1917] ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 767 



ration nor did the baking of the wheat. Additions of butter fat did not uni- 

 formly improve the ration. The causes are ascribed to an inherent toxicity of 

 the wheat grains especially resident in the embryo. The addition of a large 

 amount of wheat embryo was found likely to produce an early abortion. From 

 a histological examination of the organs of the animals fed wheat products 

 alone, attention is called to the similarity with conditions in beriberi in man. 

 These animals also showed a low resistance to other diseases, notably anthrax. 



Corn grain with wheat straw sustained growth at a slow rate. The oiTspring, 

 however, were born weak or dead. The addition of salt to this ration made it 

 normal, indicating that it was the needed factor lacking. 



With wheat grain and corn stover growth was made but reproduction was only 

 partially sustained, depending apparently on individuality. Where reproduc- 

 tion was successful iu the first period, it failed in the second, due to the cumula- 

 tive effects of the toxins of the wheat. 



In the case of corn grain and a roughage made up of one-half each of wheat 

 straw and alfalfa hay excellent growth was maintained and normal reproduc- 

 tion in the first period. In the second gestation period, however, weakness 

 appeared. While this mixture made an improved ration, it was not perfect and 

 might fail through accumulated toxicity. 



The experiments indicate that modifications must be made of our present 

 ideas of " balanced " rations and that we must take into consideration other 

 factors as toxicity, a proper balance of salts, and certain growth-promoting 

 compounds of unknown nature. 



Some nutritional characteristics of com, J. T. Willaed {Eans. Acad. Set. 

 Bui. 1 (1916), pp. 16). — A paper read at the annual meeting, in which a number 

 of tables of analyses from various sources are shown and data compile<l. A 

 popular discussion is given of the corn plant as a factor in nutrition, and vari- 

 ous experiments, including recent ones at the Kansas Experiment Station, are 

 quoted. 



Feeds and feeding abridged, W. A. Henry and F. B. Mobrison {Madison, 

 Wis.: Henry-Morrison Co., 1917, pp. Vlll+^JfO, figs. 116). — A condensed edition 

 of the sixteenth edition of Feeds and Feeding (E. S. R., 34, p. 261), to which 

 have been added chapters on the feeding and care of poultry. An appendix 

 contains tables showing the composition, digestible nutrients, and fertilizing 

 constituents of the more important feeds. Each chapter closes with questions 

 covering the subjects noted, and it is sought throughout to adapt the book to the 

 needs of agricultural courses in .secondary schools and short courses in agri- 

 cultural colleges. 



Cost of digestible nutrients in principal cattle feeds, H. B. Winters (N. Y. 

 Dept. Agr. Bui. 84 {1916), pp. 211,1-2164).— The value of available cattle feeds 

 from June 1, 1915, to May 1, 1916, based upon the digestible nutrients, has been 

 computed. 



Commercial feeding stuffs, P. H. Wessei.s et al. {Rhode Island Sta. Insp. 

 Bui., 1917, May, pp. S-16). — Analyses are reported of various brands of commer- 

 cial feeding stuffs found for sale in Rhode Island in 1916, including meat scrap, 

 fish scrap, tankage, cottonseed meal, linseed meal, gluten meal, gluten feed, dis- 

 tillers' dried grains, brewers' dried grains, wheat middlings, wheat bran, hom- 

 iny feed, mixed and proprietary live stock and poultry feeds, ground oats, al- 

 falfa meal, dried beet pulp, flax shives, and alfalfa. 



Digest and copy of revised feeding-stuffs law (New Jersey Stas. Circ. 74 

 {1917), pp. 2-8).— A revision of Circular 10 (E. S. R., 28, p. 364), including 

 the text of the law as amended March 16, 1916. 



[Live-stock investigations], A. C. Habtenbowee, J. Baeboub, and L. B. Bas- 

 BKB {Quam 8ta. Rpt. 1916, pp. S9-44, 50-5S, 54-57, pis. 4, figs. 5).— An effort was 



