1916] AlHMAL PRODUCTIOlSr. 271 



The highest loss in dry matter occurred at the highest temperature. It was 

 evident from the odor and taste that there was considerable difference in the 

 character of the fermentation which took place at the three temperatures, but 

 all three lots would have passed as normal silage, although the lot at medium 

 temperature was rather better than the lot at 50°, while that fermented at 100° 

 was ranked slightly superior to the medium. Apparently a medium tempera- 

 ture from 77 to 85° is the most favorable for silage fermentations, but the 

 results indicate that the limits can be extended to 60 and 100° at least without 

 any material difference in the results. Temperatures much above this are not 

 desirable, since such a temperature must mean the oxidation or destruction of 

 some of the silage material to furnish the heat. 



It is deemed evident that the quality of the silage produced will not be 

 influenced by any effect upon temperatiu-e of the material used in constructing 

 the silo, as analyses of silage from the wall and center of silos of various types 

 of construction showed no difference in composition due to the materials used. 



A comparison of silage from a large silo and of silage from the same com 

 put into a small experimental silo showed the quality to be the same, as judged 

 by appeaxance and by chemical analysis. For all purposes, except studying tem- 

 perature changes, the small silo is believed sufficiently accurate for experimental 

 puiposes. The experimental silos used were water tanks 3 ft. in diameter and 

 6 ft. high and constructed of 2-in. cypress. A wooden cover was made to fit 

 loosely and was provided with a ring of felt around the edge to make a reason- 

 ably tight joint. Weight was applied in the form of 1,500 lbs. of rock. This was 

 estimated to equal the pressure to which silage is subjected at a point one-third 

 of tlie distance from the top of a silo containing 28 ft. of average silage. 



Feeding coconut cake on grass, K. J. J. Mackenzie and E. H. Powell {Jour. 

 Bd. Agr. [London'], 23 {1916), No. 2, pp. 117-123) .—Feeding experiments with 

 steers indicate that coconut cake, when suitable in price, is a valuable feed for 

 steers on gi-ass, but that it is not very palatable and so should be gradually 

 introduced into a mixture of palatable feeds. It is advised that the amount 

 be restricted to 50 per cent of the concentrated ration, and that it be fed 

 with something rather constipating, such as cotton cake. It is stated that a 

 daily ration of 4 lbs. of a mixture of coconut cake, cotton cake, and linseed 

 cake, 3:3:2, appears to give the best results. 



The industrial utilization of the waste product of rice hulling, N. No^t:lli 

 {Gior. Risicolt., 5 {1915), No. 15, pp. 242, 243).— The results of feeding experi- 

 ments are given which indicate that the flour waste product from rice hulling 

 L«! easily digested and highly nutritious. The readiness with which the product 

 becomes sour is an obstacle to its general use. It is suggested that it be con- 

 verted into cakes, in which form it woutd keep for a long time and could be 

 easily transported. 



The nutrition of farm live stock, especially cattle, W. Klein {Biochem. 

 Ztschr., 72 {1915), No. 2-4, pp. 169-252, figs. 2).— This article reports a compara- 

 tive study made of the Zuntz, Rcgnault-Reiset, and Piichtner methods of 

 metabolism measurement. 



It is concluded that the Zuntz method of gas interchange measurement is 

 the best for determining the influence of the biological processes on the gas 

 interchange, but there appears to be a close agreement with all three methods. 

 The calculation of the energj- balance alone by respiration experiments, that 

 Is O2 consumption and CO2 elimination, when compared with the chemical 

 analysis of the intake and outgo was in close agreement. 



It was found that the castration of bulls was without influence on the 

 energy assimilation. It was demonstrated that more than 14 per cent of the 

 total carbon dioxid elimination in cattle was by way of the skin and intestines. 



