774 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



to the extent of 3 lbs. or more per week gave an average increase considerably 

 higher than the rest of the lots, and each ponnd of increase was on the average 

 obtained at the expense of less digestible matter. The percentage of carcass 

 to live weight was also higher with the sheep fed on linseed cake. Cotton-seed 

 cake appeared on the whole to give about average results, whether decorticated 

 or undecorticated. From some of the later trials there was considerable varia- 

 bility in the results obtained with Indian cotton cakes. Oats on the whole were 

 unsuccessful as a feed for fattening sheep, but in some cases fair increases were 

 obtained. Barley gave better results than oats, though when used in large 

 quantities it had an injurious effect on health. Whole grain was found by 

 some observers to be relished better than barley meal. Wheat was used in but 3 

 lots, and in each case the results were satisfactory, the increase in live weight be- 

 ing much above that of the average. The results with maize were rather unsatis- 

 factory. Malt appeared to have little or no advantage over barley. The aver- 

 age gain of animals fed dried grains was distinctly above that of the others. 

 Clover hay produced a high average increase accompanied by a low consump- 

 tion of total digestible matter. ]\Ieadow hay proved satisfactory when fed in 

 small quantities in connection with concentrated food and roots. About 95 to 

 100 lbs. of roots per 100 lbs. of live weight per week gave the best results. 

 Mangolds apparently proved to be better than svi^edes, and stored swedes better 

 than frosted ones. Gorse, when properly prepared, was found to be capable 

 of replacing a portion of the roots to advantage. 



If certain abnormal tests are thrown out the following figures represent the 

 average results : Weekly increase in live weight per head 2.14 lbs., weekly 

 consumption of albuminoids per 100 lbs. live weight 1.22 lbs., weekly consump- 

 tion of starch, etc., 11.5 lbs., albuminoid ratio of the rations 1 : 9.43, consumption 

 of total digestible matter per pound increase G.96 lbs., consumption of digestible 

 albuminoids per pound increase 0.67 lb., consumption of digestible starch per 

 pound increase 6.24 lbs. It would appear that the maximum increase, about 2.5 

 lbs. per week, required from 1.1 to 1.2 lbs. digestible albuminoids, and 12 to 13 

 lbs. nonalbuminoids expressed as starch per 100 lbs. live weight per week. 



" It appears to the writer that it is pi-obable that much larger quantities of 

 albuminoids, in the form of linseed cake or cotton-seed cake, are often consumed 

 in fattening than are really necessary or economical." 



On the digestibility of dried potatoes and fat-free soy-bean meal in feed- 

 ing experiments with swine, (). Kkm.nkr and R. Nf:itmann iljuuhv. Vers. 

 Stat., 73 (1910), No. 1-3, pp. 235-2JiO).— In digestion experiments with swine 2 

 kinds of potatoes were used, one dried and pressed in the fall, the other in the 

 spring after the tubers had sprouted. The average digestibility of the former 

 was organic matter 95.5 per cent, protein 26.7 i)er cent, nitrogen-free extract 97.9 

 per cent, and fiber S5.3 per cent. The average digestibility of the potatoes dried 

 and pressed after the tubers had sprouted was organic matter 90.4 per cent, 

 nitrogen-free extract 90.9 per cent, and fiber 72.7 per cent. 



The average digestion coefficients of fat-free soy-beau meal were com]mted to 

 be as follows: Organic matter 90.5 per cent, protein 94 per cent, nitrogen-free 

 extract 92.4 per cent, and fiber 60.5 i)er cent. 



Does lecithin influence growth? A. J. Goldfarb (Arch. Entwicld. Mech. 

 Organ., 29 (J 910), xVo. 2, pp. 2-55-27 J,). — Lecithin was extracted from hens' eggs 

 and from sheep's brains by the Roaf and Edie method. When administered by 

 subcutaneous injections or by way of the stomach into tadpoles, sea-urchins, 

 cats, and guinea pigs there was no clear evidence that it acted as a stinuilant. 



Changes in size and form of the visceral organs of ruminants from birth to 

 maturity, O. Auernheimer (Ztschr. Fleisch li. Milchyg., 20 [1910), No. 12, pp. 

 393-396). — Details are given of the gradual changes which took place in the 



