I909-] The British Crops of 1909. 731 



compare the effectiveness of the two meals. At the Massachu- 

 setts Experiment Station equal weights of the two meals fed 

 to pigs of equal age, in conjunction with skim milk, yielded 

 the same gain. 



At the Hatch Experiment Station (Massachusetts)* an 

 experiment indicated that good quality rice meal has a feeding 

 value equal to a good quality maize meal. It was given in 

 conjunction with skim milk : — 











Food per lb. increase 





Average 







live v\ 



eight. 





weight at 



Average 



Average 









beginning. 



weight at end. 



daily gain. 















-Grain. 



Milk. 





lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



lb. 



Rice meal ... 



67 



195 '2 



I "41 



2-25 



9'U 



Maize meal . 



65 



i93 "5 



I -42 



2-25 



9'i3 



In this case the choice between the two meals must depend 

 on their purity and comparative market prices. 



(To be continued .) 



THE BRITISH CROPS OF 1909. 



The preliminary statement of the produce of the corn, pulse 

 and hay crops in Great Britain this year was issued on the 

 10th November, and the corresponding statement for the 

 potato and root crops on the 24th November last. The average 

 yield per acre for each of these crops, and also hops, with the 

 excess ( + ) or deficiency (-) in 1909 in relation to the yield 

 of last year, and to the average yield for the ten years 1899- 

 1908, are shown in the first table on the next page. 



The three cereal crops show substantially larger yields per 

 acre than last season, and they are also considerably above 

 the average of the ten-year period. The season has likewise 

 been very favourable for the growth of potatoes and roots, 

 although disease is reported to be more prevalent among the 

 former than was the case last season. The pulse and hay 

 crops have yielded less than the average. 



The total production and yield per acre of the corn and 



* Hatch Expt. Stat., Ninth Annual Report, p. 126. 



