ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 271 



iu health or in ability to work was noted, but such large amounts of molasses 

 rendered the feed sticliy and therefore the animals did not learn to eat the feed 

 so readily or like it so well. 



Concerning the nutritive value of different sorts of screenings, F. Tangl 

 and S. Weiser {Landic. Jahrh.. 37 (1908), Xo. 1, pp. 106-129).— The authors 

 stiidieil the botanical composition of screenings from clover, alfalfa, and flax 

 seed, and the digestibility of such material by farm animals. As larger co- 

 efficients of digestibility were obtained with steers than with sheep or pigs, 

 the authors conclude that the sort of screenings studied can be more satis- 

 factorily fed to the steers than to the other animals. 



Concerning blood meal, A. Zaitschek {Landw. Jahrh., 31 (1908), No. 1, pp. 

 172-180). — From the experimental data reported the author concludes that pigs 

 digested the crude fiber and nitrogen-free material of maize fed with blood 

 meal less well than is the case when maize is fed alone. From the summary 

 of data, however, he concludes that blood meal may be profitably used in 

 fattening pigs on account of the relative cheapness of the protein which it 

 supplies. 



Kansas concentrated feeding stuffs law (Kansas Sta. [Pamphlet], 1908, pp. 

 17). — The text of the Kansas feeding stuffs law is quoted, the objects, scope and 

 application of the law, the inspection tax, registration of feeding stuffs, analyses 

 of samples and rulings under the law are discussed. The application of the 

 law to condimental or medicinal stock foods is also considered. 



The range problem in New Mexico, E. O. Wooton (New Mexico Sta. Bui. 

 66, pp. 3--'i6, pis. 10). — Physical features of New Mexico range lands, the 

 financial value of such areas and their possibilities, are discussed, with sug- 

 gestions for rational range management. Of the total area of the Territory, 

 which is about 78,500,000 acres, " more than 90 per cent [is] now valuable for 

 stock raising only and will probably always remain so." 



The distribution of the main grass societies on the range is shown, those of 

 most importance being the blue grama, black grama, Colorado blue stem, 

 Arizona fescue, water grass, and stilt grass societies. Weeds of different sorts 

 are characteristic of particular kinds of overstocked ranges and a number of 

 poisonous plants are present. 



The present carrying capacity for the Territory is estimated as approxi- 

 mately 35 acres per head of cattle per year. The financial value of the range is 

 estimated at from 2.5 to 5 cts. per acre per year, about the prices ordinarily 

 paid. As the range is now run down and not so productive as it might be, or 

 even as it once was, the author recommends that public grazing lands be placed 

 under official control, preferably in his judgment under a cabinet officer and 

 "a system of permits or leases be established under rules adapted to each 

 separate region and governed by the conditions obtaining in the region. The 

 fees should be large enough to support the staff necessary to carry the plan 

 into effect. Some of the objections to this plan are considered. Points which 

 must be covered by the regulations are submitted. These are largely based 

 upon the experience of others." 



Poultry work at the Maine Station, C. D. Woods (Maine Sta. Bui. 157, pp. 

 203-218). — The poultry investigations now under way at the station are de- 

 scribed, the plans for future work are outlined and the principal lines of work 

 which have been followed in the past discussed and some of the results obtained 

 pointed out, particularly those which pertain to the use of curtain-front houses, 

 dry mash feeding, crate fattening, methods of rearing chickens, and the collec- 

 tion of egg records and their use in breeding up laying strains. 



In the discussion of the breeding experiments and the conclusions which may 

 be drawn from the annual egg records it is pointed out that the amount of 



