1118 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



cent on only 2 occasions and these were both in the evening's milk. It is believed 

 that the poor quality of the morning's milk is due almost entirely to the inequality 

 in the intervals between milkings and that the prospects of effecting any improve- 

 ment by means of special feeds or methods of feeding is very slight. 



Studies of the effect of weather conditions upon the quality of milk which are in 

 progress will be the subject of a later report. 



Investigations on the influence of irritating substances upon milk secre- 

 tion, M. Popp {Molk. Ztg., 19 {1905), No. 11, pp. ?53, 254). — This is a review of 

 investigations by G. Fingerling (K. S. R., 15, p. 605; 16, p. 696) in which the influ- 

 ence of such substances as hay extract, fennel, fenugreek, and malt sprouts on the 

 milk secretion of sheep and goats was studied. 



Under certain circumstances it is believed that the yield and quality of milk are 

 easily influenced by the use of such substances. Feeding stuffs deprived of their 

 natural qualities through the influence of dry weather are noted as an illustration. 

 With normal feeding stuffs the addition of irritating substances is unnecessary. 

 Very little difference is observed among several of the materials used; fenugreek, 

 however, had no influence. 



On the formed elements of colostrum, their origin and significance, 

 R. Popper {Arch. Physiol. [Pfluger], 105 {1904), No. 11-12, pp. 573-613).— The char- 

 acteristic colostrum bodies are considered by the author as cast off secretory cells of 

 the mammary gland which for the most part have undergone fatty degeneration. 



Two kinds are recognized, depending upon the amount of fat which they contain. 

 The appearance of the nucleus is believed to be the strongest argument as to the 

 origin of these bodies from glandular cells. The chromatin network is essentially 

 different from that of the leucocytes, but like that of the glandular cells. No neu- 

 trophilic granules were found in the colostrum bodies, neither are the bodies believed 

 to arise from other forms of leucocytes than the neutrophilic. Other points of 

 resemblance than the nucleus between the colostrum bodies and the epithelial cells 

 of the gland are noted. 



A bibliography is appended to the article. 



The significance of the synthesis, phagocytosis, secretion, and degenera- 

 tion of fat in the formation of milk and colostrum, J. Arnold (Munchen. Med. 

 Wchnschr., 52 {1905), No. IS, pp. 841-843). — This is a discussion of the physiology 

 of milk secretion, based in part upon histological studies by the author. 



The milking trials of 1904, W. Asiicroft {Jour. British Dairy Farmers' Assoc, 

 19 {1905), pp. 88-117). — Two-day tests of 71 cows are reported in detail. The aver- 

 age data for the different breeds are added to the summary of records previously 

 reported and quoted (E. S. R., 16, p. 594). 



The average yield of milk and the percentages of fat and solids-not-fat for the 

 tests in 1904 were as follows: Shorthorns 43.8 lbs. of milk, 4.01 per cent of fat, 

 and 8.89 per cent of solids-not-fat; Jerseys 35.0 lbs. of milk, 5.17 per cent of fat, and 

 9.23 per cent of solids-not-fat; Guernseys 32.1 lbs. of milk, 4.53 per cent of fat, 

 and 9.12 per cent of solids-not-fat; Red Polls 37.8 lbs. of milk, 4.10 per cent of 

 fat, and 8.85 per cent of solids-not-fat; Kerries 33.1 lbs. of milk, 4.26 per cent of fat, 

 and 9.17 per cent of solids-not-fat; and Crosses 53.4 lbs. of milk, 4.26 per cent of 

 fat, and 8.94 per cent of solids-not-fat. 



Milk records, J. Speir {Trans. Highland and Agr. Soc. Scotland, 5. ser., 17 {1905), 

 pp. 182-212). — Tests of 389 cows belonging to 12 herds and tested in cooperation 

 with the Ayrshire Agricultural Association during 1904 are reported in detail. 



The records cover a period of 30 weeks. The average production of the 38 best cows 

 during that period was 643 gal. of milk having an average fat content of 3.80 per 

 cent; the average production of 38 cows having the lowest records was 396 gal. of 

 milk with an average fat content of 3.48 per cent. 



