586 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



and the remainder in houses with small j'ards. In 21 days the average 

 gain of the chickens confined in coops was 0.S7 lb., 8.2 lbs. of grain 

 being required per pound of gain. The average gain per chicken of 

 the lot fed in houses with j'ards was 0. 92 lb. , the grain required per 

 pound of gain being 7.36 lbs. The profits are estimated at 8.25 cts. 

 per chicken. In the author's opinion these tests show that it is more 

 profitable to fatten young chickens, for although the difference in age 

 of the lots in the 2 trials reported was not great, much more satisfac- 

 tory results were obtained with the j^ounger birds. 



The effect of green food was tested with 24 Plymouth Rock chickens 

 140 days old at the beginning of the trial. They were confined in 

 lots of 4 in small coops and fed for 4 weeks on a ration of mixed 

 meal and skim milk as described above. Two of the lots received 

 no green food; the others were fed once a da}" all the finely chopped 

 green rape they would eat during the last 2 weeks of the trial. When 

 no green food was supplied, the gains ranged from 3.7 to 4.3 lbs. per 

 coop; when rape was fed, fi'om 3.5 to 4.4 lbs. 



Breeding for egg production, G. M. Gowell {Maine Sta. Bui. 

 BJf,, pp' '^^-10'2). — A record is given of the eggs laid by the hens em- 

 ployed in experiments on the possibility of securing breeds which 

 shall excel in egg production. Of the 236 hens employed, 39 laid 160 

 or more eggs and 35 laid less than 100 eggs in a year. Great vari- 

 ations were observed in the la3dng capacity of the hens and in the regu- 

 larity of la^nng, although all the hens were given the same food and 

 care, and the chickens in each breed tested were selected for their uni- 

 formity. It was noticed that the eggs from hens that laid the greatest 

 number were on an average smaller in size than those from hens pro- 

 ducing fewer eggs, and the percentage of infertility was also greater 

 in the former case than in the latter. 



Coffee substitutes, C. D. Woods and L. H. Merrill {Maine Sla. Bid. 65, pp. 10-'^- 

 107). — The composition of 8 sorts of cereal coffee is reported and the food value of 

 this class of goods discussed. It was found that, as claimed, the sanijiles examined 

 were free from true coffee. The infusion did not have a high food value, containing, 

 when made according to directions, from one-third to one-twentieth as much solid 

 matter as skim milk. 



Inspection and analyses of foods, ]M. A. Scovell {Kentucky Stn. Bid. SG, pp. 

 51). — As an aid to the interiiretation of the Kentucky pure-food law, a number 

 of provisional definitions of food materials and articles used in their i>reparation 

 are suggested, and the analyses made in accordance with the law are reported of 

 727 samples of dairy products, spices, flour, vinegar, etc. Of these, 290 were found 

 to be adulterated. 



Fodders and feeding stuffs, F. T. Shutt {Canada Expt. Farms Rpis. 1899, pp. 

 14.I-I47). — Analyses are reported of l)road-leaf hay {Spartino cijnonuroides) , hay tea, 

 cotton-seed meal, the seed of lamb's-quarters {Chenopodium album). The latter had 

 the following percentage composition: Water, 9.82; fat, 6.78; protein, 14.19; carbo- 

 hydrates, 63.91; crude fiber, 1.27, and ash, 4.03. Judged by composition only, the 

 author believes the seed "to have a comparatively high feeding value. Its percent- 



