144 



EXPERIMKxNT STATION. 



[Jan. 



Summary of the Coefficients {Per Cent.) . 



The two sheep consumed the fodder readily, suifered no 

 digestion disturbances and gave closely agreeing results. The 

 average coefficients secured with the two sheep agree as closely 

 as could be expected with the average of all results for mature 

 Dent fodder. The present experiment shows in a very satis- 

 factory manner the degree of digestibility of an excellent 

 variety of Dent fodder that will mature in Massachusetts. 



Porto Rico Molasses. • — Molasses from Porto Rico has been 

 freely offered in Massachusetts for cattle feeding at a cost of 

 13 cents a gallon of 12 pounds in barrel lots. The material, 

 while dark colored, was of a satisfactory quality. It con- 

 tained 20 to 28 per cent, of water (about 24 per cent, aver- 

 age), and in its natural condition about 3 per cent, of crude 

 protein (largely amids), 6.3 per cent, of ash, and the balance 

 cane and invert sugars and allied substances (extract matter). 

 It can be safely assumed that molasses, being quite soluble in 

 water, is easily digested and resorbed in the digestive tract. 

 Three digestion experiments were made by feeding different 

 quantities of the molasses in combination with hay, and hay 

 and gluten feed, in order to note its effect upon the digestion 

 of the other feed stuffs.^ 



1 It is a well-known fact that the addition of excessive quantities of starch and sugar 

 causes a distinct depression in digestibility of the other feed stuffs. See summary in 

 Kellner (already cited) , page 48. 



