158 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



The banana weevil, H. A. Ballou {Agr. News [Barbados}, 15 {1916), No. 

 S64, p. 123). — It is reported that the banana weevil {Sphenophorus [Costno- 

 polites] sordidus) has appeared in some numbers in certain districts of 

 Jamaica. 



Productive beekeeping, F. C. Pellett {Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lip- 

 pincott Co., 1916, pp. XIV +30^2, pi. 1, figs. 134^).— In this volume the state 

 apiarist of Iowa considers modern methods of production and marketing of 

 honey. 



Bees and how to keep them, F. W. L. Sladen {Canada Expt. Farms Bui. 26, 

 2. ser. {1916), pp. 56, i)ls. 4, figs. 34). — This replaces the bulletin previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 27, p. 662). 



Fifteenth annual report of the Illinois State Beekeepers' Association, com- 

 piled by J. A. Stone {Ann. Rpt. III. Beekeepers' Assoc., 15 {1915), pp. Ill, pi. 

 1, figs. 9). — This report (E. S. R., 35, p. 467) includes a paper on Outdoor 

 Wintering (pp. 51-58), by E. F. Phillips. 



Bocky Mountain spotted fever. — A report of laboratory investigations of 

 the virus, L. D. Fricks {Pub. Health Rpts. [U. -S.], 31 {1916), No. 9, pp. 516- 

 521, fig. 1). — A report of studies of the causative organism of the disease, 

 which is transmitted by Dermacentor venustus. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



The nutritive properties of corn, A. G. Hogan {Jour. Biol. Chem., 27 {1916), 

 No. 1, pp. 193-208). — Feeding experiments with laboratory animals (rats) are 

 reported in an attempt to determine the nature of the deficiency of an exclu- 

 sive diet of maize. The problems studied include the adequacy of the inorganic 

 constituents, the adequacy of maize proteins, and the presence of gi-owth acces- 

 sories. The results of the work are summarized by the author as follows : 



" The evidence indicates that when corn is fed to rats as the sole dietary the 

 mineral constituents are the first limiting factor, and then the protein. In 

 the case of swine these findings are apparently reversed. Protein is here the 

 first limiting factor, and then the mineral element. The data also indicate that 

 the corn proteins are less eflScient for growth than casein. The addition of lysin 

 and tryptophane to maize did not increase its efficiency for growth. The addi- 

 tion of some of the adequate proteins (egg white) seemed of only slight benefit. 

 In view of these facts it seems possible that one of the limiting factors in corn 

 as a food for growing rats is one or more of the growth accessories. 



" Young rats on a corn diet grow more rapidly when the grain is supple- 

 mented with casein than when supplemented with egg white. This observa- 

 tion assumes added significance since food mixtures containing protein-free 

 milk, butter, and egg white are more efficient for growth than mixtures of 

 corn and egg white, even though the protein of the corn mixture furnishes a 

 relatively higher percentage of calories than does the protein of the more effi- 

 cient diet. 



"Autoclaved corn mixtures failed to maintain body weight, and ultimate 

 failure resulted, 



" Since swine grow rapidly on a mixture of corn and egg white, it is believed 

 that corn contains sufficient of the growth accessories for normal growth in 

 swine." 



The nutritive value of yeast, polished rice, and white bread, as determined 

 by experiments on man, C. Funk, W. G. Lyle, D. McCaskey et al. {Jaur. 

 Biol. Chem., 21 {1916), No 1, pp. 173-191).— In the investigation here reported 

 four normal men were given a diet of yeast, white rice, and bread. 



