Influence of Wide and Narrow Eations. 445 



be constantly threatened. Kature has wisely provided that this 

 vital food shall remain quite constant in composition so far as 

 nutritive influences are concerned, though the quantity must vary 

 with the abundance or scantiness of the feed supplied. 



It is not apparent why nervous impulses should affect the com- 

 position of milk so readily while feed does not. It appears that 

 the milk glands are under nervous control, and whatever threatens 

 the existence of the dam or her young, or mars her equanimity, 

 is immediately reflected in the milk secretion. 



680. Conclusion. The dairyman who wishes to improve the 

 quality of his milk must look to breed rather than to the char- 

 acter of the feed. Within the breed he must select those animals 

 shown by the fat test to yield high percentages of the desired in- 

 gredient. Securing suitable animals, he will reach the quantity 

 of fat sought by supplying his cows with rations ample in quan- 

 tity, rich in digestible components and altogether palatable and 

 wholesome. 



II. Wide and Narrow Eations. 



681. Storrs Station studies. The Storrs (Connecticut) Station 

 is conducting an important investigation in relation to the cost of 

 nutrients supplied dairy cows and the milk and butter returns. 

 A representative of the Station is located with a chosen dairy- 

 man for a period of twelve days, during which time he weighs 

 the feed and milk of each cow of the herd, sending samples to the 

 Station for analysis. From the results of the analyses and the re- 

 ports of the representative, the Station authorities formulate a new 

 ration, presumed by them to be superior to that being fed. After 

 the new ration has been used for a time, the herd is again visited, 

 the representative remaining twelve days, as before, to study the 

 effects of the ration. In every instance narrower rations have 

 been substituted for the original, showing that the Station finds the 

 dairyman not feeding liberally enough of protein, according to its 

 understanding of the needs of the cow. (147-8) Under this sys- 

 tem nine herds have been studied by the Station authorities. The 

 nutrients of the rations found on the first visit, and those used 



