24 a EXPERBIENT STATION. [Jan. 



several oat by-products, and also with peanut skins, shells and 

 meal, coffee refuse, coconut meal and cottonseed meal. 



Metabolizable energy trials of wheat bran, cottonseed and 

 linseed meals, corn cobs and different varieties of hay have 

 been made with horses. The results in some cases have 

 proved so contradictory that repetitions are now in progress. 



Experiments with twelve pigs have just been completed, to 

 note the nutritive and economic value of feeding different 

 amounts of semi-solid and evaporated buttermilk. Because of 

 the high prices of grain as compared with the market price of 

 the pork produced the experiment was not a financial success. 

 The least loss, however, was sustained on the pigs receiving 

 grain alone, followed in succession by those receiving rations 

 composed of grain plus tankage, grain plus powdered butter- 

 milk, and grain plus semi-solid buttermilk. 



A demonstrative trial was undertaken with two groups of 

 six pigs each, to observe the value of pasturage and partial 

 soiling as supplements to grain feeding. Because of imperfect 

 control the results were not as satisfactory as desired, but they 

 tend to confirm similar observations elsewhere, which have 

 demonstrated that this method of pork production is well 

 worthy of serious trial by farmers in Massachusetts. It is 

 doubtful, however, in view of the high cost of labor, if much 

 time can be spent in growing forage crops. An alfalfa or 

 clover pasture, or even a fertile grass pasture, could be used, 

 supplemented by grain from self-feeders. 



Forage Crops. — Observations in planting soy beans with 

 corn in different ways — mixed together in the drill in the 

 proportion of two-thirds corn and one-third beans, together in 

 the hill, and between the corn hills — were undertaken, but 

 owing to the unsatisfactory character of the bean seed the 

 results were in no way conclusive. 



Sudan grass did not prove successful, for in spite of a reason- 

 able amount of seed per acre — 24 pounds broadcast — a very 

 light stand was secured. This condition has repeated itself 

 with us for several years. The seed was sown upon a light, 

 well-drained loam, June 15. Barnyard millet and early amber 

 sorghum have proved more desirable forage crops. 



Alfalfa, red clover and sweet clover have each been seeded 



