794 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The oil content of cotton seed of different sorts grown in Central Asia, 

 D. Tschernewsky (Zhur. Buss. Fiz. Khim, Obshcfi., 34 {1902), pp. 503, 504; abs. in 

 Ztschr. Untersueh. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 10 (1905), No. 9, p. 561). — The seed of Amer- 

 ican cotton examined contained 23.46 per cent oil; the American upland seed, 21.19 

 per cent; Egyptian seed, 23.35 per cent; Bokhara seed, sample No. 1, 17.15 per cent, 

 and sample Xo. 2, 17.75 per cent. 



Profitable stock feeding, H. R. Smith (Lincoln, Nebr.: Author, 1906, pp. XII-]- 413, 

 figs.71). — The author has summarized and discussed a large amount of data regard- 

 ing the feeding, care, and management of farm animals, the results of experiment 

 station investigations having been drawn upon, as well as the experience of practical 

 stock raisers. 



It has been the author's purpose to present the results of investigations and expe- 

 rience in such a way that they may be of use to the student and investigator, as well 

 as to the stock raiser, and with this end in view he has summarized and discussed the 

 data rather than cited individual experiments. As a whole, the volume constitutes 

 a useful summary of the general principles of stock raising, milk production, and the 

 feeding, care, and management of beef cattle, sheep, pigs, farm poultry, and horses. 

 The section on poultry was contributed by Miss M. L. Smith. 



Steer-feeding experiment, VII, 1903-4, 0. Erf, R. J. Kixzer, and G. C. 

 Wheeler (Kansas Sta. Bui. 130, pp. 7, Jigs. 2). — A comparison of alfalfa hay alone 

 and supplemented by other coarse fodders (prairie hay, corn silage, Kafir corn 

 stover, and sorghum stover) was made with 2 lots of 10 steers each, the coarse feed 

 being fed in addition to like grain rations. 



On alfalfa hay alone the average daily gain per steer in the 143 days of the test 

 was 2.83 lbs. and on alfalfa hay and other coarse fodder, 2.32 lbs, the cost of feed per 

 pound of gain in the 2 cases being 5.28 cts. and 6.69 cts., respectively.. The steers fed 

 the alfalfa hay required 4.55 lbs. of coarse fodder and 5.78 lbs. of grain per pound of 

 gain, and those fed alfalfa hay and other coarse fodder, 7.43 lbs. and 7.15 lbs., respec- 

 tively. 



The calculated profit in the case of the lot fed alfalfa hay was $5.85, and with the 

 other lot 62.12. '"The profit in either case was very small; indeed, so small as to 

 hardly warrant steer feeding except as a means of marketing the feed of the farm. 

 Alfalfa hay and corn-and-cob meal form a most excellent ration for fattening, and 

 unless future experiments change these results, we shall have to admit that this com- 

 bination gives better results than the use of a greater variety of roughage. ' ' 



Methods of steer feeding. Barn v. shed — third trial, T. I. Males and N. G. 

 Miller (Pennsylvania Sta. Bui. 74, pp. 8). — Continuing earlier work (E. S. R., 16, 

 p. 398) the relative merits of feeding in sheds and barns was tested with 2 lots of 12 

 steers each. 



The test began November 4 and closed March 7, the first 4 weeks being regarded 

 as preliminary. In the test proper the average gain made with steers in barns was 

 127.1 lbs. and by those in sheds 127.6 lbs. Considering both the test proper and the 

 preliminary period the values were 174.5 lbs. and 174.2 lbs. During the test proper 

 the steers in barns consumed 18.67 lbs. of feed per pound of gain at a cost of 12.58 

 cts. Similar values for the steers fed in sheds were 18.42 lbs. and 12.40 cts. The 

 conclusions drawn from the test were in effect as follows: 



The general result of this experiment is at variance with those of the 2 preceding 

 ones in the fact that the steers outdoors ate less food per pound of gain than the ones 

 inside. It confirms the results of earlier work in that the actual amount of food 

 eaten by the outside lot was less than that eaten by the inside lot, and that the gains 

 made by fattening steers are not increased by warm quarters. It is not possible to 

 have stables too cold for fattening steers in this climate, provided they are kept dry 

 and well bedded. It is possible to keep open yards from becoming excessively 

 muddy by the use of soft-coal cinders. A shed in a well-drained yard can be kept 



