6 N. H. Agric. Experiment Station [Bui. 270 



within 36 to 60 hours when on test, but the Percheron mare in the pre- 

 sent study did not show a fasting respiratory quotient until after 120 

 hours. {Adams Fund) 



Energy Requirements of Pigs 



The energy needed for mere existence, which is known as the basal 

 energy requirement, amounts to 1,200 calories per square meter of size 

 in the pig. This is the indication of results thus far obtained in met- 

 abolism studies with two Berkshire sows one year of age. The pro- 

 cedure was to measure their energy production on two consecutive 

 days while they were being fed and then again on the second and 

 third day of fasting. E. G. Ritzman. {Adams Fund) 



After Superior Sheep 



The process of crossing the Southdown-Rambouillet strain estab- 

 lished at this Station with the multi-nippled strain established by Alex- 

 ander Graham Bell has been continued by E. G. Ritzman. The South- 

 down-Rambouillet is a compact type of good mutton conformation 

 producing V2 blood and % blood wool. In the process of crossing with 

 the Bell strain it has been the object to retain all these physical char- 

 acteristics and to add to them a high fecundity so that they will pro- 

 duce largely twins and also to add the four functional nipples from 

 the Bell strain. 



Considerable progress has been made so far as multi-nipples is con- 

 cerned. In the 68 lambs born this year the nipple traits were as fol- 

 lows: 6 nipples — 1; 5 nipples — 6; 4 nipples — 39; 3 nipples — 9; and 

 2 nipples — 13. In many of these indivicluals the extra nipples, of 

 course, will not prove functional so that a rigid selection will ultimately 

 have to be macle of those that will prove functional and particularly 

 of those that will prove capable of transmitting the trait. 



At the request of the Rothamsted Experiment Station two young 

 rams of this flock possessing the multi-nipple trait were recently sent 

 to England for breeding purposes. One of these, possessing five nipples, 

 is a direct descendant of the Bell strain. The other, also possessing 

 five nipples, is the result of the Bell strain and the Southdown-Ram- 

 bouillet strain established at this Station. {Adams Fund) 



Fertilizers and Rotations on Trial 



Hay, legumes and a dairy-farm rotation on neglected hay lands, 

 potatoes in a three-year rotation, legumes in the Connecticut valley, 

 and top-dressing for old pastures — these are being investigated by Ford 

 S. Prince, Paul T. Blood, T. G. Phillips and G. P. Percival. 



The results of six years of work with hay on neglected hay lands 

 are now being compiled for publication. 



Alfalfa, soy beans, and sweet clover were tried on neglected hay 

 lands in Greenland. All soil treatments including manure or potash 

 gave significant results this year with the old alfalfa. Data on five 

 years' work are to be published in bulletin form soon. Newly-seeded 

 alfalfa plots did not respond satisfactorily, due to lack of rain. 



On the Greenland soil lime seemed to be the element needed for 



