1908.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 33. 101 



show very slight differences in the amount of the several con- 

 stituents present. This work is a part of an experiment under 

 the management of the agricultural department of the station. 



Effect of Molasses on Difjestihility. 

 It is a well-known fact that the addition of considerable 

 quantities of starch, sugar and similar substances causes a dis- 

 tinct depression in the digestibility of the substances with which 

 they are fed. By digestion depression is meant the checking 

 of the di2:estion and an assimilation of the other substances. A 

 number of experiments have been made and others are still in 

 progress to study the influence of Porto Rico molasses on the 

 diofestibihty of the other inm-edients of diff"erent rations. The 

 results thus far secured may be stated briefly : — 



1. When molasses fed together with hay constituted from 

 10 to 15 per cent, of the total dry matter of the ration, little 

 if any depression was noted. 



2. With molasses composing some 20 per cent, of the dry 

 matter of the hay ration, a depression of 4.5 per cent, was 

 noted in the digestibility of the hay, the digestibility of the dry 

 matter of the latter being 58 per cent, without the molasses, 

 and 55.4 per cent, with the molasses. 



3. Molasses and hay would not make a satisfactory comljina- 

 tion for any kind of farm stock. A more suitable ration would 

 consist of hay, together with one or more protein concentrates 

 and molasses. Consequently, the efi^ect of the molasses was 

 tested upon a combination of hay and gluten feed. The results 

 of six single trials, in which molasses composed from 17 to 24 

 per cent, of the dry matter of the ration (average 20 per cent.), 

 show that the dry matter of the combination of hay and gluten 

 without molasses was 72.3 per cent, digestible and 66.5 per 

 cent, digestible when fed with the molasses, hence the molasses 

 caused a depression of 8 per cent, in the digestibility of the 

 hay and gluten. 



Early Amber Sorghum. 

 This plant has again proved its usefulness as a forage crop. 

 Observations have been continued relative to the quantity of 

 seed to be sown broadcast to the acre. Last season as satis- 

 factory results were secured from 60 pounds as from 100 



