26 Experiment Station Bulletin 367 



sprouting, starch content by specific gravity test, and cooking quality 

 were determined. 



The cooking quality was not adversely affected. The carbon dioxide 

 storage of potato tubers appears to be fully as effective as the hormone 

 treatment in preventing sprouting of potatoes when storage temperatures 

 are equivalent to those normally occurring in May and June. Unknown 

 effects of the hormone residues on human physiology and on taste of the 

 tubers would be eliminated. By retardation of sprouting the potato 

 grower would have a longer season in which to market his table stock; 

 and seed stock may be prevented from excessive sprouting when the 

 planting season is retarded by unfavorable meterological conditions. Fur- 

 ther study on the persistence of retardation of sprouting after removal 

 from the gaseous carbon dioxide storage will be necessary before its use 

 with seed stock can be recommended. At present, there is an indication 

 of a moderate tendency for the sprout retardation to persist. Larger 

 scale bin experiments are planned for the next storage season. 



P. T. Blood, L. T. Kardos 



DAIRYING 



The Relation of Trace Minerals to Vitamin 

 Synthesis in the Rumen of Dairy Animals 



Work on this project was seriously handicapped due to cessation 

 of chemical analyses necessitated by temporary leave of absence of one 

 ot the personnel. 



Exploratory investigations were made on two animals with reference 

 to methods and technique of obtaining representative samples of rumen 

 content. On the basis of preliminary observations, there is evidence that 

 samples secured via a rumen fistula are not sufficiently typical of normal 

 rumen contents to be entirely satisfactory for an accurate routine analysis 

 when determining such as ascorbic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and nico- 

 tinic acid. It is difficult to prevent some loss of rumen fluids and gases, 

 as well as to avoid introduction of air into the rumen. These abnormal 

 changes may logically influence the accuracy of analytical results. 



For the purpose of the particular analysis involved, some preliminary 

 work using a stomach pump indicated that such a method may be more 

 satisfactory than a rumen fistula for securing representative samples of 

 rumen content. 



K. S. IVIorrow, H. A. Keener, A. E. Teeri 



Cobalt Treatment of a Nutritional Disease 

 Of New Hampshire Cattle, Sheep and Goats 



A nutritional deficiency responding favorably to the feeding of 

 cobalt has been found to be wide-spread throughout most of the state, 

 and has incurred heavy financial losses to the livestock industry for a 

 period of many years. This deficiency has been produced experimental- 

 ly in a paired experiment with sheep, using a New Hampshire hay which 

 was deficient in cobalt. Studies have been continued to determine the 



