106 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



2. When molasses composed 20 per cent, of the dry matter of 

 the total ration, the depression averaged 7.37 grams of organic 

 matter per 100 grams of fresh molasses, and the molasses caused 

 snbstantially a loss of per cent, in the digestibility of the hay. 



(b) Hay, Corn Meal and Molasses. 



3. In case of two single trials the depression was from 9.5 to 

 17 grams of organic matter per 100 grams of molasses. 



(c) Hay, Gluten Feed and Molasses. 



4. When relatively small amonnts of molasses were fed the 

 depression was higher 'per 100 grams of molasses than when 

 relatively laro;e amounts were fed. 



5. When relatively small amounts of molasses were fed the 

 loss expressed in dry matter as percentage of molasses fed was 

 higher than when relatively large amounts of molasses were con- 

 sumed. 



6. The feeding of small amounts of molasses have in most 

 cases caused as much depression of the feeds with which they 

 were fed as large amounts, the loss averaging substantially 8 

 per cent. 



Why molasses seemed to exert less depression on the hay than 

 on a ration composed of hay and a concentrate is difficult of 

 explanation. 



T). The Cause of the Depression produced hy Molasses. 



Our own numerous experiments, as well as those of other in- 

 vestigators, have shown that molasses exerts a distinct depression 

 upon those feed stuffs with which it is fed. This depression 

 appears to vary, depending upon the character of the feed, the 

 amount of molasses fed and the individuality and condition of 

 the animal. The addition of considerable amounts of sugar 

 and starch have been shown to produce similar results.-^ 



The cause or causes of this depression have never been fidly 

 demonstrated. Kellner ^ oifers a partial explanation substan- 

 tially as follows : — 



1 See the numerous experiments of Henneberg and Stohmann, Kiihn and Fleischer, E. 

 Wolff, etc., In the Journal fiir Landw. and in the Landw. Versuchssta. 



2 Loco citato, flinfte Auflage, pp. 50, 51. 



