210 



varieties of no avail, and the same was largely true in the case of six 

 varieties planted in 1SS9. Velvet Chaif Blue Stem and Saskatcha- 

 wan, however, gave large yields and were only slightly injured by 

 rust. It is thought that drainage and the growing of clover in tlie 

 wheat fields will be decidedly beneficial. 



Oats. — Fifteen varieties sown broadcast produced larger yields and 

 Avere less injured by rust and blight than the same varieties planted in 

 rows 3i feet apart. Prize Cluster, Everett, and Salzer's White 

 Bonanza are especially reconnnended as desirable varieties. 



Fej:dixg expf.rimemts avith steers, G. p]. Patrick, M. S., and 

 L. P. S:*[iTH, M. S. (pp. 205-289).— Made l)y the farm department 

 of the College and the Station, who divided the expense. 



The objects aimed at were (1) to compare the feeding value in fat- 

 tening of timothy hay, corn fodder, corn silage, and sorghum silage as 

 coarse foods, and corn-and-cob meal and bran as grain, one or more 

 kinds of coarse food being used with one or more kinds of grain in 

 each raticm; (2) to compai-e corn-and-cob meal with whole corn, and 

 (3) to compare cost of outdoor with that of indoor an inter fattening. 

 Twelve steers, divided into six lots of two each, were fed during three 

 periods of four or five weeks. The reasons for so large an experiment 

 with ro few^ animals are given, one being '' that practical problems in 

 farming are many, and farmers Avant facts on as many of them as pos- 

 sible and as soon as possible." The sources of error, Avhich included 

 marked dilferences in the animals, evidently due to indiAdduality, 

 are discussed and the etfects to coimtei'balance them explained. The 

 residt-i are stated in detail in eleA\>n tables. The conclusions, Avhich 

 of course need verification by further experimenting, are as folloAVs: 



(1) With corn-and-cob meal as the only grain of the ration, corn 

 fodder proved more ])rofitable as the sole coarse fodder, than timothy 

 hay, corn silage, or sorghum silage (both the last named being acid, 

 not " sweet "). 



(2) ITnder the same conditions, timothy hay proved more profitable 

 tlian did the silage with most animals. The tAvo steers Avhich did so 

 poorly Avith silage as the sole coarse-fodder ration ate it Avith evident 

 relish as a part of more varied rations. 



(3) No dift'erence could be detected, Avith anything like cei'tainty. 

 between corn silage and sorghum silage as regards feeding value. 

 The fact that tAvo of the four silage-fed steers did not relish their 

 food rendered any just comparison impossible. 



(4) The addition of timothy hay to a I'ation consisting of corn- 

 and-cob meal and corn silage materially reduced the cost of the gain 

 made. With the same addition to rations of coi'u fodder and corn- 

 and-cob meal or shelled corn the reduction in the cost of gain Avas 

 no more than could reasonably be ascribed to the Avarmer Aveather of 

 the period Avheji the timothy was fed. 



