ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 467 



The poisonous principle, ricin, is contained in tlie slielled seeds and not in 

 the shell, capsule, or oil extracted from the kernel. Castor oil seeds maj' be 

 introduced into feeding stuffs in various ways. The hedges of fields of pea- 

 nuts and sesame in the Tropics are often of Ricinus plants, and the seeds may 

 thus get mixed at harvest, as well as during transport and in storage. Large 

 quantities of the shells are sold to manufacturers of compound feeding cakes, 

 and it is estimated that at least 1 per cent of kernel matter may be present 

 with the shell. This is nii amount more than sufficient to cause fatal poisoning 

 of cows with ordinary feeding. 



As regards the toxic eifects. Immunity is reached by small and gradually 

 increasing doses. In the blood serum of immunized animals "antiricin," which 

 has the effect of an antitoxin, is formed. 



Directions are given for the detection of ricin in feeding stuffs. 



Fish meal adulterations with meat meal and their microscopic identifi- 

 cation, R. Lucks (Landw. Vers. Stat., S6 {1915), No. 5-6, pp. 289-322, i)ls, 8).— 

 Methods of detecting meat meal adulteration of fish meal are described. 



Inspection of commercial feed stuffs, P. H. Smith, C. L. Beals, and J. T, 

 HowAKD {Massadiusetts Sta. Control Ser. Bui. 3 {1915), pp. 4-70). — Analyses 

 are given of cotton-seed meal, linseed meal, peanut oil meal, sesame oil meal, 

 gluten meal, gluten feed, distillers' dried grains, malt sprouts, brewers' dried 

 grains, red dog flour, wheat middlings, wheat bran, molasses feed, corn meal, 

 rye meal, hominy meal, ground oats, provender, dried beet pulp, meat scrap, 

 bone meal, fish meal, alfalfa meal, cut clover, and various mixed and proprie- 

 tary feeds. The various groups of feeding stuffs are discussed, and an article 

 entitled Information of Interest to Dairymen, by J. B. Lindsey, is appended. 



Commercial feeding stuffs, 1914-15, [and] Texas feed law, B. Youngblood 

 {Texas Sta. Bui. 177 {1915), pp. 5-279). — Analyses are given of cotton-seed 

 meal, cotton-seed cake, cold pressed cotton seed, milo maize chop, wheat shorts, 

 wheat bran, corn chop, corn bran, ground oats, Kafir corn chop, alfalfa meal, 

 peanut meal, dried molasses beet pulp, feterita chop, hominy feed, rice polish, 

 rice bran, rice hulls, rice chop, meat scrap, meat meal, blood meal, tankage, 

 and various mixed and proprietary feeds, with other useful data. The text of 

 the law regulating the sale of feeding stuffs in Texas is appended. 



Live stock of the farm, C. B. Jones et al. {London: The Gresham Publish- 

 ing Co., 1915, vols. 1, pp. X-\-25It, pis. 40; 2, pp. VI+264, pls. 10, figs. 5).— These 

 volumes deal in a general way with the breeding, feeding, care, and manage- 

 ment of beef and dairy cattle. 



Cattle feeding, A. D. Fa^ille {Wyoming Sta. Bui. 108 {1915), pp. 29-42).— 

 Two lots of 6 steers each were fed 70 days, lot 1 receiving native hay and lot 2 

 native hay and oat and pea silage. These lots made average daily gains per 

 head of 0.6 and 1.54 lbs., lot 1 requiring 41.67 lbs. of hay and lot 2, 9.74 lbs. 

 of hay and 18.18 lbs. of silage per pound of gain. The cost per pound of gain 

 was for lot 1 20.84 and for lot 2 8.51 cts. It is stated that in the appearance 

 of the steers and in the rapidity and cost of gains lot 2 had all the advantage. 



Two lots of 4 cows each were fed 140 days, lot 1 receiving alfalfa and oat 

 and pea silage and lot 2 alfalfa alone. These lots made average weekly gains 

 per head of 2.5 and 3.9 lbs., lot 1 consuming daily 10 lbs. of alfalfa and 15 lbs. of 

 silage, and lot 2 21.8 lbs. of alfalfa, the daily cost of ration per cow being 

 for lot 1, 9 cts., and for lot 2, 13 cts. Both rations met requirements very 

 satisfactorily. While the silage fed did not quite replace the extra alfalfa, 

 it made a good winter ration for breeding cows and effected a saving of 4 cts. 

 per cow each day. 



Two other lots of 4 heifers each were fed 140 days, lot 1 receiving grain, 

 alfalfa, and oat and pea silage, and lot 2, grain and alfalfa. These lots made 



