500 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the test with sweet potatoes 2 pairs of horses and 2 of mules, doing hard work, 

 were used, one animal of each pair being fed corn, hay, and sweet potatoes in about 

 the proportion of 6 lbs. of corn, 17 lbs. of hay, and 15 lbs. of sweet potatoes per 1,000 

 lbs. live weight, the other animal in each case receiving corn and hay only in about 

 the proportion of 10 lbs. <>f corn and 15 lbs. of hay per 1,000 lbs. After t> weeks the 

 rations were reversed. The hay used was beggar weed of good quality. There was 

 little variation in the weight of the animals, except that in 2 eases there was some 

 increase when sweet potatoes were fed. In general, the sweet-potato ration was the 

 cheaper. 



"The most important fact brought out in this experiment is that sweet potatoes 

 may be substituted for at least one-half of the corn ration, this substitution being at 

 the rate of 3 lbs. of sweet potatoes for one of corn. This being the ease, an acre of 

 sweet potatoes yielding 150 bu. is equal to a yield of 50 bu. of corn, so far as feeding 

 the work stock is concerned. We do not think that a horse at hard work would do 

 well on an all sweet-potato ration from the fact that the bulk would be too great for 

 the capacity of the stomach. . . . We have fed one mule for 3 months on sweet 

 potatoes, cassava, and hay with good results. He was used for light work about the 

 lot, such as hauling feed, bedding, etc." 



Using 1 pair each of the mules and horses included in the previous test, the value 

 of cassava was studied, one animal of each pair being fed cassava with corn and 

 beggar-weed hay for 6 weeks, and the others corn and hay. The average amount of 

 cassava eaten was irregular and in general smaller than in the case of sweet potatoes. 

 "The animals maintained their weights throughout the experiment, which may go 

 to show that cassava is more concentrated than the sweet potatoes. . . . Cassava 

 may be used in about the same ratio as sweet potatoes, but is not so palatable to the 

 animal." 



At the close of the cassava test one of the mules was fed for 6 weeks a ration of 

 corn and low-grade cane sirup and another the regular corn ration. The amount of 

 hay eaten was not recorded, but the author states that it was about the same as in 

 the previous tests. Small gains were made on both rations. "Both mules remained 

 in good condition during this experiment in spite of the fact that they were doing 

 hard plowing throughout the entire time." 



The author states that sirup has been further tested in a preliminary way at the 

 station and " that it is relished by all farm animals. In feeding, tlie sirup was given 

 at night and morning and a larger corn ration given at noon. . . . Sirup may be. fed 

 to the work stock, provided it is mixed with chopped hay or something to give it 

 bulk." As regards native hay for draft horses and mules, the author notes that con- 

 siderable prejudice is felt regarding it by livery-stable men and in log camps. In his 

 experience it has been used exclusively for 2 years, and he has never had any cause 

 to regret its use. The chemical analysis of some of our native grasses is higher than 

 that of timothy, "which is used almost exclusively in feeding horses." 



Spanish goats, J. Crepin {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 7 {1904), A x o. 18, pp. 587- 

 591, ]>l. 1). — A descriptive article including among other matters data regarding the 

 chemical composition of milk of different sorts of goats. 



Phosphated fowls, H. d'Anchald {Jour. Agr. Prat., n. ser., 7 {190-}), No. 19, p. 

 619). — In an article quoted from the Journal de la Sociiti Royale Agricole de VEst de 

 la Belgique, a test is reported in which an ordinary poultry ration wasted for 120 

 days in comparison with the same ration plus 4gm. of powdered bone per day. The 

 live and dressed weight of the chickens thus fed and the weight of the bones and 

 organs are recorded. 



The chicken fed the ground bone weighed 2.69 kg., while that fed the ordinary 

 ration weighed 2.47 kg. The skeleton of the chicken fed ground bone weigned 0.23(3 

 kg. and that of the other 0.190 kg. 



