and Avater in the soil seems to bear little relationship 

 to the fertility. In the case of clayey soils there was a small difference 

 in fertility in fovor of the soil with relatively little clay. " It may be 

 noted how very small the amount of clay is in even the heaviest soils," 

 the average percentage of clay being only a little over nine. Sand was 

 found in excess in the good soils, and the finer silt and dust in the 

 poorer soils. 



This is especially marked in the red shales and Tertiary soils, but not so much so 

 in the trap-rock soils. The general scarcity of the coarser materials in the latter 

 may account in part for the difterenco being so little between the good and poor 

 soils. The exceptions to this in individual soils are quite inconsiderable when we 

 consider that no account is taken hero of probable differences in chemical composi- 

 tion. 



It is well known that the trap-rock soils yield much poorer results on the average 

 than the red-shale soils when under cultivation. During a dry season, however, the 

 former have the advantage as they hold the water better. This experience agrees 

 with the analyses in these two tables. On comparing the two it is seen that the 

 better trap-rock soils contain over 60 per cent of silt and dust, while the better red- 

 ehale soils contain but little over 35 per cent of the same. 



