176 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Further investigations on the silica content of animal and human tissues, 

 H. ScHULZ {Arch. Physiol. [Pflihjer], 89 [1902), No. 1-2, pp. 112-118).— Conimxxin^ 

 previous work (E. 8. R., 13, p. 168), analytical data are reported and discussed. 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



Spontaneous combustion of alfalfa, H. ]\I. Cottrell {Kansas Sfa. Bid. 109, 

 pp. 211-222). — A number of instances of spontaneous combustion of alfalfa hay are 

 recorded and discussed. In every case this phenomenon was observed with hay of 

 the first cutting, which is ordinarily of rank growth. The spontaneous combustion 

 is apparently due to the imperfect curing of such hay before stacking. According to 

 the author, "some alfalfa growers, in stacking the first cutting of alfalfa, put alfalfa 

 and dry straw or prairie hay in alternate layers. This is a satisfactory way if the 

 dry material is available. Others use 10 to 15 pounds of salt or air-slaked lime 

 for each ton of hay, sprinkling the salt or lime so as to cover as much of each load 

 as possible. Experiments made at this station indicate that considerably less gains 

 are made by cattle when salt is mixed with the feed. A trial of lime on alfalfa, 

 made at this station, showed little effect. From all the experience we have gained 

 to date [it seems probable] that the best way to prevent spontaneous combustion of 

 alfalfa is to thoroughly cure before stacking. It is not often that all the conditions 

 necessary to produce spontaneous combustion are present, and ordinarily there is no 

 danger, where reasonable care is taken, except with the first cutting, and with this 

 cutting only when the growth is rank." 



On the changes in the composition of roots during storage, F. T. Shutt 

 {Canada E.vpt. Farms Rpts. 1901, pp. 163-166). — The dry matter, total nitrogen, and 

 the albuminoid and nonalbuminoid nitrogen were determined in niangel-wurzels, 

 carrots, turnips, and sugar beets in the fall, winter, and the spring. x\ccording to 

 the author — 



"The percentage of albuminoid nitrogen . . . appears to remain fairly constant 

 in the dry matter throughout the j^eriod of storage, though in the case of two of the 

 roots. Giant Yellow Globe mangel, and Improved Short White carrot, there had been 

 a notable decrease, due probably, in part at least, to the breaking down of the albu- 

 minoids. Since . . . the percentage of total nitrogen (calculated on the dry matter) 

 in the majority of the examples increased somewhat during storage, it necessarily 

 follows that the percentage of nonalbuminoid nitrogen has slightly increased." 



The author infers " (1) that nitrates, resulting more particularly from high manur- 

 ing with soluble nitrogenous fertilizers, and which are more or less injurious to the 

 animal, tend to disappear on storage of the roots; (2) that there is a tendency to 

 fermentative changes during storage that lead chiefly to the destruction of the sugar, 

 the most important nutrient of roots. This deterioration may no doubt in a large 

 measure be controlled by low temperature and good ventilation; under such condi- 

 tions we imagine the loss does not assume in our winter climate any grave propor- 

 tions. It would no doubt be found to increase markedly after March. Further, 

 (3) that the nonalbuminoid nitrogenous compounds increase, as a rule, with storage, 

 and especially so during the spring months." 



Fodders and feeding stuflFs, F. T. Shutt {Canada, Expf. Farms Rpts. 1901, pp. 

 160-102). — Determinations are reported of the dry matter and sugar in beets, car- 

 rots, and mangel wurzels, special attention being paid in the case of the latter to the 

 sugar content in the portion of the root above and l)elow ground. The larger 

 amount was found in the latter portion. "A consideration of the fact that sugar is 

 the chief constituent of value in roots might lead us to hifer, in the light of this 

 experiment, that a system of (tulture which tends to keep the roots fairly well 

 earthed up is one that will result m the most nutritious crop. Further, those 



