512 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A tliird experimeut was made witb red clover hay to comi)are the 

 relative digestive power of steers and sheep. Three steers and 5 sheep 

 were used in this trial. Analyses are given of the amount eaten and 

 digested and of the dung. "The excrement was collected by a detail 

 of assistants, who remained with the steers constantly and used every 

 precaution to prevent the excrement reaching the floor." 



The coefficients of digestibility for each animal are given in the fol- 

 lowing table: 



Coefficients of digesUMlity of red clover hay in trials with steers and sheep. 



"The great variations in these results were undoubtedly due to the individuality 

 of the animals. Steer No. 1 was in good health and readily ate all that was given 

 him, and gained weight during the experiment. . . . The coefilicient of digestibility 

 of Steer No. 1 we believe comes nearer representing the true relative digestive power 

 of steers as compared with sheep." 



Report for 1895 of the agricultural station at G-embloux, Bel- 

 gium, A. Petermann {Chem.Zfff., 30 {1896), Xo. 6I,i).037).—T\iis is a 

 very brief account of the work done by this station during 1895. 

 Among the things enumerated are studies on the composition of some 

 fruit wines, the water in honey, the questions whether the chemicals 

 used to sterilize excrements act injuriously on cultivated plants, the 

 injuriousness of certain oil cakes, the warming and cooling of sandy 

 clay soils, effect of the seed bed on the germination test, examination 

 of peat rich in nitrogen, examination of glucose sirups, gummosis in 

 sugar beets, and the composition of pumpkins. In most cases no 

 accounts are given of the studies or results. 



The composition of pumpkins (not described) is given as follows: 

 Water 91.83, fat 0.14, crude protein 1.15, carbohydrates 5.50, cellulose 

 0.94, and ash 0.44 per cent. The ash of pumpkins grown on a sandy 

 clay soil contained 43.83 per cent of potash and 15 per cent of phos- 

 phoric acid. The seeds contained in dry state 36.02 per cent of an edible 

 oil, liquid at ordinary temperatures and similar to almond oil in taste. 

 It is characterized by a refraction of 82 at 15.5° C, 73.3 at 30° C, and 

 70 at 37° C. The residue from the extraction of this oil is said to be an 

 exceptionally fine feeding stuff' of high digestibility. 



