874 EXPERIMENT STATION- RECORD. 



get them prepared for their regular diet during the fattening process. They 

 are fed on boiled com 4 times during 24 hours by the cramming machine 

 process. The corn is boiled about one-half hour or until it is soft to the touch 

 when squeezed between the fingers. This cramming process is carried on regu- 

 larly for about 4 weeks, after which period the goose is usually found to be 

 ready for killing. During the course of this artificial feeding the liver is 

 caused to grow to an abnormal size, while the flesh becomes soft, tender, and 

 white." 



Goose livers produced by the cramming process usually weigh from 12 to 32 

 oz. White geese are preferred as it is said these fatten more easily. 



Experiments with ostriches. — XXII, The development of the feather, 

 showing absence of cruelty in clipping" and quilling, J. E. Duerden {Agr. 

 Jour, Union So. Africa, 6 {1913), No. 4, pp. 648S61, figs. 12). — ^A continuation of 

 earlier work (E. S. R., 28, p. 270). In this the author describes the growth, 

 development, and final ripening of the ostrich plume and shows wherein no 

 cruelty is involved in the clipping and quilling operations. 



Ostrich breeding. — The preparation and trade of the plume, A. Menegaux 

 (L'Elevage de L'Autruche. R4colte et Commerce des Plumes. Paris, 1913y 

 pp. 156, pi. 1, figs. 27). — This is a very complete treatise on ostrich breeding 

 and management for commercial purposes. It includes a description of the 

 several breeds of ostriches, a study of the structure and development of the 

 plume, the methods of preparing plumes for commercial use, the points of 

 quality desired in ostrich plumes, and the methods of harvesting the plumes. 

 Methods in the domestication and breeding of the ostrich are described, and the 

 probable growth of the industry in the Transvaal, Southeastern Africa, Aus- 

 tralia, Algeria, Tunis, Sudan, Madagascar, Egypt, the United States, and other 

 places discussed. 



A pedigree system for use in breeding guinea pigs and rabbits, P. M. 

 Surface {Maine Sta. Bui. 221 {1913), pp. 306-313, figs. ^).— Methods of marking 

 guinea pigs and rabbits and of keeping pedigree and mating records and in- 

 dexes in experimental breeding work are described. 



Guinea pigs, W. E. Clarke {N&io York and Chatham, N. Y., 1913, pp. 4", 

 figs. 9). — A practical treatise on the breeding, feeding, and management of 

 guinea pigs. 



DAIEY FARMING— DAIRYING. 



Soiling crops v. silage for dairy cows in summer, F. TV. Woll, G. 0. 

 Humphrey, and A. C. Oosterhuis {Wisconsin Sta. Bui. 235 {1914), PP- ^-16, 

 fig. 1). — The results of trials to determine the relative value of soiling crops 

 and of silage for dairy cows in summer under Wisconsin conditions indicate 

 that soiling crops of good quality yield approximately a similar production of 

 milk to corn silage. For the 3 years the cows fed silage produced 65,727 

 lbs. milk, 8.684 lbs. solids, and 2,737.2 lbs. milk fat, as compared with 65,922.7 

 lbs. milk, 8,644 lbs. solids, and 2,701.36 lbs. milk fat for the cows fed soiling 

 crops. The expense of producing and feeding these soiling crops was consid- 

 erably greater than that of producing and feeding silage. 



" Tears in which the rainfall is below normal, and the pastures therefore 

 poor, are also the years when soiling crops are likely to be scant or fail. The 

 carrying over of the corn crop from one year to the next by means of the silo 

 tends to equalize the quantity of feed available from year to year; hence 

 insures against losses in milk production due to a scarcity of feed." 



The soiling crops used in these trials were red clover, peas and oats, oats, 

 early sweet corn, late sweet corn, and succotash, consisting of a mixture of oats. 



