62 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



Bee breeding, S. N. Green {Medina, Ohio, l!)07, pi). -'i2). — Complaint is made 

 tliat the subject of bee breeding lias not received sufficient attention. It is 

 urged tliat in tbe improvement of tlie lioney l)ee an ideal standard should be set 

 up for which a score of points is suggested. After the ideal lias been adopted, 

 the problem consists, in the author's opinion, in improving the environment of 

 bees in all i)ossil)le ways and selecting those (pieens and drones which come 

 nearest to the ideal standard. 



Queen rearing, K. W. Alexander {Glcuninijn lice Cult., 36 {J908), No. //, 

 PI). 20!), 210). — The (piestion is often raised wliether it is better for the bee 

 raiser to rear bis own tiueeiis or depend upon professional queen breeders. The 

 author concludes that in most cases the professional breeders will obtain better 

 results than the ordinary bee raiser and that if certain queens in an apiary 

 should develop particularly desirable qualities they may be sent to a breeder 

 foi- the puriiose of producing other (lueens of similar characteristics. 



The dig'estibility of mulberry leaves with relation to the rational feeding 

 of silkworms, I'. Bucci {Staz. Spcr. A(/r. Itnl.. JiO (1H07), A o. S-12, pp. 721- 

 7!)S). — A long series of feeding exi)eriments was carried out with the purpose of 

 determining the digestibility of the leaves of different varieties of muTherries 

 and other matters connected with the feeding of silkworms. Statistical data 

 are presented in a tabular form showing the amount of mulberry leaves eaten 

 under different conditions, the growth and weight of the silkworms, the amount 

 of silk pi-oduced and its elasticity and other qualities. 



A variety of mulberry obtained from ^'erona gave the best results both in 

 resiiect to its digestibility and to the- quantity and quality of the silk obtained 

 as a result of feeding. Another variety of mulberry referred to as rosea proved 

 no less digestible but the mortality of silkworms fed upon it was somewhat 

 greater than in the case of the A^eronese variety. The leaves of Chinese mul- 

 berries were much less digestible than those of the Veronese variety. 



Experiments were also conducted in the addition of starch to the diet of 

 mulberry leaves. It was found that this material could easily be sprinkled 

 upon the leaves with a small expense of time and energy. Silkworms fed in 

 this manner did not weigh more at maturity but tbe cocoons were heavier, the 

 quantity of the silk was slightly greater, its quality was improved, and the 

 mortality of the silkworms was diminished. 



The author contends that careful experiments in the feeding of silkworms are 

 as much needed as in the case of higher animals. These insects grow with 

 great rai)idity and produce a large amount of silk within a short time. The 

 experiments thus far conducted indicate that the amount and quality of the silk 

 are largely dependent upon a rational system of feeding. 



FOODS— HUMAN NUTRITION. 



Food chemistry, .7. Varoes {Xnhrunr/.wviffrlrhrmir. Lripsic, 1907, pp. 298, 

 plH. 3, figs. I7S). — In this handbook of food chemistry the subjects treated have 

 been arranged in alphabetical order. In the discussions of the various animal and 

 vegetable fof)ds, beverages, condiments, and commercial products, special atten- 

 tion has been paid to histological characteristics and microscopical methods, as 

 well as to the more common methods of food examination. 



The food chemist as an expert, C. A. Neufeld {Dcr yahruiigfiiiiittciclicinikcr 

 als Sachverstdndiger. Berlin, 1907, pp. XX-\-477). — This volume is designed for 

 the information of public analysts and discusses general questions which have 

 to do with food inspection, with special chapters on milk and other dairy prod- 

 ucts, fats and oils, fruits, houey, sugar, spices, beverages, etc. 



