978 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ahs. in Chem. CentbL, 1903, 7, No. S, p. ;?i5).— Experimental (lata are reported and 

 discussed. 



The dig-estibility of glucose and its influence upon the utilization of pro- 

 tein, L. Dl'clert and I\. SexecU'ier {Ann. Agrou., 37 [1901), p. 309; ah.^. in CentbL 

 Agr. Chem., SI {1903), No. 1, pp. 15, 16). — Experiments in which rabbits were fed gki- 

 cose in addition to meadow hay, showed that ghicose was readily digested, provided 

 the amount eaten did not exceed some 25 gm. per kilogram body weight. A test in 

 which glucose Avas fed with alfalfa led to the conclusion that it did not effect the 

 digestibility of protein. The rabbits fed alfalfa digested only 67 per cent of the total 

 protein, those fed alfalfa and glucose digested 66 per cent. 



The formation of sugar from fat, O. Loewi [ArcJi. Exper. Path. n. PhuDiiakoI., 

 47 [1901), pp. 68-76; o/_>.s. in Chem. CentbL, 1903, I, No. 3, pp. 330, ;?^/).— Experi- 

 ments with dogs fed phlorizine led the author to the conclusion that the protection 

 of protein by fat was not brought about l)y preserving the entire protein molecule, 

 but by the retention of the nitrogen radical of the protein, while the carbohydrate 

 radical was used in other ways. 



The behavior of xylan in the animal body, B. Slowtzoff {Ztschr. Phy.^loL 

 Chem., 34 {1901), No. 2, pp. 181-193). — Experiments on the digestion of xylan were 

 made w^ith rabbits. It was found that from 33.17 to 82.91 per cent was digested. 

 Of the resorbed xylan only a small portion (1.49 to 4.63 per cent of the total amount 

 eaten) was recovered in the urine. The remainder was apparently utilized by the 

 animal. It is uncertain, according to the author, whether zylan is a nutrient. 



Steer feeding, D. O. Xovrse ( Virginia Sta. BuL 131, p>p. 15-19). — A 15-week trial 

 with 6 lots of 2 steers each, to test hay alone and with silage in comparison with 

 corn stover, and to compare whole corn with corn meal, alone and with cotton-seed 

 meal and bran, is summarized by the author as follows: 



"A combination of foods, both grain and roughage, is best from every standpoint. 

 Ground corn is better than whole corn after it has become hard. A mixture of corn 

 meal and bran gave greatest gain and with least expense per pound. Cotton-seed 

 meal was not, in these experiments, used with success, due at least in part, to the 

 fact that in former years the steers had not become accustomed to it. Silage was a 

 very economical addition to the roughage. Stover gave a bad showing when used 

 without other roughage." 



Conformation of beef and dairy cattle, A. M. Soule ( V. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' 

 Bid. 143, pp. 44, figs. 44). — With the object of pointing out the differences between 

 good and inferior beef and dairy cattle, and the extent to which certain desirable 

 qualities effect their value for beef and dairy purposes, the author discusses the con- 

 formation of cattle and stock judging, giving detailed information regarding the 

 conformation of different parts of the body. Typical animals of various grades are 

 described and the possil)ility of grading up common stock l)\ crossing is discussed 

 and explained. 



The comparative value and the effect upon lamb crop of feeding various 

 rations to ewes in winter, W. L. Carlyle ( Wiscon.'<in Sta. Ept. 1901, pp. 16-34). — 

 Continuing earlier work ( E. S. R. , 13, p. 77) , the comparative merits of different sorts of 

 coarse fodder in combination with grain was tested with 4 lots of 12 ewes each. The 

 grain ration of all the lots consisted of 0.5 lb. bran and oats 1:1 per head daily. Lot 

 1 was also fed corn fodder and corn stover, lot 2 corn silage and corn stover, lot 3 

 corn silage and blue-grass hay, and lot 4 sugar l)eets and blue-grass hay. The corn 

 fodder contained 43 per cent ear corn. All the ewes weighed about 140 lbs. each at 

 the beginning of the test. In 12 weeks the lots gained 140, 33, 156, and 175 lbs., 

 respectively, the corresponding cost of food per head being 0.71, 0.7, 1.07, and 1.56 

 cts. The lots dropped respectively 18, 16, 19, and 21 lambs, the avei'age weight at 

 birth being 7.05, 8.82, 7.98, and 7.5 ll>s. 



According to the author, tlie curn fudder, corn stover, and corn silage rations were 

 the cheapest and the ration containing roots and liay the most expensive, the cost 



