670 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



ANIMAL PHODUCTION. 



The domestication of animals, W. F. Pyckatt (Sci. Amer. Sup., 77 {1914), 

 No. 1984, P- 21, figs. 2). — The author points out that the number of animals 

 which man has succeeded in bringing into subjection does not exceed 26, and 

 to make up this number animals lil^e the elephant, llama, camel, yak, and rein- 

 deer must be included. Thus far attempts to domesticate the eland and zebra 

 have proved unavailing, but it is now thought that by hybridizing these intract- 

 able creatures with domesticated animals some progress in domestication can 

 be made. Examples of this are the crossing of the bison and the zebu with com- 

 mon cattle, the aim being greater size, stamina, and immunity to disease. 



The production of such animals as the blue fox, skunk, mink, and sable for 

 commercial purposes has come into common practice and marks a step in the 

 utilization of these animals. 



Isolation and selection allied in principle, J. T. Gulick (Amer. Nat., ^8 

 (1914), No. 565, pp. 63, 64)- — In this article the author shows wherein isolation 

 and selection are alike in transforming the hereditary characters of a species, 

 and contends that " in the case of a variable and plastic organism, races more 

 or less divergent will be produced, if for many generations the organism is 

 divided into branches that are prevented from crossing." 



Fermentation process in the digestion of ruminants and swine, J. Mark- 

 off (Biochem. Ztschr., 51 (1913), No. 1-2, pp. 1-69, figs. 2). — A comparative 

 study of the content of carbon dioxid, methan, hydrogen, organic acids, and 

 other fermentation products of the stomach and intestines of cattle and swine 

 under various feeding conditions. There is included a description of the appa- 

 ratus used in collecting and determining the amount of these products. 



Retention of maltase in the blood serum of hungry and fed animals, T. 

 KuMAGAi (Biochem. Ztschr., 57 (1913), No. 5-6, pp. 375-379, figs. 6).— The 

 results of experiments with dogs indicated that the loss of maltase in the blood 

 serum of hungry animals was greater than in that of fed animals. This bears 

 out the results of former studies made on sheep, calves, and swine. 



Ensilage and the production of milk and beef during the winter months, 

 D. H. DE BuEGH (DuNin and London, 1913, pp. 53, pis. 19).— In this booklet the 

 author treats of the Irish method of ensiling grasses, hays, and fodder crops. 

 Of especial interest is the description of methods of making sweet silage. It 

 is stated that practically all the leading crops grown in the British Isles are 

 suitable for making silage. The stronger grasses, such as cocksfoot, foxtail, 

 timothy, dogstail, come out in fine condition, and wild vetch comes out well. 

 "Yellow shamrock clover comes out perfectly green while trefail comes out brown, 

 but sound. Most weeds, such as thistles and docks, come out well, while ribleaf 

 always blackens. 



The author emphasizes the importance of proper temperature in making 

 silage. This temperature is set at about 122° F. and the silage crop is put 

 into the silo only as this temperature is reached by the material already ensiled. 

 To prevent overheating the material is watered after being placed in the silo. 



Silo facts from Missouri farmers, J. K. Wright (Missouri Bd. Agr. Mo. 

 Bid., 11 (1913), No. 9, pp. 108, figs. 12).— This is a bulletin in popular style, 

 largely compiled from answers received in reply to inquiries submitted to about 

 1,000 farmers in the State. The subjects discussed include silage crops, cost of 

 silage, filling the silo, preventing the spoiling of silage on top, the feeding of 

 silage, supplements to use with silage, cost of harvesting and value of silage, 

 and silo construction. Summarized accounts of station experiments in the feed- 

 ing of silage to all classes of farm stock are also given. 



