1076 Exrp:RiMENT station record. 



wurzels), hay, and meal. The dry matter eaten per pound of gain in the 2 cases was 

 12.62 and 13.95 lbs., respectively. Both silage and roots were fed in the proportion 

 of 4 lbs. to 1 of hay. The same grain ration was fed to both lots. According to the 

 author, "The cost of producing a ton of silage was considerably less than that of a 

 ton of mangels; and since silage contains, according to our estimates, twice as much 

 dry matter as roots, the cost of producing a ton of dry matter was very much lower 

 in the case of the corn crop. 



"Making every allowance for errors, for variations in conditions, and for the uncer- 

 tainties of a single feeding experiment, we must still admit that silage compared with 

 roots is a cheap and useful food for fattening steers. While roots may be more 

 expensive than silage, we would be sorry to miss them from the bill of fare provided 

 for our stock. They are very beneficial to the health of breeding stock, and are 

 especially valuable for young animals." 



In the second test peas and corn were compared. Four steers, averaging about 

 1,120 lbs. each in weight, gained 1,160 lbs. in 35 weeks on a grain ration of pea meal. 

 Four similar steers in the same time gained 1,254 lbs. on a ration of corn meal and 4 

 steers on a ration of corn and peas (1:1) gained 1,219 lbs. In addition to the grain 

 all the steers were given like amounts of hay, silage, and roots. The 3 lots con- 

 sumed 4.139, 3.823, and 3.901 lbs. of grain, respectively, per pound of gain. According 

 to the author "in this experiment, corn maintains its reputation as a fat producer. 

 When the main object is the production of fat, probably no single kind of grain 

 excels corn. Peas may generally be depended upon to do better in combination 

 with other grains than when fed singly. The close, heavy nature of pea meal renders 

 it difficult to digest, and consequently it should be mixed with something of a lighter 

 nature, such as oats or bran. Mixing corn meal with pea meal apparently improved 

 the fattening value of the latter, although corn meal, in a somewhat less degree, 

 possesses the ol)jectionable heavy nature of pea meal, and can not be regarded as an 

 ideal substance to mix with it." This test was a continuation of previous work 

 (E. 8. R., 13, p. 379). 



Steer feeding, H. E. Stockbridge {Florida iSta. Rpl. 1001, }>j). 35-43, pi. 1). — 

 Using 4 lots of 4 steers each, the comparative merits of sweet potatoes and cassava 

 roots were tested, and the relative value of corn meal and shelled corn. On a ration 

 of 10 lbs. of pea- vine hay, 4 lbs. of cotton-seed meal, and 35 lbs. of sweet potatoes 

 and costing 21.4 cts. jier head daily, lot 1 gained 496 lbs. in 70 days. On a ration 

 containing 35 lbs. of cut cassava roots in addition to the same amount of pea-vine 

 hay and cotton-seed meal, as above and costing 13.5 cts., lot 2 g-iined 576 lbs. On a 

 ration of 20 lbs. crab-grass hay, 5 l))s. cotton-seed meal, and 5 lbs. of corn meal cost- 

 ing 19.5 cts., lot 3 gained 542 lbs., and lot 4 on a ration containing the same amounts 

 of crab-grass hay and cotton-.seed meal with 5 lbs. of shelled corn and costing 18.7 

 cts., gained 552 lbs. All the steers weighed about 450 lbs. each at the beginning of 

 the test. As pointed out by the author, the greatest gain was made on the cassava 

 ration, which was also much the cheapest. The importance of the cassava crop for 

 stock feeding is insisted on, earlier work of the station being quoted (E. S. R., 12, 

 p. 778). 



Cattle food substitutes, a warning- to feeders, L. A. Voorhees and J. P. 

 Street {New Jrrsri/ Sins. 7>»/. 1.56, j)]). 7). — Analyses are reported of several commer- 

 cial feeds which, judged by their composition, are very costly in proportion to their 

 true feeding value. They were found to contain comparatively little protein and 

 fat and a high percentage of carbohydrates. The authors note that each dollar 

 expended per ton for standard feeds at present prices should secure 1 per cent pro- 

 tein and 0.2 per cent fat. Wheat bran, it is calculated, would furnish many times 

 as much protein and fully as much fat at much less cost than the carbohydrate 

 feeds under discussio». 



