466 FA'PEIillMKX'l' STAITOX UF.C'OHD. 



thiriii.ir r.-istiiiix. oT whifli ahoiil li.-ilf was fal. Analyses of tlu" lioiic showed that 

 praclically all the falciiini and pliosphorns lost durintr 1li<' fasliiiL: iKM'iod f'ani«> 

 Iroiii hone sultstanoe. 



The utilization by the growing animal of calcium in different forms, H. 

 Akon and K. Fkksi: ( liiorlioii. Ztschr., !l iWOH), So. /-.?, in>- IS.',-201). — Grow- 

 in}; do«rs, it was fonnd, ntilized calcinm in the form of tertiary calcium phos- 

 phate, which is difficultly soluble, as readily as in the form occurring: in millv. 

 Sterilizing milk wms found to be without influence on calcium metal)olism and 

 gains. In general, over 80 per cent of the calciimi supplied was utilized. 



Observations on the rectal temperature after muscular exercise, INI. Fi.ack 

 (Ihit. Med. -Jour.. IfiOS. yo. ,'?.'/6*.S', pP- 921, 922). — A marked rise iu temperatui-e 

 was noted in a number of subjects after muscular exercise. 



ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 



The composition of green maize and of the silage produced therefrom, 

 II. E. Annett and E. J. Russell {Jour. Afjr. Sci.,2 (1908), No. Ji,pi). 3S2-.3f)l).— 

 Analyses of fresh green fodder and silage w^re made with a view to studying 

 tlie changes brought about by ensiling. The crude fibei' content was found 

 to be practically unchanged and this opinion was confirmed by microscopical 

 analysis. The epidermal cells, according to the author, had undergone no change 

 in tlie silo beyond a certain amount of shrinliage, even the stomata l>eing un- 

 altered. The vascular bundles were also intact. The greatest change was noted 

 iu the nitrogen-free extract, direct tests showing that the sugar disappears 

 almo.st entirely. 



The observed decrease in furfurol " indicates a decrease in the amount of 

 cellulose, i. e., the less resistant cellulo.se, which alone falls into this group ; 

 this was confirmed by microscopic examination which showed that many of the 

 ceils of the mesophyll were completely disintegrated. 



"The protein suffers considerably, though not iu reality as much as the 

 nitrogen-free extract. Hydrolytic decomposition complicated by bacterial action 

 lakes place, and although there is not much, if any, loss of free nitrogen the 

 new nitrogenous compounds are less valuable as food than the protein. 



" The figures show^ an absolute loss of nitrogen, but we are satisfied that a 

 certain amount of ammonia is given off during sampling, and we have no evi- 

 tleuce to show how or to what extent losses of nitrogen occur in the silo. In 

 laboratory experiments on silage made in bottles we only observed losses of 

 nitrogen when air was admitted, and this did not happen in the silo." 



The values obtained for ether extract the authors consider influenced by ac- 

 cidental variation, since this constituent contains a number of soluble acids 

 which obviously wash downward in the silo. A similar factor influences the 

 soluble ash content though not the insoluble ash constituents. During the 

 j)rocess of ensiling carbon dioxid is evolved and a number of acids appear which 

 w'ere not present at the beginning of the process. According to the authors the 

 general nature of the losses outlined is probably the same in all silos though 

 the actual amount varies. " Our losses are higher than those observed by Amer- 

 ican investigators, but there is considerable difference between American and 

 F^nglish maize at the time of cutting: ours is much less mature, and contains a 

 lower pro]«)rtiou of nitrogen-free extract." 



The chemical changes taking place during the ensilage of maize, E. J. 

 ItussELL (Jour. Agr. Sci., 2 (1908), Xo. .), p/i. 39.i-.'fl0). — The author summarizes 

 the results of investigations as follows : 



"The main groups of compounds found iu maize silage are fatty acids, hy- 

 droxy acids, amino acids, basic diamino acids, i)urin bases, and other bases, 



