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THE AMERICAN NATURALIST [Vol. LII 



identified by Mr. A. C. Baker as Melaphis rhois Fitch. 



Besides the American galls suggested by Trimble as 

 being of possible use in the industries, a few have been 

 recorded as food. 



The galls of Disholcaspis weldi (Beutenmuller) which 

 occur on Quercus reticulata in Mexico were purchased at 

 a fruit stand in Mexico City. 



Oak-apple galls produced by Cynips spp. are eaten by 

 school children, and some of them are said to be sweeter 

 than sugar. 



The most important record on the use of American galls 

 is a note by Dr. A. D. Hopkins on a black oak gall pro- 

 duced possibly by Callirhytis sp. This gall, because of 

 its resemblance to wheat, is called "black oak wheat" 

 and "wheat mass" (typographical error for mast 1 ). 

 Specimens of this gall were received from Westcott, Mo., 

 with the information that they were very abundant and 

 had been fed to cattle, hogs, sheep, turkeys and chickens 

 all of which were fond of them and were getting fat on 

 them. These galls were also received from Texarkana, 

 Ark., where they were used to fatten hogs. 



The following food analysis and report were made on 

 these galls in the old Dendro-Chemical Laboratory, 

 Bureau of Chemistry, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 under the direction of the late Dr. W. H. Krug : 



The relative food value is high and the nutritive ratio is wide, showing 

 that this material is especially adapted for fattening animals. 



especially when used as food for hogs and other animals. ' 



