ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 291 



therefore interfered with the gains. Less grain was consumed with Bromus ineriim 

 liay than with prairie-grass hay. The lambs were dipped l^efore the feeding test and 

 this was regai'ded as beneficial since it killed external parasites and improved the 

 (juality of the wool. Analyses are reported of the spelt and the wheats fed. 



Fattening: sheep on grass, J. W. Wilson and H. G. Skinner {South. Dakota Sta. 

 Bill. SO, pp. ^'■i-J}'). — To learn something of the possibility of utilizing partially dried 

 pastrirage, with and without grains, in the fattening of lambs for the early winter 

 market, G lots of 10 common-grade ewes, from 1 to 6 years old and weighing about 

 120 lbs. each, were pastured from September 6 to November 2, each lot having the 

 run of 2 acres of native prairie grass which had not that season been pastured or cut 

 for hay. All the lots except one were fed grain, the sheep on corn and on oats each 

 making an average daily gain of 0.44 lb. per head, those on bread wheat 0.31 lb., on 

 spelt 0.29 lb., and on barley 0.38 lb. The grain eaten per pound of gain ranged from 

 3.9 lbs. with the corn-fed lot to 7.2 lbs. with the sheep on spelt, and the cost of a 

 jiound of gain from 3 cents on oats to 5.3 cents on bread wheat. With the sheep 

 fed no grain there was a total loss of 52 lbs. During the last 2 weeks of the trial it 

 was noted that the losses were about twice as great as during the preceding 2 weeks 

 and that the gains made by the other lots were correspon<lingly lower during the 

 same period. This was accounted for in part by the fact that the grass had been 

 considerably injured by frost. 



The authors state in effect that the natural condition of grasses in an average 

 season is well suited to the economical production of mutton; but that when sheep 

 are turned on a partially dried up prairie-grass pasture a gradual decrease in weight 

 is to be expected in case there are unusually heavy rains during the fall, unless they 

 are fed grain. The grains giving the best results (corn, oats, and barley) also give 

 the largest yield and are widely grown. 



Sh.eep feeding- at Jemalong, A. A. Dunnicliffe {Ag7-. Gaz. New South Wales, 14 

 [1903), No. 5, pjp- 385-399, Jigs. 16). — Under government supervision an experiment 

 was carried out on a large scale, which demonstrated the possibility of profitably 

 feeding sheep on crops grown on irrigated land in time of drought. In the test over 

 1,600 sheep were used. For 18 weeks they were fed alfalfa twice a day, an acre 

 sui)])lying the fodder for 75 sheep. The cost of production, including irrigation, 

 cutting, interest on capital, etc., was found to be 25 cts. per ton of green fodder. 

 The water for irrigating the alfalfa fields was pumped from a small stream. 



Rearing and fattening of pigs, S. Spenceii [Jour. Bd.Agr. [Loudon'], 10 {1903), 

 No. 1, pp. 1-16). — A general summary. 



Selecting and judging horses for market and breeding purposes, W. J. 

 Kennedy ( f7. S. Dcpt. Agr. Ycnrhook 1902, pp. 455-468, fig. 1). — The author discusses 

 the possibilities of horse bree<ling in this country, and points out that under existing 

 conditions there are at least four classes of horses which farmers can profital)ly pro- 

 duce — namely, heavy draft horses, carriage or coach horses, roadsters, and saddle 

 horses. 



Horse breeding in South. Africa, C. H. Blackrurne {Transvaal Agr. Jour., 1 

 {1903), No. 4, pp. 57-59, figs. 2). — The need of high-grade sires is spoken of and 

 methods of improving horses proposed, which include government aid. South 

 Africa, in the author's opinion, affords a fine opportunity for extensive horse breeding. 



Some inexpensive -ways of making farm poultry more profitable, J. H. 

 EomxsoN {Mamidmsett.^ State Bd. Agr. Tipt. 1902, pp. 395-407). — A general discussion. 



Poultry culture in Ireland, H. de Courcy {Reliable Poultrg Jour., 10 {1903), 

 Nos. 5, pp. 534, 535; 6, p. 601; 7, p. 669; 7, Sup. p. VT, figs. .9).— The poultry industry 

 in Ireland is discussed with especial reference to th(» efforts made b}' the Irish agri- 

 cultural societies for its development. 



Distribution and magnitude of the poultry and egg industry, G. F. Tiiomp- 



