ANIMAL PRODUCTION. 275 



feeding stuff selected as containing a fairly large amounl of this constituent, being 

 alsike clover seed which was fed with hay. 



The dry matter of the alsike clover seed contained 34.29 per cent protein, 5.29 per 

 cenl Eat, H. 12 per cenl nitrogen-free extract, L3. 12 per cent crude fiber, 5.88 per cenl 

 ash, and 8.07 per cent galactan. The composition of the drj matter of the hay was 

 also given, the amount of galactan presenl being L. 72 percent. On an average the 

 coefficients of digestibility of the alsike clover seed were: Dry matter 80. 19, galactan 

 96.78, protein 71.7:;. tat 84.55, nitrogen-free extracl 86.26, crude fiber 86.04, and ash 

 51.21 percent. The coefficienl of digestibility of the galactan of hay was 75.35 per 

 eent. Data are also recorded for the other constituents of the hay. 



"All 3 sheep digested the galactan in the clover seed quite thoroughly. Such 

 aresull was to have been expected, for the reason that in the seed the galactan is 

 Bupposed to be comparatively irvi^ from incrusting substances, which have been 

 shown by various investigators to seriously interfere with the digestibility of the 

 Beveral fodder groups. 



" Naturally, no positive conclusions should be drawn from the presenl single investi- 

 gation. Knowing, however, the physiological and chemical character of the galactan, 

 as well as the digestion coefficients obtained with starch and with the pentosans — 

 Iwwlies of similar character — it is reasonably safe to conclude that the result.- secured 

 gave a fairly correct idea of the ability of the animal to utilize the galactan group." 



Composition and digestibility of distillers' dried grains, A. K. Risser i Penn- 

 sylvania Sta. l<'/»i. 1904, pp. 221-238). — Data regarding the composition of distillers' 

 grains are summarized, and digestion experiments reported which were made with 



two sheep. 



In tin' first period the ration consisted of hay, and in the second of hay and dis- 

 tillers' grains (Biles fourex), the digestibility of the distillers' grains alone being 

 calculated in the usual way. The average coefficients of digestibility of the hay 

 follow: Dry matter 7)0. IS, protein 15.12, ether extract 14.7t>, nitrogen-free extract 

 4 ( .».77>, crude fiber 60.83, and ash 48.92 per cent. The heat of combustion of the 

 digested material was 47.4:1 per cent of that of the energy of the food eaten. 



For the distillers' grains the values were: Dry matter 71.24, protein »>7>.:;l\ ether 

 extracl ^'4.1 1. nitrogen-free extract 87.87, and crude fiber 58.98 percent. The energy 

 of the digested food was 71.64 per cent of that of the food eaten. 



The respiration calorimeter at the Pennsylvania Experiment Station, 

 11. 1'. Akmm-.v i Pennsylvania N/<>. Rpt. 1904, /'/'• 908-4 ?20, pis. S).— This article is 

 reprinted from the Experiment Station Record (15, p. 1037). 



Condimental feeds and condition powders, J. P. Street I New Jersey Stas. Bui. 

 184, pp. 97 ).— Microscopical, proximate, and ash analyses are reported of 50 samples 

 of condimental foods and similar goods. Of these 17 were stock feeds, 14 poultry 

 feeds, and 18 condition powders or tonics. The goods represent the product of 

 29 manufacturers and 23 were brands not previously analyzed at the experiment 

 stations. 



The goods were found to consist essentially of common drugs Buch as fenugreek, 

 gentian, glauber salts, pepper, charcoal, oyster shells, etc., with common feeding 

 -tuffs Mich as corn meal, wheat, bran, and linseed meal. Data are L r i\eii regarding 

 the medicinal properties and dose of the drugs commonly used in condimental feeds. 



"The claims of the manufacturers of condimental \n-i\< y when not preposterous, 

 are exaggerated and misleading. No one feed, however skillfully compounded, can 



serve as a remedy for all the ailments of ail classes of live stock. 



"Instead of being prepared according to scientific formulas, as claimed, many of 

 the condimental feeds are heterogeneous mixtures, with little regard to the require 

 ments of the animal, and in certain cases the drugs used have a counteracting effect 

 on each other. 



