286 



The fullest returns Avere obtained for horses and mules; milch cows 

 and oxen came next ; for sheep and hogs the reports were so meager 

 that no comparison of them was attempted. In general the returns 

 showed that Indian corn is the cliief feeding stuff used by the North 

 Carolina farmer; that hay and corn stover are used interchangeabh' 

 in equal amounts, and that oats, regarded as equal to corn, pound for 

 pound, comes next to corn as the grain fodder. 



In comparing and averaging the various rations reported the fol- 

 lowing plan was adopted : " The grain part of the ration is in each 

 case bi'ought to a corn basis, and the framework of the ration is in 

 each case brought to a hay or corn fodder basis, the latter two being 

 taken as equal. Oats are, for the reasons given, converted into corn, 

 weight for weight."' The highest, lowest, and average rations for 

 horses, mules, oxen, and cows are given; the objectionable features of 

 a ration made up of corn and corn stover, or corn and hay, are illus- 

 trated ; and it is shown how cotton-seed meal might be advantageously 

 used as a substitute for part of the other ingredients in the ration. 

 Extracts from some of the letters received from farmers on their 

 methods of stock feeding are also given. 



The practical lesson of these investigations is the same as has been 

 taught by researches in this line in other parts of our country, viz, 

 that our farmers as a rule feed relatively too much corn and too little 

 nitrogenous food. 



Indian corn, G. McCarthy, B. S. (pp. 77-80). — This contains 

 some general statements on the history, botan}^, and proper treatment 



of this plant. 



BULLETIN No. 67, OCTOBER 15, 1889. 



Seed tests, G. McCarthy, B. S. (pp. 83-96).— Bulletin No. 59 (Au- 

 gust-September, 1888) of this Station contained the results of exam- 

 inations of seeds of field crops, mainly grasses, which showed an aver- 

 age vitality of only 56 per cent. In the present bulletin the results of 

 tests of a large number of samples of garden seeds are given. " Most 

 of the different kinds of seeds tested were found true to name and rea- 

 sonably free from impurities. The low vitality shown by many of 

 the samples was due to staleness of the seeds.'' When the seeds were 

 fresh they had, as a rule, a high percentage of vitality. The tabular 

 records given in the bulletin include for each sample the name of the 

 seedsman; place of purchase; number of days before first and last 

 sprout appeared; per cent of purity, vitality, and valuation; and 

 number of seeds in one gram and one ounce. 



BULLETIN No. 08, NOVEMBER 1, 1889. 



Faiim and dairy buildings, J. E. Chamberlain, B, S. (pp. 99- 

 104).^ — A description of the new barn, silos, and dairy -house of the 

 Station, with illustrations and plans. 



