466 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



generous (100 calories per kilogram or more) the rate of nitrogen retention as 

 expressed in percentage of ingested nitrogen is not much influenced by the 

 plane of protein intake at levels above 10 per cent of the ration. In experi- 

 ments in which the protein amounted to 41 to 57.86 per cent of the ration the 

 maximum possible percentage of the ingested nitrogen continues to be retained 

 for growth." It is concluded that " in the young pig the growth impulse is so 

 great that the synthesis of body protein is effected at the maximum rate possi- 

 ble with the particular mixture of amino acids yielded by the food proteins." 



Figures are given for the percentage of the absorbed nitrogen retained for 

 new growth and indicate the degree to which the amino acids of the food can 

 be recombined into tissue proteins. There was little difference in the value for 

 growth of the protein mixture contained in the three cereal grains, wheat, oats, 

 and corn kernels. A maximum of from 23 to 24 per cent of the ingested nitrogen 

 from one of these sources apparently can be retained for growth. 



It is further concluded that " the rate of retention of nitrogen, in all cases 

 where a sufHciently high plane of protein intake was fed, was limited by the 

 chemical make-up of the food proteins, and not by the physiological capacity of 

 the animals to grow." 



While these experiments were of short duration, it was observed that toward 

 the close of the experiment there was a tendency for the rate of nitrogen re- 

 tention to fall slightly, indicating that in a long-continued experiment on a 

 single grain ration a steady decline in the rate of growth ultimately sets in. 



See also previous notes (E. S. R., 29, p. 64 ; 33, p. 367). 



The nutritive value of old and new corn, J. J. Nitzesco ( Conipt. Rend. Soc. 

 Biol. [Paris'], 77 (1914), No. 33, pp. 583-586).— In experiments with chickens 

 and rats it was found that new corn was less completely digested than old com, 

 and that greater gains in live weight were obtained when old corn was fed. 



A study of grazing conditions in the "Wenaha National Forest, H. T. 

 Darlington {Washington Sta. Bui. 122 {1915), pp. 3-18, pis. 7). — The purpose 

 of this study was to determine the character and carrying capacity of the graz- 

 ing areas contained in the Wenaha National Forest, situated in the southeastern 

 part of Washington and the northeastern part of Oregon. 



It was found that the principal forage plants of the higher portions are 

 pei'ennial in character, consisting principally of shrubs. There appears to have 

 been no appreciable deterioration in the grazing areas. On account of snow, the 

 range is limited to about five months' grazing, a fact which will insure perma- 

 nency of the grazing area. The full carrying capacity of the range is not being 

 utilized. It is said that so far as the regulation of the sheep industry and the 

 enforcement of law and order are concerned, government leasing to single indi- 

 viduals has been a marked success in the Wenaha National Forest. A bib- 

 liography on range management and improvement is appended. 



Chemical analyses of forage plants of Spain, R. Suarez y BERMtJDEZ {Andli- 

 sis Quimico 4e las Plantas Esteparias de Espaua. Madrid: Langa y Com- 

 pania, 1912, pp. 94)- — ^Analyses are given of Brachypodiutn jnnnatum, Phragmiics 

 gigantea, Bromus ruhens, Aphyllantcs monspeliensis. Crocus sativus, TJrtica 

 urens, Arthrocnemon macrostachyum, Chenopodium album, Salsola vermiculata, 

 Atriplex halimus, A. rosea, Kochia prostrata, Amaranthus albus, Rcemeria 

 hyhrida, Olaucium corniculatum, Moricandia arvensis, Carrichtera velle, Mal- 

 comia africana, BiscuteUa Iwvigata, Conringia orientalis, Anthylis cytisoides, 

 Ononis tridentata, 0. viscosa, Hedysariim hnmile, Onohrychis snxatilis, 0. eri- 

 ophora, Coronilla minima, Lupinus angustifolius, Vicia cracca, ZygophyUum 

 lohago, Trihulus ierrestris, Litliospermum fruticosum, Teucrium chamcepitys, 

 CrucianeUa maritima, Xanthium strumariuni, Silybum marianum, Andryala 

 ragusina, Sonchus crassifolius, Artemisia herha-alha, and A. glutinosa. 



