48 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



4. WoEK IN Animal Nutrition. 



Work to note the effect of molasses on the digestibility of the 

 ration with which it is fed has been sufficiently advanced to 

 warrant a paper on the subject, which aj^pears elsewhere in 

 this rej^ort. 



Experiments on the most suitable varieties of corn for the silo 

 have been in progress for a number of years. The results 

 show that such varieties as the Learning, Pride of the North, 

 Hustler White Dent, Longfellow and Sanford White are more 

 suitable for this latitude than Early Mastodon, Improved White 

 Cap, Brewer's Dent, Wing's White Cap and Eureka. We have 

 noted the degree of maturity by September 15, the yield of dry 

 matter, the proportion of dry matter in stocks, ears, husks and 

 leaves, as Avell as the degree of digestibility of most of the sev- 

 eral varieties. The excess in yield of gTeen material from the 

 latter varieties consists largely of water. In case the coarse 

 dents are field cured, the stalks will not cure out well, and as 

 late as the middle of November contain a much larger amount 

 of water than the smaller varieties. The detailed report of this 

 experiment will probably be ready for publication in another 

 year. 



Digestion tests with alfalfa and red clover at the same stages 

 of growth have been completed, but a large amount of labora- 

 tory work in connection with the samples still remains to 

 be done before the final results can be obtained. 



5. Resume of Work of the Eeetilizer Section. 



]\fr. II. D. Ilaskins, in charge, presents the following re- 

 port : — 



The activities of the fertilizer division have been confined 

 chiefly to the fertilizer control work and the examination of 

 fertilizers, soils, refuse by-products, etc., forwarded by farmers 

 and others interested in agriculture. The results of the year's 

 work would indicate that a larger number of private formulas 

 aud home-mixed fertilizers had been used by the Massachu- 

 setts farmers than ever before. The work of the collection and 

 inspection of licensed fertilizers has also increased during the 

 year. A larger number of fertilizers was licensed this year 



