80 THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



The different Cruciferous seeds were present in the following 

 proportion by numbers: — Brassica species, 41; Neslia paniculata 

 (L.) Desv., 78; Conringia orientalis (L.) Dumort, 66; Thlaspi arvense 

 (L.), 12; Sisymbrium altissimum (L.), 3. 



SCALPINGS 



Scalpings consist of the larger grains and weed seeds in the screen- 

 ings. An average sample contains about 65 per cent wheat ; 25 per cent 

 wild oats, oats, flax and barley; 3 per cent weed seeds (wild buckwheat, 

 lamb's quarters, stickseed, ball mustard, prairie rose, wolfberry, great 

 ragweed, cow cockle) ; 7 per cent straw, chaff, etc. 



Disposal of Screenings 



Prior to 1915 from 80 to 90 per cent of the screenings accumulating 

 at the head of the lakes went to the United States. The balance, 

 chiefly scalpings, were shipped to Ontario and Quebec. There has been 

 an increasing proportion of our screenings used at home since the 

 publication of the "Grain Screenings" bulletin in 1915. 



Uses of Screenings in the United States 



Sheep Feeding. — Considerable quantities of screenings are fed 

 every winter to sheep. The sheep are fed in large sheds operated in 

 connection with railway companies on whose lines the sheep are carried 

 from the ranges. The following sheep-feeding stations in the vicinity 

 of Chicago are typical: On the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul 

 Railway at Kirkland, 111.; on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 

 Railway at Montgomery, 111.; and on the Rock Island Railway at 

 Stockdale, 111. Besides these, other railways entering Chicago main- 

 tain similar stations. They are also provided at Osseso, New Brighton, 

 and Anoka, in the vicinity of Minneapolis. 



At the Kirkland station, which is typical of such places, there is 

 accommodation for 50,000 sheep at one time. The sheep are fed here 

 from one to sixty days, depending on their condition, and often, too, on 

 the markets. Shearing sheds are provided and used as required. 



Sheep taken from the ranges are usually fed about thirty days. 

 At first they are given only hay. Then a small quantity (half a pound 

 per day) of light chaffy screenings is added. Gradually this is increased 

 until in about a week or ten days the sheep have access to the "self- 

 feeders," from which they eat all the screenings they want (about 

 2 pounds per day). At the same time the proportion of chaff is 

 decreased and the proportion of seeds increased. The sheep are kept 



