10 UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 221 



tion has been of great importance to the success of the work, which 

 has been under the local direction of E. G. Ritzman. Two kinds of 

 rations were used: timothy hay during the earlier part of the experi- 

 mental season and alfalfa hay during the later stage. Both maintenance 

 and submaintenance rations were fed at different times with both feeds ; 

 and, as in previous cases, the temperature of the environment was varied 

 for different experimental periods. The results obtained, particularly as 

 regards the influence of temperature on heat production, are not in any 

 sense final; but tentatively it may be said that this influence was not so 

 great as was expected. Heat production, determined indirectly, was in- 

 variably lower on alfalfa than on an equal cjuantity of timothy hay. 



The data obtained in a long series of metabolism experiments with 

 sheep, involving the equivalent of over 1,500 animals and representing 

 stages of age from birth to maturity, are now being prepared for publi- 

 cation. 



The results of an exhaustive analytical study by Dr. T. ]M. Carpenter 

 of the Carnegie Institution of Washington of the urine of steers during 

 fasts of from five to fourteen days, which was carried on under this proj- 

 ect, have been published during the year in the proceedings of the Na- 

 tional Academy of Sciences. They may be briefly summarized as follows : 



Since, when fasting, a steer lives upon its own flesh, and the alkaline urine characteristic of the herbivora 

 changes to the acid urine of the carnivcra, a study of the changes in the urine under these conditions throws 

 light upon the changes in the fundamental metabolism as the fast progresses. 



The only previous study of the fasting urines of steers with which results may be compared is that made 

 by Grouvcn, who determined the hippuric acid and ash in the urines of several days, finding a high amount 

 of phosphate. 



The total nitrogen indicates that these animals were on a low nitrogen plane as a result of the preceding 

 undernutrition and the ammonia-nitrogen results gave no indications of acidosis. 



The urea-nitrogen with botn steers was low at first, but rose rapidly to a general level which was slightly 

 increased tnroughout the fast. Apparently a smaller proportion of the nitrogeh is eliminated as urea when 

 the animal is fed than when he is fasting. 



The results indicate that hippuric acid may be eliminated even when no food is received, and may be 

 considered as derived from endogenous sources. 



The amino-acid nitrogen, which was 18 to 19 per cent of the total nitrogen at beginning, dropped to 1 

 per cent during the fast. 



The preformed and total creatinine had a high degree of uniformity throughout the fast having much the 

 same range as that for the fasting man studied by Benedict. 



While the amounts of phenol obtained gradually lowered as the fast progressed, neither the free nor the 

 conjugated phenol entirely disappeared, and presumably there was still undigested residue present with 

 fermentation. 



The inorganic sulphate appeared late in the fast, but increased thereafter to the end of the fast. The 

 ethereal sulphate fell gradually but began to rise with the resumption of food. In contrast to values ob- 

 tained in earlier fasts, both the neutral sulphur and the nitrogen-sulphur ratio were variable, and the 

 percentage distribution of the sulphur varied widely. 



Since the fixed bases come from the inorganic elements in the food or body material, the rapid fall to be 

 seen in these values would be expected. The increase in elimination which appeared later in the fast might 

 be interpreted to represent either a diminution in body fluids or a destruction of bone or other organized body 

 material. The organic acids (uncorrected for total creatinine), like the fixed bases, show some fall to a more 

 or less general level after the first few days. 



The small change in acetone, diacetic acid, and beta-oxybutyric acid, taken in connection with the 

 values found for ammonia nitrogen, unlike the case with man, indicate that these animals, like the dog and 

 the cat, exhibited no tendency toward ketosis while fasting. 



CHEMISTRY 



Plant Metabolism Studies {Adams Fund) 



Analyses of the samples of tomato tissues referred to in the previous 

 report are in progress. It is hoped that these will be completed soon and 

 the results assembled for publication. The work is in charge of T. G. 

 PhilHps. 



Studies Upon the Lime Requirements of New Hampshire Soils {State Fund) 



This work has been continued by Dr. Phillips in co-operation with the 

 county agents as in the previous years. During the year, 634 samples 

 of soil have been tested and the results reported to the county agents. 



