772 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.41 



Two lots were given linseed meal uud shelled coru iu self feeders, oue (lot 8) 

 liaving access to prairie hay and the other (lot 0) to alfalfa hay. Both lots 

 were marketed in 64 days. Lot 8 gained at the daily rate of 0.422 lb. per 

 head and consumed 2.42 lbs. corn, 2.84 lbs. linseed meal, and 1.42 lbs. of hay 

 per pound of gain. The corresponding consumption by lot 9 was 2.07, 2.42, 

 and 1.76 lbs., respectively. The average daily gain in lot 9 was 0.459 lb. 

 In spite of the fact that prairie hay was charged at $1 less per ton than 

 alfalfa, the cost of a pound of gain in lot 8 was 10.7 cts. and in lot 9, 9.4 

 cts. Both lots sold for the same price but the alfalfa feeding resulted in over 

 twice the profit ($2.45 as compared with .$1.04). 



Sheep and wool in South Africa and their relation to industrial develop- 

 ment. C. Mallinson {So. African Jour. Indus., 1 {1918), No. 12, pp. 1105-1112).— 

 Notes on the extent and nature of the sheep industry iu the Cape Province, 

 Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and Natal are presented, as well as statistics 

 on the expiort of v/ool, mohtiir, sheepskins, and goatskins from the South 

 African Union from 1909 to 1917. 



Our National herds of buffalo, T. S. Paljier (Ann. Rpt. Amcr. Bison Soc, 10 

 (1915-16), pp. 40-62, fiffs. 2). — Information is provided concerning the origin 

 and increase of the various herds of American bi.son located in National parks 

 and game preserves. 



The efficiency of pigs, R. C. Ashbt (Swine World. S (1919), No. 2, p. 

 15). — The feeding and growth records of 63 pigs, each kept in a separate 

 pen at the Minnesota Experiment Station, are briefly summarized with respect 

 to individual variation in the economy of gain. Different groups of from 5 

 to 16 animals were fed in the course of 3 years, some on pasture and some 

 in dry lot, but the individuals of any one group were all furnished the same 

 choice of feeds. Fuller reports of some of the groups have been noted (E, S. 

 R., 40, pp. 770, 771). The feet consumption per unit gain of 22 animals devi- 

 ated, it is stated, more than 10 per cent from the average of their respective 

 groups and that of 19 deviated between 5 and 10 per cent. 



"The next step is to select many individuals and through breeding experi- 

 ments determine whether it is possible to develop strains of hogs that are 

 unusually efficient producers." 



Measuring a hog's efficiency, R. C. Ashby (Breedefs CJaz'., 75 (1919), No. 

 11, p. Jf62). — This paper is the same as the one noted above. 



The behavior of chickens restricted to the wheat or maize kernel, II, E. B. 

 Hakt. J. G. FIalpin, and 11. Stee.nbock (Jour. Biol. Chen}., SI (1917), No. 2, pp. 

 ^15-^20, pi. 1). — This paper, from the Wisconsin Experiment Station, reports 

 what is essentially a repetition of the earlier work of Hart. Halpin, and 

 McCollum (E. R. S., 36. p. 668) with somewhat younger (or at least lighter 

 weight) birds. Nine cages (lots) of Rhode Island Red pullets were used, 3 

 to a cage, and the experiment continued for 8 months during the winter and 

 spring of 1916-17. 



The lots fed corn meal and corn gluten feed, with or without complex salt 

 mixtures, and the lot fed corn meal and casein continued to thrive and made 

 slow gains. In contrast to the previous results with more mature birds, all 

 but one of the 12 chickens whose grain feed was from the wheat plant ex- 

 clusively died within 3 months. "The bii'ds tli.it <lied became greatly emaciated, 

 hut no other symptoms of striking chnracter developed. However, \\'hen ex- 

 «-i1ed. they would often be seized with .•serious spasms, provoking extraordinary 

 flapping of the wings, followed by exhaustion and collapse." The one that 

 survived belonged to a lot receiving casein and butterfat in addition to wheat 

 raeal. 



