872 EXPEEIMEISTT STATIOIST EECOED. 



Missouri poultry shows and associations, T. W. Quisenberry and C. T. 

 Patterson (Missouri Poultry Sta. Bui. 9 [1915], pp. 48, fig- i).— Suggestions 

 are given for the organization of poultry shows and associations and their 

 management. 



Egg-laying contests, M. Pxmvis {Breeder's Gaz., 68 (1915), No. 10, pp. 835, 

 336, figs. 3). — An account of recent egg-laying contests held in New South 

 Wales and at various state experiment stations in this country. 



It is said that the most important thing learned from the results of these 

 competitions is the fact that a large egg record does not always mean the 

 greatest profit. Often the pens which led in egg production were fourth or fifth, 

 or even lower in rank, when the value of the eggs produced was considered. 

 The most profitable hen lays steadily at that time in the year when eggs are 

 most valuable. It has also been found that, all things considered, there is 

 actually very little difference in the egg-laying ability of different breeds. 



The production and handling of market eggs, T. E. Quisenberry (Missouri 

 Poultry Sta. Bui. 5 [1915], pp. 1-69, figs. -J4).— Methods of handling eggs for 

 market are described. An article on why the egg dealer should buy on a 

 quality basis, by H. L. Kempster, is included. 



Squab raising, A. R. Lee (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 68^ (1915), pp. 

 16 figs. 9). — This discusses the general management of pigeons for the produc- 

 tion of squabs and also contains a summary of data secured from pigeon 

 breeders throughout the United States. 



DAIRY FARMIITG— DAIRYING. 



Economic feeding for milk production in New Mexico, L. Foster and R. W. 

 I,ATTA (New Mexico Sta. Bui. 98 (1915), pp. 34, figs. 5). — In trials to determine 

 whether it pays to feed grain to cows on good pasture in New Mexico, it was 

 found that feeding 6 lbs. of grain (bran, cotton-seed meal, and corn meal in 

 various proportions) daily to cows on good pasture increased the milk and milk- 

 fat production 6.5 and 9 per cent, respectively, in two experiments. In a third 

 experiment the average grain feed was 4 lbs., and this increased the milk and 

 milk fat only 1.5 and 2 per cent. Averaging all three experiments, the lots fed 

 grain produced milk at a cost for feed of 0.79 cts. per pound and milk fat at 

 a cost of 18 cts. per pound. The lots on pasture alone produced milk at a 

 cost of 0.41 cts. per pound and milk fat at 10 cts. per pound. 



In trials to determine whether it pays to feed grain in addition to first- 

 class alfalfa hay it was found that feeding 6 to 8 lbs. of grain (corn meal and 

 bran) per cow daily in addition to all the first-class alfalfa hay they would 

 clean up, decreased the amount of alfalfa eaten, increased the milk and milk- 

 fat production 12 per cent, increased the cost of milk production 25 per cent, 

 and decreased the returns for the hay fed 20 per cent. Averaging the results 

 of the two experiments the grain-fed cows consumed a daily average of 25.6 

 lbs. of alfalfa and 6.7 lbs. of grain, produced milk at 1.54 cts. per pound, and 

 milk fat at 32.4 cts. per pound, and gained in weight 29 lbs. per month. The 

 cows fed alfalfa alone consumed 31.2 lbs. of hay daily, produced milk at 1.195 

 cts. per pound and milk fat at 24.5 cts. per pound, and gained in weight 2 

 lbs. per month. 



In a comparison of different kinds and proportions of feeds to be fed with 

 cotton-seed meal it was found in one experiment, where 1.5 lbs. of cotton-seed 

 meal and 1 lb. of bran per day were compared with ^ lb. of cotton-seed meal 

 and 3 lbs. of bran, with a basal ration of alfalfa hay and corn meal, that the 

 ration Avith more cotton-seed meal and less bran produced 3 per cent more milk 



