303 



of 70 deg. to 75 cleg. C, while the only phasins that can be sub- 

 jected to this temperature without being denatured are those 

 present in Phascolus communis and related indig'enous legumes, 

 and to detect these from ricin toxicological methods must be em- 

 ployed, e. g., subcutaneous injections with rabbits. 



"The paper concludes with elaborate directions as to the con- 

 duct of tests for the detection of ricin in feeding stuffs." — Agri- 

 cultural Nezvs. 



SOME FACTS ABOUT SUDAN GRASS. 



The growth of Sudan is a source of satisfaction to the farmers 

 of southern Illinois. It is classed as a forage plant and for its 

 kind ranks high, although comparatively little is known about it. 



Sudan grass grows upright in long slender stems, reaching 

 about 5 feet in height. The writer believes that wherever oats 

 will grow Sudan grass will eventually take its place. It will 

 grow on any kind of soil, but prefers a clay sandy soil. It is 

 more difificult to care for than timothy on account of its very rank 

 growth. One of its chief values as a feed for horses and cattle 

 lies in the fact that it is very palatable. When fed to either they 

 clean it up thoroughly, showing that they relish it, although it is 

 an entirely new feed to them. This fact alone is always of in- 

 terest to farmers and feeders. 



On a one-half-acre plot the first cutting made at the rate of 

 one and a half tons to the acre, and in just three weeks the 

 second cutting made practically the same, and there will still be 

 one more crop. Sudan grass is not well adapted for a wet sea- 

 son, such as Illinois has been having this year. On one place it 

 almost drowned out, but this ground was exceptionally wet. and 

 therefore the conditions encountered were not average. In dry 

 years or in average years Sudan grass will produce twice as 

 much as any of the common forages, such as oats, barley, millet 

 and corn (the latter when used as a forage). 



Taken as a whole, Sudan grass is destined to be one of the 

 greatest hay and forage crops in this country, mainly because it 

 has almost all the good qualities of the best plus greater produc- 

 tion. — The Breeder's Ga::efte. 



PUBLIC LYCREASES USE OF NATIONAL FORESTS. 



WASHINGTON, D. C— There were 18,342 special-use per- 

 mits in force on the national forests on June 30 last, according to 

 figures just compiled by the U. S. Forest Service to show the 

 varied uses to which the public is putting the government land 

 involved. The list includes 59 apiaries, 2 brick yards, 31 can- 

 neries-, 39 cemeteries. 9 churches, 1 cranberry marsh, 32 fish 

 hatcheries. 1 golf links. 43 hotels. 1 astronomical observatory, 

 10 fox and rabbit ranches, 1085 residences, 74 resorts and club- 



