284 



standards" and ■' digestion tables" they may be able to feed more 

 intelligently and economically. The importance of the subject is 

 illustrated by a reference to the United States census of 1880, which 

 showed that there were in this State 2,788,162 farm animals. If, 

 through ignorance or carelessness, these animals receive an excess of 

 food materials amounting to only 10 cents per year per head, the 

 aggregate annual Avaste would represent a value equal to $278,816.20. 

 " It is plainly as much true economy to feed judiciously as to produce 

 judiciously. The quantity and quality of the food administered 

 should be measured by the end desired to be obtained." 



The science and practice of stock feeding are discussed in this 

 bulletin under three heads : (1) Tiie chemistry of cattle foods, or what 

 are the valuable ingredients of fodders, and, briefly, how they are 

 determined: (2) the value of each of these ingredients in the econ- 

 omy of the animal; {■>) the study of certain feeding and digestion 

 tables founded on the fii-st two, and how to use them in practical 

 feeding. 



Technical terms, such as albuminoids, crude fiber, nitrogen-free 

 extract, co-efficients of digestion, and nutritive ratio, are explained. 

 Tables of feeding standards and fodder analyses compiled from Ger- 

 man and American sources are given and their use illustrated. Tn 

 conclusion it is wisely urged that " the tables are only meant as 

 guides by which to approximate truth. They can not be exact, for 

 no two animals are alike. In their use the farmer must exercise 

 judgment and common sense. Take the standards for a basis, com- 

 bine them with good judgment and practical experience, and it can at 

 least be promised that the farmer will be benefited by their use in ex- 

 cess of the benefit to be derived' by reh'ing on good judgment alone. 

 If anyone should be disposed to doubt the practical side of feeding- 

 standards, and, by reason of a too common prejudice, to regard them 

 as belonging to a large class of useless theoretical principles that are 

 found on paper rather than in practice, let him remember that these 

 standards are the result of practice.^' 



BULLETIN No. 65, AUGUST-SEl'TEMBER. ISSO. 



Co-operative field tests during 1888, H. B. Batti-e. Ph. D. (pp. 

 23-64). — Under the direction of the Station twenty-one field experi- 

 ments with fertilizers were undertaken in diflerent ])arts of the State, 

 the object in each case being " to ascertain the needs of the soil to 

 grow a given crop." Two of the experiments wei'e made with pea- 

 nuts, two w^ith potatoes, four with corn, and thirteen with cotton, in as 

 many different counties. Careful farmers were selected to co-operate 

 in the Avork, fertilizers and plans for the experimental plats being 

 furnished by the Station. As far as possible the plats were one-tenth 

 of an acre each in size and twentA^-one in number in each series. 

 Phosphoric acid, potash, and nitrogen were supplied Avith other ingre- 

 dients in acid phosphate, kainit, and cotton-seed meal. respectiA^ely. 

 The fertilizers Avere appliefl singly, each in tAvo different quantities; 



