ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 261 



sheared sheep showed a body tempera t lire of from 34 to 38.5°, while sh(>ared 

 sheep ranged between 30.G and 3G.8°. 



Caracul sheep in Argentina (Bol. Alin. Agr. [Buenos Aires], 11 (19U), No. 

 1, pp. 121-lSO; ahs. in Inteniai. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and 

 Plant Diseases, 5 (1914), No. 7, p. 917). — An account of an importation made 

 in 1911. It Is noted that wet, damp soil has proved very disastrous to the 

 pure-bred sheep, which contracted serious parasitic diseases. The lambs of 

 both the first and second generation have remained true to type without show- 

 ing any signs of degeneration. 



The value of silage in the winter ration for the breeding flock, J. M. 

 Jones (New Hampshire Sta. Cire. 16 {lOL't), pp. 3-^6).— Five lots of fivfe 

 yearling lambs each were fed per day during three winter months as follows: 

 Lot 1 alfalfa hay 1, native hay 0.25, roots 2.5, and cracked corn 0.25 lbs. ; lot 2 

 native hay 1.5, roots 2.5. cracked corn 0.125, and oil meal 0.2 lbs. ; lot 3 alfalfa 

 hay 1, native hay 0.25, corn silage 2, and cracked com 0.25 lbs. ; lot 4 native 

 hay 1.25, corn silage 2, oil meal 0.2, and cracked corn 0.125 lbs. ; and lot 5 

 native hay ad libitum, roots 1 lb., and oats and bran 1 : 1, 2 oz. The following 

 average gains were made per head: 7.6, 2.9, 4.4, 4.5, and —0.2 lbs., respectively. 

 In a duplicate experiment the following year, the following gains were obtained : 

 4.7, —0.1, —0.7, 0, and —2.6 lbs., respectively. 



The first four rations are recommended for winter feeding of the breeding 

 flock, but the fifth ration was unsatisfactory. Lambs on roots made a slightly 

 larger gain than those receiving silage. Native hay and silage appeared to be 

 as satisfactory as alfalfa hay and silage. 



[Animal husbandry experiments], B. Youngblood {Texas Sta. Rpt. 1913, 

 pp. 59, 60). — In sheep breeding experiments conducted with a pure-bred 

 caracul ram and pure-bred Lincoln, Hampshire, Shropshire, and Southdown 

 ewes, it has been found that the growthiness and vigor of the rams and the 

 very good quality of the fur resulting from the first cross make the possibili- 

 ties for the development of both mutton- and fur-bearing breeds very encour- 

 aging. 



From trials with goats on clearing land of stumps it is estimated that in two 

 years goats have killed 90 per cent of the stumps on what was previously 

 wooded land. These goats are yielding from $1.00 to $1.50 worth of mohair, 

 and from 85 to 90 per cent of the does are raising a kid annually. 



The sheep and wool industry of Australasia, H. B. Smith {London, Mel- 

 hourne, and Christchurch, Neiv Zealand, 191Jf, pp. XVI+1S7, figs. 70).— An 

 account of the history and development of the sheep and wool industry in 

 Australasia with chapters on shearing, care of wool, wool sorting, manufactur- 

 ing textile fibers, wool classing, pressing the clip, wool scouring, selling and 

 buying, and killing, skinning, and dressing a sheep. 



A dynamometric calculation of the character of wool fiber, W. Macha 

 {Dent. Landw. Ticrzucht, 18 {WlJf), No. 29, pp. 3J,5, 3-'/6\ fig. 1).—X dynamome- 

 ter for determining the elasticity and strength of wool fibers, recently designed 

 by a mechanic in Leipsic, is described. 



Nitrogen retention from allowances of ammonia salt or urea. — Experi- 

 ments with permanent intravenous injection, V. Henriques and A. C. 

 Andersen {Iloppe-Seyler's Ztschr. Physiol. Chem., 92 {1914), No. 1, pp. 21- 

 45). — In these experiments, which were performed upon goats, the authors 

 were unable to secure a permanent nitrogen retention when urea and other 

 nitrogen-containing substances were intravenously injected into the animals. 

 The nitrogen retention reported by Grafe (E. S, R., 31, p. 2C5) is thought 



