as far as the various fodder articles liave proved digestible, and were 

 thus qualified for the support of the life and the functions of the par- 

 ticular kind of animal on trial. In stating the amount of the digest- 

 ible portion of the fodder consumed in a feeding experiment, it has 

 also proved useful, for comparing different fodder rations, etc., to 

 make known by a distinct record the relative proportion which has 

 been noticed to exist, between the amount of nitrogenous constituents 

 and the non nitrogenous organic constituents. This relation is 

 expressed by the name of "Nutritive Ratio." An examination of 

 the subsequent short description of our feeding experiments will show, 

 for instance, that the corn meal, we fed, contained one part of 

 digestible nitrogenous matter, to 8.76 parts of digestible 'non nitro- 

 genous organic matter, making the customary allowance for the 

 higher physiological value of the fat as compared with that of starch, 

 sugar, etc., (2.5 times higher). The "• Nutrative Ration" of the 

 corn meal is consequently stated as follows 1 :8.76. Our different 

 combinations of fodder articles to constitute the daily diet during 

 different feeding periods vary as far as their nutritive ratios are con- 

 cerned from 1:6.7 to 1:10.17. The closer relation (1:6.7) was 

 obtained by an exceptionally large amount of roots, with hay and 

 wheat bran without corn meal, and the wider relation (1 :10.17) by 

 feeding a liberal amount of corn ensilage with bay and corn meal 

 without wheat bran. A closer relation of nitrogenous and non nitro- 

 genous digestible constituents of an otherwise suitable fodder mix- 

 ture is considered inore necessary for growing animals and dairy 

 cows than for full grown animals and moderately worked horses and 

 oxen. German investigators recommend for dairy cows a diet, which 

 conforms to a nutritive ration of 1 :5.4. Arrangements will be made 

 during the coming winter season to repeat our feeding experiment 

 with essentially the same coarse fodder articles, but modified by a 

 suitable increase and addition of concentrated feedstuffs to secure a 

 daily diet of a closer nutritive ratio, than has been used on the pres- 

 ent occasion. 



An examiilation of the subsequent tabulated statement of the 

 results of our experiments shows among other interesting facts, the 

 marked influence of the feeding of dried corn fodder and of corn 

 ensilage as a substitute for a part of the English hay, on the cost of the 

 production of milk. Not less striking is the beneficial influence of 

 a moderate amount of roots, as a substitute for a part of the hay, on 

 the quality of milk. A numerical expression of the influence of the 



