602 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Our trials iiidicate that pigs take some of the nutritive property from l)eets, but 

 their princi])al use, as well as that of pulp, seems to be mechanical. 



"Dry alfalfa hay as roughage may be made use of by the growmg pigs. In our 

 trials th _~ pigs ate more grain and made more gain than on a sitnilar grain ration 

 minus the alfalfa. 



"Comparing our results with pig feeding experiments in other States, indicates 

 that our small grains, more especially our ))arley and wheat, are worth more com- 

 pared with corn than similar grains raised under rainfall conditions. 



"Mixed wheat and barley ground together make a well balanced ration for pigs 

 and one upon which they will make better growth and gain than they will on a 

 ration composed of corn alone. The farmer in Colorado can not ordinarily afford 

 to sell his home grown grain and purchase corn for fattening hogs. Wheat and 

 barley in equal parts were worth 17 per cent more than corn fed alone." 



The influence of condimental stock food in fattening- swine, C. S. P'umb 

 (Indiana Sia. Bui. 93, pp. 117-123). — The first of the 2 tests reported -was made 

 by H. E. Van Norman, with 8 pigs divided into 2 lots of 4 each. Lot 1 was fed 

 shorts and hominy feed 1:1 with 2.1 oz of American Stock Food jier head daily in 

 addition. Lot 2 was fed the same grain ration but no stock food. The average 

 weight of the pigs in the lieginning of the test, which covered 122 days, was'65 and 

 64 lbs. respectively. The average daily gam pei pig was 1.42 and 1.43 lbs.; the food 

 eaten per pound of gain, 3.84 and 3.71 lbs., and the cost of food per pound of gain, 

 3 cts. and 2.6 cts., respectively. According to the author, the best results were 

 obtained without condimental feed. 



Two lots of 3 grade pigs each, weighnig on an average 63 lbs. each, were used in 

 the second test which was carried on by C. W. Ely. Each lot was fed corn meal 

 and shorts 1:1. In aildition the pigs in lot 1 were fed 0.4 oz. per head daily of 

 Rauh's Stock Food during the first 5 weeks of the test and during the last 7 weeks 

 of Standard Stock Food. The average daily gain of the 2 lots was 1.6 and 1.5 lbs., 

 respectively; the feed eaten per pound of gain, 3.51 and 3.62 lbs., and the profits on 

 the 2 lots $6.98 and $6.50 respectively. In this test a somewhat greater profit was 

 obtained with the lot given condimental food. 



"In themselves, there is no special objections to stock foods. In fact there are 

 brands made that are rich in nutriment, and have a high value as a food. The 

 principal criticism that can be made is the excessive price generally charged for 

 them, which is far l)eyond their value. No doubt, in many cases oil meal will give 

 fully as satisfactory results as the stock food. The feeder should study this matter 

 carefully, and if he will use a variety of food, including oil meal, and will ascertain 

 the value of some of the more common tonics that may be given stock in the foods, 

 he will secure no doubt equally good results at the least cost. He will in fact be 

 able to make his own stock food, and thus save paying high prices for feed of an 

 unknown character." 



Giant lily as a food for pigs {Agr. Gaz. Netv South Wales, 13 {1902), No. '2, 

 pj). 255, 256). — It w^as found that jngs would readily eat giant lily bulbs {Dijanthes 

 excefert), if they were cooked and a littte ground maize added. An anah'sis of the 

 bulbs is reported. 



Organized poultry work in England, G. M. Curtis {Eeliable Poultry .four., 9 

 [1902), Ko. S, pp. 706-709, figx. 9). — A description of the poultry farm at Reading 

 College, England, and the instruction which is given in poultry raising. 



Scientific studies of oyster propag-ation, J. Nelson {New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1901, 

 ]>j>. 307-351, pi. 1, figs. 8). — A description is given of the author's experiments on the 

 artificial propagation of oysters with special reference to the fertilization of the egg. 

 The time after fertilization at which the developmental changes occur in oyster eggs 

 at different air temperatures is noted. The figures o)>tained show that the changes 

 became greater as the temperature increased. Some irregularities are discussed. 



