that the middlings and shorts rations, with a ratio of 8.4 and 

 7.6, respectively, were too wide, and that narrowing them to 7.7 

 and 7.2, though not a great change, is, nevertheless, one that 

 has resulted in a considerable increase of milk, and we may well 

 ask the question whether we can afford to go beyond 7 as the 

 widest limit. I am inclined to think that we cannot. 



In conclusion, then, the following conclusions may be drawn : 



First. That with rations, whose nutritive ratio is below 

 I : 7, it makes very little difference whether we use cotton seed, 

 shorts, middlings or corn meal, so far as milk is concerned, but 

 if we consider the value of the manure the grains will be valued 

 in the order in which they stand. 



Secotid. When the nutritive ratio is wider than i : 7.5 a 

 substantial gain may be expected by substituting some grain 

 that will narrow this ration. 



Third. A nutritive ration of i : 7 is as wide as we can 

 profitably use. 



I am convinced from these, and other experiments, that 

 the proportion and amount of digestible constituents in the ra- 

 tion is of more importance than the source of these constituents, 

 and that the cost of the grain must be the factor that will influ- 

 ence the feeder. 



Once more let me urge every farmer to note what he is feed- 

 ing, both in kind and amount, and then from table II compute- 

 the digestible nutritive matter consumed daily and compare this 

 with table I. If it is found that the ratio of non albuminoids to 

 albuminoids is very wide, that is, over 7.5, then a few easily 

 made experiments, in which either cotton seed, gluten, mid- 

 dlings or shorts is substituted for corn meal, will enable any one 

 to determine whether a closer following of the German " stand- 

 ards '" will be profitable. There can be no loss result from test- 

 ing this important matter, and valuable information may be ob- 

 tained. 



G. H. WHITCHER, Director. 



The Bulletins of this Station are free to all farmers in the State who send 

 a request for them to the Director. 



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