ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 371 



Composition and digestibility of fresh grass and of hay dried naturally 

 and artificially, F. Honcamp (Landw. Vers. Stat., 86 {1915), No. S-4, pp. 215- 

 276). — In digestion trials with sheep to determine the relative digestibility of 

 hays cured in various ways it was found that fresh grass and the resulting 

 hay obtained by rapid desiccation in a vacuum apparatus had practically the 

 same digestibility, while in naturally dried hay the digestibility was less. 

 Ordinary drying of grass in the air and sun was always accompanied by a loss 

 of nutritive substances even aside from possible mechanical loss. The fat 

 content and its digestibility were unfavorably influenced by drying the hay 

 under these conditions, probably due to the fact that certain substances soluble 

 in ether and easy of digestion are entirely decomposed or converted into com- 

 pounds that dissolve only with difficulty and are indigestible. Likewise the 

 carbohydrates are easily decomposed in the natural drying process. 



Artificial drying of grass at a low temperature, if ordinary precautions were 

 taken, caused no material loss in digestible nutrients. Artificial drying of 

 grass by means of air heated by direct fire, as in the case of the ordinary 

 drying apparatus, was always accompanied by a decrease in the digestible 

 protein material. 



Soft com ears for silage (Better Iowa, 1 (1915), No. SO, p. 1). — Successful 

 experiments conducted at the Iowa State College in ensiling soft ears of corn 

 in the late roasting stage are reported. The ears were finely chopped, packed 

 tightly in small silos, and fermented for 12 days. The resulting silage was 

 very good, having a favorable odor much like ordinary entire corn silage, 

 and being bright, light colored, clean, free from mold, and palatable. Tests 

 showed sufficient silage acids present to preserve without over acidity or 

 sourness. 



Ground nut cake (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 22 (1915), No. 4, pp. S08S1S). — 

 A general discussion of the feeding value of peanut cake, with a resume of 

 feeding experiments conducted in various countries. 



Feeding stuffs inspection (Maine Sta. Off. In.sp. 72 (1915), pp. 101-196). — 

 Results of the inspection are reported, not as individual analyses, but in gen- 

 eral findings for each brand as compared with its guaranties, and the various 

 groups are discussed. 



Inspection and analysis of feed stuffs, conditioners, tonics, etc. (In Off. 

 Bpt. on Feed Stuffs, [etc], 1914, Columbus, Ohio: Agr. Com. Ohio, Div. Agr., 

 1915, pp. 5-8). — Analyses are given of bran, middlings, cotton-seed meal, oil 

 meal, malt sprouts, meat meal, hominy feed, dried brewers' grains, tankage, 

 meat scrap, blood tankage, corn gluten meal, alfalfa meal, screenings, dried 

 beet pulp, red dog flour, and various mixed and proprietary feeds. 



Commercial feeding stuffs, J. L. Hills, C. H. Jones, C. G. Williamson, and 

 G. F. Anderson (Vermont Sta. Bui. 189 (1915), pp. 297-328).— Analyses as to 

 protein content are given of the following feeding stuffs: Cotton-seed meal, 

 linseed meal, gluten fearl, distillers" and brewers' drietl grains, hominy feeds, 

 provender, corn meal, dried beet pulp, alfalfa meal, meat scrap, cracked bone, 

 bone meal, wheat bran, wheat middlings, red dog flour, and various mixed 

 and proprietary feeds. A synopsis of the Vermont statute dealing with feed- 

 ing stuffs is included. 



Eeorganization of the stock breeding department in Brazil (Diario Off., 

 Estad. Lnid. Brazil, .56 (1915). No. H. z9. 31; Bui. Off. Bur. Rcmeig. Bresil d 

 Paris. No. 33 (1915). pp. S-19 ; abs. in Internal. Itist. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. 

 Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 6 (1915), No. S, pp. 1079-1083). — An account of 

 the reorganization on .January 27, 1915, of the stock-breeding work in Brazil 

 into what is known as the department of pastoral industry. The duties of this 

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